£8 Car Park Charge!!!!

[fatboy18]

sday12 said:

Just because most venues do it does mean it's not a con.

If I pay by card is there a £5 admin charge?

I wonder how many punters did NOT account for that when they added up how much the day would cost.

Captive market cannot complain.

Could not agree more

[chevronb37]

Voted with my feet and took the train. So much easier and works out about the same on price from Leeds.

[MikeO996]

Tickets on the day -£32
Advance tickets -£30 plus a £2 booking fee, now there's a con!

[Davey S2]

One of the reasons I decided not to go this year. Another cost on top of what is an already expensive day for a show that I have always found a bit 'Meh'

[tr7v8]

Yup one of the reasons I don't do anything at NEC. It is a fair walk after paying your £8 as well. Same for NEC Classic show.

[Thekoolio]

For those travelling from outside midlands, I suggest parking in or around Birmingham then catching train or bus. As most of you guys have shown train is the best option. I go to the NEC regularly and I travel from New Street station in Birmingham and park on the street in town

[JamesHayward]

Yea I would suggest getting the train where you can as well. The NEC are now charging £10 to park for the day and sadly that is their charge, not ours. So nothing we can do about it.

[sday12]

Apart from changing the venue.

[Viper]

there's free car parking at Marston Green station which is just a few miles from the NEC itself

x3 trains per hour, next stop on the line is Birmingham International (which is connected to the NEC)

[peteO]

dont know if someone has mentioned it already as cant be @rsed reading all the replies...

i went to motorcycle live last month and they were charging the same (for cars anyway - bikes could park for free)... a lot of people were saying you could park at a local train station for free and then get the train in to the NEC itself. Not entirely sure of the station but it might be worth a look

[JamesHayward]

sday12 said:

Apart from changing the venue.

We've looked into that before and the NEC still wins hands down.

[sday12]

Viper said:

there's free car parking at Marston Green station which is just a few miles from the NEC itself

x3 trains per hour, next stop on the line is Birmingham International (which is connected to the NEC)

Good shout.

[peter8171]

Alternative to getting train in is to park at the airport train station if you arrive after 10am. Then it is a fiver for the day. Walk into the station and along the walkway into the NEC. Parking is closer and undercover all the way in to show.

[Helluvaname]

Which Halls is Autosport in this year?

[Helluvaname]

Ah found it, Autosport is Halls 4-9 and 19-20, but not sure about the Pistonheads show.

[S. Gonzales Esq.]

If you're there at the end of the day, the car park attendants clock off at 6pm and leave the barriers up...

[JamesHayward]

Helluvaname said:

Ah found it, Autosport is Halls 4-9 and 19-20, but not sure about the Pistonheads show.

PistonHeads is Hall 19. Basically it works like this....

Hall 9 - Autosport Engineering (Trade) / Interactive Content (Weekend)
Hall 8 - Trade & Technical, MIA International Business Lounge
Hall 7 - Trade & Technical, Careers in Motorsport
Hall 6 - National & Club Motorsport, Merchandisers, Historic Motorsport
Hall 20 - Large International Stands, Manufacturers etc
Hall 19 - The Performance Car Show: powered by PistonHeads.com

Hall 4 - Caterham Driving Experience, Club 100 Kart Track
Hall 5 - Live Action Arena

A floorplan will be available shortly.

Thanks & Merry Xmas!

James

[JamesHayward]

S. Gonzales Esq. said:

If you're there at the end of the day, the car park attendants clock off at 6pm and leave the barriers up...

I think that might depend on the carpark. When I left Top Gear Live at nearly 7pm (an hour after it closed) I still had to present my ticket to get out.

[S. Gonzales Esq.]

JamesHayward said:

I think that might depend on the carpark.

Fair point- there's one show I go to each year that closes at 5.30 and I always get away with it, but I'm not a regular visitor.

[HaylingJag]

get there at 10am leave at 6pm= 8 hours.........its a pound an hour ffs, how much you guys earn??;)