Cardiff's Commitment to Speedway Grand Prix
Such was the success of the 2009 FIM British Speedway Grand Prix at the Millennium Stadium that fans are already snapping up tickets for next year’s event. On a glorious weekend in Cardiff, over 40,000 Speedway fans watched Jason Crump enter the history books after winning the 21st Grand Prix of his career and a hat trick at the Millennium Stadium.
Key stakeholders in the city have moved swiftly to ensure that the success of this year’s Grand Prix will be repeated next year and beyond by putting in place a ground-breaking agreement known as the Cardiff Commitment. The agreement between Cardiff & Co, the Millennium Stadium and the Cardiff Hoteliers’ Association will see 20% of the city-region’s bed capacity set aside at reasonable rates for conference and event organisers.
Paul Bellamy, managing director, BSI Speedway said: “Next year’s event marks our tenth anniversary at the Millennium Stadium and once again we will be planning a GP that is bigger and better than we have ever had before. We have also been working with the Millennium Stadium and Cardiff and Co to work out a deal with local hoteliers that will mean speedway fans have the opportunity to secure accommodation at reasonable rates and we are delighted that Cardiff and Co have managed to facilitate this.”
Richard Thomas, the Managing Director of Cardiff and Co said, “The Cardiff Commitment reflects the determination of the founder partners to work together for the mutual benefit of their respective businesses and for the local economy in general. The FIM British Speedway Grand Prix in 2010 will be the first beneficiary of our pledge to provide event and conference organisers and their customers with an attractive proposition. Reaching this agreement was quite an achievement – with 23 of the city region’s hotels agreeing to set aside over 1000 beds at favourable rates in partnership with the Millennium Stadium and ourselves.”
He added, “Clearly an agreement of this sort was necessary for the city to remain in the forefront of the events market. For event and conference organisers it also represents a seamless, one stop shop for their business and for their customers. An internet link will appear on the online ticket confirmation page issued by SEE Tickets and Ticketmaster directing ticket buyers to a dedicated web site to book their accommodation”.
Millennium Stadium head of marketing Gwyn Dolphin said, “We are delighted with the Cardiff Commitment which helps us attract must-see events to the stadium.
The stadium has more than a million visitors a year and it is vitally important for many of those people to be able to stay and enjoy the city to the full.”
He added, “We have already had fantastic feedback from the FIM Speedway Grand Prix organisers and the success of this year’s event has undoubtedly strengthened our relationship going forward.”
30/06/2009
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