Big weekend costs Swindon £400,000 (From Swindon Advertiser)
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Big weekend costs Swindon £400,000
8:10am Saturday 23rd May 2009 in News
THE Big Weekend cost Swindon about £400,000 with most of the cash going on policing and transport. Now Swindon Council is figuring out how to hold a music festival every year.
It used money put aside for a summer festival in the town centre, marketing money and Government funding to pay for its side of the Radio 1 event.
Fewer than 20 arrests were made at the May 9 and 10 weekend event, with police chiefs describing the operation as a huge success. Hundreds of officers were drafted in to police the festival where 40,000 people packed into Lydiard Park to hear and see The Prodigy, Snow Patrol and Lily Allen.
Coun Phil Young, Swindon Council’s lead member for culture, said the investment has paid off thanks to the national exposure on the town.
He said: “It was difficult, as we didn’t know how much it would cost but we knew that Cardiff spent £500,000 in 2003.
“The location presented us with a challenge, as Lydiard is rural.”
Transport, including AA staff, signage, car parking and stewards, cost £200,000 while the police were paid £160,000.
The remaining £40,000 went on additional security, said Coun Young.
“Hotels received bumper bookings while the economy is in mire,” he said. “It gave the town so much publicity. It gets the town into people’s consciousness.
“The biggest question or comment I have received is: ‘Right, what is happening next year’. There seems to be a real desire from the town to hold a festival on an annual basis. The festival had an impact on the people of West Swindon so we would need to consider the location.
“The Big Weekend was a unique one-off but now we have to sit down and think about what, where and when.”
He thanked council staff and volunteers who acted as litter pickers and stewards.
“When the council went after the Radio 1 Big Weekend we always knew that it would be hugely beneficial to Swindon but I don’t think anyone involved realised just how big it would be.”
He also pointed out the benefits children saw thanks to BBC and council outreach work and the success of the fringe events.
Boy band JLS stunned Nova Hreod School thanks to a surprise visit arranged by BBC Radio 1.
Senior broadcasting staff also visited the town to talk to youngsters about the media.
Comments(37)
john c
says...
8:34am Sat 23 May 09
chipper
says...
9:32am Sat 23 May 09
TGLP
says...
10:03am Sat 23 May 09
More important how much did the council make on our behalf in licences??? hot dogs, icecream etc etc.
As with any numbers game, the income has to be greater than the outgoing,
I dont want to be subsidising a party for kids in a public park to the tune of nearlly half a million every year.
Common Dreads
says...
10:11am Sat 23 May 09
I only wish the Council would use more of it to fund a proper, large scale annual festival (at Lydiard Park) and to assist in creating a purpose built live events venue.
Well done to the Council for helping to make the Big Weekend such a success - let's hope they can build on that and deliver another festival to be proud of in 2010.
inspiron
says...
10:15am Sat 23 May 09
1.How do you know Swindon Football club has never paid any rent etc.
2.What would you spend money on.
3.Spending is a matter of opinion.We have just spent a fortune on the new Library so what is the footfall through that and is it worth the cost per head.
Who paid the policing for Princess Anne to visit.
Its all a matter of opinions.
I feel we should support the football club as well as a party in the park.Its all good for swindons success.
So go back to your darken room and go to sleep.
Bobfm
says...
10:45am Sat 23 May 09
West Swindon venues may have benefited but no this part of Swindon, everyone reported it to be a ghost town including apparently the centre of town.
I am all in favour of a proper concert venue and already suggested Coate Water as being ideal.
TGLP
says...
10:52am Sat 23 May 09
inspiron wrote:
TGLP.You must be over 70 years of age as your comments are so grumpy.I must invite you to my Xmas aprty as i am sure you will cheer everyone up. 1.How do you know Swindon Football club has never paid any rent etc. 2.What would you spend money on. 3.Spending is a matter of opinion.We have just spent a fortune on the new Library so what is the footfall through that and is it worth the cost per head. Who paid the policing for Princess Anne to visit. Its all a matter of opinions. I feel we should support the football club as well as a party in the park.Its all good for swindons success. So go back to your darken room and go to sleep.
I’m not anywhere near that and have seen more groups play than I can count. Including Queen and Floyd, a real hippy in my youth. BUT I paid for the privilege.
1. This paper ran a campaign a few years back saying how much STFC owed in rent. It’s never been paid AFAIK. And would be happy to retract my claim if anyone can prove me wrong.
2. Housing for those that don’t have it and relive for the aged. Thats those who fought for us and went through the hardship of a world war so you and I didn’t have to learn to speak German.
3. Libraries are good; it may help some kid to learn to read. As we are all aware the standards of education are appalling. I have also used many time the reference library to learn law. That’s the bit that says, Ignorance is no defence. I can because of the Library, do my own conveyancing and know my rights. Not as some would like you to understand, a privilege that they can abuse, but my rights.
Support who ever you want but atleast I will allways be able to say I have never ever set foot inside a football ground, and I,m happy with that.
Just as long as I dont have to subsidise football players.
TGLP
says...
10:56am Sat 23 May 09
TGLP
says...
11:01am Sat 23 May 09
They are public servants and we should tell them where we want them and when.
If they dont like those terms the dole que can be shortend and they can be replaced.
The police, doctors, nurses, are all their for our benifit, not the other way round.
TGLP
says...
11:03am Sat 23 May 09
Bobfm wrote:Bob: south marston would be much better.:)
Didn't I read just after the event that it is the BBC who sell the franchises and only 3 Swindon businesses got them. West Swindon venues may have benefited but no this part of Swindon, everyone reported it to be a ghost town including apparently the centre of town. I am all in favour of a proper concert venue and already suggested Coate Water as being ideal.
Always Grumpy
says...
11:22am Sat 23 May 09
I understand from Radio 1 listeners, that for a month leading up to the do, Swindon was being mentioned on the radio every half hour or so and for the right reasons. Positive advertsing of the town like that is priceless and can do nothing but good for Swindon.
Long may it continue.
Bobfm
says...
11:40am Sat 23 May 09
g, the problem is of course as we all know, anyone coming to Swindon at the moment would be sadly disappointed. That would create bad publicity.
What is that Management thing. 1 person keeps good news to themselves, bad news is passed on to 10 people.
Kineasy
says...
11:46am Sat 23 May 09
Swindon Services put in an enormous amount of work, before during and after the event, Closing the park resulted in considerable loss of revenue. Pertemps had to be paid, etc. etc.
Before any decisions on next years event it would be sensible to know the real cost of this year. To intimate that £400,000 was just 'Free' money sloshing about in the council coffers is really not good enough.
If it cost £1 million, fine. Have the people of Swindon recieved good value?
In any event this is public money, needs to be spent wisely and above all accounted for.
If a free concert is a luxury we can afford, great. It just maybe that the more boring, basic services could do with more investment.
I do not know, but I would like to.
Lanky
says...
12:34pm Sat 23 May 09
stoned
says...
2:29pm Sat 23 May 09
ifuwantblood
says...
3:06pm Sat 23 May 09
However I agree that going forward, some careful budgetting should be carried out for any similar future events.
I used to live in Nottingham, and the City Council regularly subsidised big public events, concerts, fairs etc. which helped make it the vibrant and popular city it is, which in turn stimulates the economy. Sometimes you've gotta speculate to accumulate.
Stacko75
says...
3:49pm Sat 23 May 09
TGLP wrote:So who should pay for them and how?
I dont think we should have to pay ANYTHING for policeing.
They are public servants and we should tell them where we want them and when.
If they dont like those terms the dole que can be shortend and they can be replaced.
The police, doctors, nurses, are all their for our benifit, not the other way round.
TGLP
says...
5:59pm Sat 23 May 09
Everyday taxes pay for teachers nurses doctors
Mighty Reds
says...
6:05pm Sat 23 May 09
COME ON YOU REDS..
tradesman
says...
6:15pm Sat 23 May 09
stoned wrote:totally agree, it is shameful a town this size uses a sports hall for concerts.
Well worth the money. As mentioned earlier, would be good to have a bigger permanant venue for concerts & plays
red manc
says...
6:18pm Sat 23 May 09
Mighty Reds wrote:it dont need many police as theres normally more people in tescos than in the ground ...
TGLP.. Your totally mis-informed about swindon town football club. yes Town do pay rent to SBC and fell behind with the rent due to lack of funds. When the club was taken over by Andrew fitton and his backers they cleared all outstanding rent owed to the council and repaid the Taxman several million pounds in over due taxes. Swindon town fans are so well behaved they only have very few police are needed at home games and yes the club do have to pay for policing, the cost was so much the employed their own safety marshalls at the county ground. COME ON YOU REDS..
ArnoldLane
says...
7:27pm Sat 23 May 09
I cannot believe the thousands who took the bus would have moaned too much about paying a couple of pounds each for the return fare.
Mighty Reds
says...
7:35pm Sat 23 May 09
yeti
says...
7:40pm Sat 23 May 09
as swindon council tax payer have paid for it,why didn't sbc demand that all tickets went to swindon residents?
also it leaves a bitter taste that sone were able to attend on boh days whem many didn't get the chance to go at all.
as for coate as a concert venue.will that be when the lake is drained?
who dat?
says...
9:34pm Sat 23 May 09
Which one offers THE BETTER VFM?
Discuss.
dirtyden
says...
12:55am Sun 24 May 09
TGLP wrote:Moron.....this the very reason tghe police charge for policing private events. It allows them to maintain the policing in town, whilst drafting in officers to police this specific event. You're not happy either way ??? The police charge and it's a misuse of taxpayers money, they don't and it's a misuse of taxpayers resources. This is why public sector workers resent people like you....they pay taxes as well, which effectively means they pay their own wages.
They are allready paid for. Check your rates bill, the bigest part is for the police. Everyday taxes pay for teachers nurses doctors
trustnopolitician
says...
9:52am Sun 24 May 09
They also pay rent and business rates.
I want to know under the freedom of information act exactly what income came to the council and how much they had to pay out for the Lydiard Park event.
I'm glad the bigweekend was a success - many enjoyed it. "Not my cup of tea" but can understand some taxpayers money could be spent ,but wasn't this more about the BBC than Swindon.
Kineasy
says...
10:36am Sun 24 May 09
It seems that local and central government have no grasp of the value of money. This maybe that they decide how much they want to spend FIRST and then send the bill to the public.
Some transparency would be good, a bit less creative accounting. Bit less of the Spend it or Lose it mentality and empire building. Cost/Benefit?
I would love to see an annual Pop Festival just tell me what it is really going to cost Swindon. No lies, No spin, No cover ups.
We are all grown-ups and stakeholders in SBC.
peatmoor pirate
says...
12:34pm Sun 24 May 09
More importantly, those who were lucky enough to get tickets (I didn't - my son did - lucky sod!!!) tell me it was an event they will remeber for the rest of their lives.
I say lets get going on a proper concert venue and an annual music festival. Charge a bit to cover costs maybe.
On the STFC front; I believe they are in negotiations with SBC to redevelop the ground either under leasehold or preferably freehold.
Just image, in a few years, Swindon could be known as a hotbed of music and football.
Keep it up SBC, you've done a good job here.
MrAngry
says...
1:00pm Sun 24 May 09
yeti wrote:The BBC organised the event and SBC begged to host it. The terms and conditions were drawn up by the BBC.
i thought the bbc were funding this? as swindon council tax payer have paid for it,why didn't sbc demand that all tickets went to swindon residents? also it leaves a bitter taste that sone were able to attend on boh days whem many didn't get the chance to go at all. as for coate as a concert venue.will that be when the lake is drained?
The BBC insisted that it was a free event, which is why SBC couldn't charge for the park and ride.
BBC were responsible for the costs of everything inside the event and SBC paid for everything outside. The BBC profited from food/alcohol sales etc.
The BBC also dictated the ticket policy. This was really a BBC event. SBC provided a venue in exchange for a lot of publicity.
security word: wash-hair
MrAngry
says...
1:13pm Sun 24 May 09
stoned wrote:Hopefully we will have an annual event, but I can't see it being on the same scale. The BBC have massive pulling power with the bands, SBC have none.
Well worth the money. As mentioned earlier, would be good to have a bigger permanant venue for concerts & plays
The £400,000 costs were for the transport/police etc, and don't include the costs incurred by the BBC or the revenue earned.
If a venue like this really only cost £400,000 it would be easy - just charge the 40,000 people a tenner each.
A private funded Party in the Park style event is probably more realistic, with SBC possibly providing a subsidy in the form of a free venue.
Kineasy
says...
3:28pm Sun 24 May 09
MrAngry wrote:Cannot really say if it was well worth the money, as we still do not know the actual cost to the people of Swindon.
stoned wrote: Well worth the money. As mentioned earlier, would be good to have a bigger permanant venue for concerts & playsHopefully we will have an annual event, but I can't see it being on the same scale. The BBC have massive pulling power with the bands, SBC have none. The £400,000 costs were for the transport/police etc, and don't include the costs incurred by the BBC or the revenue earned. If a venue like this really only cost £400,000 it would be easy - just charge the 40,000 people a tenner each. A private funded Party in the Park style event is probably more realistic, with SBC possibly providing a subsidy in the form of a free venue.
The £400,000 guess-timate will become reality by tomorrow morning.
This years event has provided a lot of experience, lets have a realistic review, including costs. Cut the crap and BBC/SBC spin. Then we could start on planning the next event. Smaller and cheaper or Bigger and Better, realistic and achievable.
Common Dreads
says...
12:00pm Mon 25 May 09
Even at the lower end, the ticket revenues alone would raise £1.2 million. Easily enough to cover all costs.
And that's before we take into account the fact that the Council had permission for a maximum of 29,000 capacity on both days - which would bump the revenue up considerably were they to relase another 5,000 or so tickets.
Yes, the BBC is able to attract bigger acts (due to the huge amount of free promotion they receive) but bands play for money - with those kind of ticket receipts SBC could get decent headliners and a decent supporting line-up. There is easily enough local talent to run an outdoor DJ based dance music stage, similar to that the BBC put on.
Also, SBC should be using the leverage of sold out dates at the Oasis (at c.£25 per ticket) as a draw for artists to play a Lydiard based festival.
It really isn't too much of a stretch for this to happen. It'll just take some effort and will on the part of the Council.
Kineasy
says...
12:51pm Mon 25 May 09
As the police are already taking huge sums of money out of Swindon maybe they would offer their services at a discount!
Glastonbury seems to survive without a massive subsidy from local ratepayers.
Revenues in excess of £2million, a few World class performers,a permanant organising body, a charitable trust.
The world of music is Big Business it is no place for local politicians and bureaucrats.
SWINDON 20-10
Could be Massive!
Kineasy
says...
11:33am Tue 26 May 09
Common Dreads wrote:Good post CD. There is clearly a demand for such an event. The music industry and private enterprise could put on a spectacular show. SBC would not need to go on an ego trip or spend squillions of quids.
The normal ticket price for a festival of the nature of the Big Weekend would be anything from £60 to £120 (for both days). Even at the lower end, the ticket revenues alone would raise £1.2 million. Easily enough to cover all costs. And that's before we take into account the fact that the Council had permission for a maximum of 29,000 capacity on both days - which would bump the revenue up considerably were they to relase another 5,000 or so tickets. Yes, the BBC is able to attract bigger acts (due to the huge amount of free promotion they receive) but bands play for money - with those kind of ticket receipts SBC could get decent headliners and a decent supporting line-up. There is easily enough local talent to run an outdoor DJ based dance music stage, similar to that the BBC put on. Also, SBC should be using the leverage of sold out dates at the Oasis (at c.£25 per ticket) as a draw for artists to play a Lydiard based festival. It really isn't too much of a stretch for this to happen. It'll just take some effort and will on the part of the Council.
Just be a bit cooperative. With the best will in the world, local councillors and politicians are not best suited to mounting an event of this size.
I agree with you CD. practical, achievable and repeatable. Win Win
kyalami
says...
5:10pm Thu 28 May 09
I had a fab time at Big Weekend so £400,000 well spent, I say.
Sorry to all those that didn't get tickets and still have to subsidise it though.......
swindonguy28 says...
8:30am Sat 23 May 09