Goodwood asking for cash from members
Discussion
I got an email yesterday from Goodwood asking me as a member if I was will to donate money to effectively help them with their costs. They have had no revenue since March and all major events for 2020 have been cancelled. One does wonder how many tracks and circuits will be forced to close or sell and lease back to survive.
Dear
Hopefully you’ve now received a letter from The Duke of Richmond with an update regarding this year’s headline motorsport events and your GRRC membership. If you haven’t received it yet, then rest assured that it is on its way, and you can read it here in the meantime. After pursuing many options, we have sadly taken the decision that we will not be holding the Festival of Speed and Goodwood Revival this year. I know for many of you, the Goodwood motorsport events are highlights in your summer calendars and it is upsetting for all that we've had to postpone until 2021.
These will no doubt be challenging times for all of us, as we begin to face the wide-ranging implications of these postponements and the lasting effects of social distancing on our events. With this in mind, it is our hope that with the renewal of the Goodwood Supporters’ Association (GSA) as outlined in the letter, our members and the wider motorsport community will stand together as we weather the storm.
All members who continue their GRRC membership into 2021 will become members of the Goodwood Supporters’ Association and receive exclusive benefits in doing so. Upon renewal, your GRRC membership pack will be dispatched together with your GSA pin badge, windscreen sticker and authentication certificate. You will also be entitled to have your name permanently engraved on the perimeter fence of the motor circuit as a perpetual reminder of your support of Goodwood and historic motorsport.
Those wishing to make a contribution over and above, and upgrade to our GSA Paddock Club, can be part of an exclusive group that have their name forever associated with one of Goodwood’s famous historic paddock shelters on a unique brass plaque – or alternatively you can choose from one of our carefully selected group of prints, showcasing a variety of the most famous Goodwood moments, signed by the Duke of Richmond. In addition, you will be able to enjoy exclusive guided tours of the paddocks during the 2021 season. Taking place at twilight on the eve of each headline motorsport event, these tours will be hosted by Goodwood experts and will enable you to enjoy a magical moment as the competition cars undertake final preparations. Alternatively, if you would like to make an additional donation but do not wish to join the Paddock Club, then your silver pin badge can be exchanged for a commemorative gold one with a discretionary donation.
Hopefully you’ve now received a letter from The Duke of Richmond with an update regarding this year’s headline motorsport events and your GRRC membership. If you haven’t received it yet, then rest assured that it is on its way, and you can read it here in the meantime. After pursuing many options, we have sadly taken the decision that we will not be holding the Festival of Speed and Goodwood Revival this year. I know for many of you, the Goodwood motorsport events are highlights in your summer calendars and it is upsetting for all that we've had to postpone until 2021.
These will no doubt be challenging times for all of us, as we begin to face the wide-ranging implications of these postponements and the lasting effects of social distancing on our events. With this in mind, it is our hope that with the renewal of the Goodwood Supporters’ Association (GSA) as outlined in the letter, our members and the wider motorsport community will stand together as we weather the storm.
All members who continue their GRRC membership into 2021 will become members of the Goodwood Supporters’ Association and receive exclusive benefits in doing so. Upon renewal, your GRRC membership pack will be dispatched together with your GSA pin badge, windscreen sticker and authentication certificate. You will also be entitled to have your name permanently engraved on the perimeter fence of the motor circuit as a perpetual reminder of your support of Goodwood and historic motorsport.
Those wishing to make a contribution over and above, and upgrade to our GSA Paddock Club, can be part of an exclusive group that have their name forever associated with one of Goodwood’s famous historic paddock shelters on a unique brass plaque – or alternatively you can choose from one of our carefully selected group of prints, showcasing a variety of the most famous Goodwood moments, signed by the Duke of Richmond. In addition, you will be able to enjoy exclusive guided tours of the paddocks during the 2021 season. Taking place at twilight on the eve of each headline motorsport event, these tours will be hosted by Goodwood experts and will enable you to enjoy a magical moment as the competition cars undertake final preparations. Alternatively, if you would like to make an additional donation but do not wish to join the Paddock Club, then your silver pin badge can be exchanged for a commemorative gold one with a discretionary donation.
Please be kind to Earl of March, as me may be struggling, too...?!
After all; He’s only worth approx £215 million...and had an annual turnover of over £100 million (lots of burgers sold there, then?!) and only ended up with a measly profit of just £21.7 million, for last year....
Just managing, then ?
After all; He’s only worth approx £215 million...and had an annual turnover of over £100 million (lots of burgers sold there, then?!) and only ended up with a measly profit of just £21.7 million, for last year....
Just managing, then ?
I had a look at the last Goodwood accounts which were published in October last year. They cover the 12 months up to 31st December 2018...the Goodwood Road Racing Company contributed £6m (dividend) to the parent company (Goodwood Estate).
The parent company distributed no dividends. It seems to me therefore that the bulk, if not all, of the profits from the activities down at the circuit (plus those from FoS) will have been re-invested into the maintenance and development of the estate and its business activities which I think is right and proper.
I've joined the GSA as a Paddock Club Member...not to be elitist in any way but because GW and the GRRC have provided me with a huge amount of enjoyment since the early Festivals and I want to support them. Over the years I've been able to be near machinery and people that I would never have seen or met; I've made friends through the GRRC and at the events, and I don't want to lose that.
I'm not wealthy at all, but I generally (by being careful) get a lot of value out of GW. If I compare the cost of attending other sporting events it all seems OK to me.
Also I remember that Members Meetings were run at a loss for some years and that goes for other GW events too.
I'm looking forward to 2021 at Goodwood so I want to make sure that it's all still there...and that very much includes the hundreds of people which GW employs permanently together with the temporary staff at the events. There are also all of their suppliers to think about, and the impact on the local economy.
The parent company distributed no dividends. It seems to me therefore that the bulk, if not all, of the profits from the activities down at the circuit (plus those from FoS) will have been re-invested into the maintenance and development of the estate and its business activities which I think is right and proper.
I've joined the GSA as a Paddock Club Member...not to be elitist in any way but because GW and the GRRC have provided me with a huge amount of enjoyment since the early Festivals and I want to support them. Over the years I've been able to be near machinery and people that I would never have seen or met; I've made friends through the GRRC and at the events, and I don't want to lose that.
I'm not wealthy at all, but I generally (by being careful) get a lot of value out of GW. If I compare the cost of attending other sporting events it all seems OK to me.
Also I remember that Members Meetings were run at a loss for some years and that goes for other GW events too.
I'm looking forward to 2021 at Goodwood so I want to make sure that it's all still there...and that very much includes the hundreds of people which GW employs permanently together with the temporary staff at the events. There are also all of their suppliers to think about, and the impact on the local economy.
Edited by Paul Leek on Saturday 27th June 12:24
Edited by Paul Leek on Saturday 27th June 15:24
foliedouce said:
Of which I have to say the organisation seems amateur hour... I keep getting emails saying they will tell us what time to be there tomorrow, but none with the time or any of the other promised instructions. Will report back if we get the instructions and actually get there!Everyone has a choice, Goodwood have given multiple options from rolling over tickets / refunds / exchanging ticket value for GSA membership, giving GSA membership to those that continue with the GRRC, I really can't see what else they could have done, as others have said the money made from the 3 flagship Motorsport events gets put back into making the estate and future events continue and improve, I'm in no way a member of 'high society' but I do get tremendous enjoyment out of going to Goodwood and I've been lucky enough to be involved with displaying and demonstrating cars there, I want the events to continue so that's why I've joined the GSA.
mk1coopers said:
Everyone has a choice, Goodwood have given multiple options from rolling over tickets / refunds / exchanging ticket value for GSA membership, giving GSA membership to those that continue with the GRRC, I really can't see what else they could have done, as others have said the money made from the 3 flagship Motorsport events gets put back into making the estate and future events continue and improve, I'm in no way a member of 'high society' but I do get tremendous enjoyment out of going to Goodwood and I've been lucky enough to be involved with displaying and demonstrating cars there, I want the events to continue so that's why I've joined the GSA.
+1mk1coopers said:
Everyone has a choice, Goodwood have given multiple options from rolling over tickets / refunds / exchanging ticket value for GSA membership, giving GSA membership to those that continue with the GRRC, I really can't see what else they could have done, as others have said the money made from the 3 flagship Motorsport events gets put back into making the estate and future events continue and improve, I'm in no way a member of 'high society' but I do get tremendous enjoyment out of going to Goodwood and I've been lucky enough to be involved with displaying and demonstrating cars there, I want the events to continue so that's why I've joined the GSA.
+2mk1coopers said:
Everyone has a choice, Goodwood have given multiple options from rolling over tickets / refunds / exchanging ticket value for GSA membership, giving GSA membership to those that continue with the GRRC, I really can't see what else they could have done, as others have said the money made from the 3 flagship Motorsport events gets put back into making the estate and future events continue and improve, I'm in no way a member of 'high society' but I do get tremendous enjoyment out of going to Goodwood and I've been lucky enough to be involved with displaying and demonstrating cars there, I want the events to continue so that's why I've joined the GSA.
I completely agree, despite being critical of how they've handled COVID.However, I can also 100% see where people are coming from when they have an issue with them on the one hand asking for money, and on the other announcing a behind closed doors event out of the blue. On the surface it makes no sense whatsoever (they've not publicly admitted that it's because they stand to lose more if they don't run it, although I understand that's basically the case). Appear desperate, ask for money to have a tree named after you, then put on what appears to be a very expensive event that nobody can attend. I imagine that frustration will grow further when it's clear that in actual fact, there will be plenty of people in attendance.
I'm sure there will be plenty of people in attendance, they would be needed to run the cars and infrastructure and I'm sure that those not directly involved in the particular race that's going on at any point may well be stood watching the track action, so it will look like there are spectators, but they won't be paying public (at this point you never know as things could change rapidly)
You are right Goodwood do have commitments to their sponsors, (nothing strange here), look what F1 are doing so that the TV companies don't ask for their money back, this is why the event will go out free to air, they will want to get the best viewing figures to fulfil their commitments, yes it's going to cost some money, but better to do that than potentially have to hand back more to Sponsors.
People will make their choices based on their personal circumstances (not just for Goodwood, anything you have plans for) nothing wrong with that, all the businesses out there need to do is their best to and look after current and potential future customers if they want to survive.
You are right Goodwood do have commitments to their sponsors, (nothing strange here), look what F1 are doing so that the TV companies don't ask for their money back, this is why the event will go out free to air, they will want to get the best viewing figures to fulfil their commitments, yes it's going to cost some money, but better to do that than potentially have to hand back more to Sponsors.
People will make their choices based on their personal circumstances (not just for Goodwood, anything you have plans for) nothing wrong with that, all the businesses out there need to do is their best to and look after current and potential future customers if they want to survive.
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