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Cheltz Fest 2021 Behind Closed Doors ?

SW - do you know how many members Cheltenham have and whether they restrict the numbers of membership they sell ?
 
Hate this thread, dont want to even consider this atm. Flights and accomodation already booked
 
Istabraq said:
SW - do you know how many members Cheltenham have and whether they restrict the numbers of membership they sell ?
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I'm not sure if Annual Membership has ever been restricted, like a football club selling season tickets they would probably sell as many as possible.

The Annual cost is £410, just over £100 more than buying 4-day club ticket for the Festival - but giving access to more Annual Members facilities, as well as all the other meetings.

I read on the email that they are transferring the whole of the new stand "The Princess Royal stand" over to Annual Members only to ensure they can socially distance, by having more space, bars, toilets etc.

I'm presuming if/when we can go racing this season, that if its on a maximum numbers basis then it would be Annual Members only to begin with.
If there are too many of us then it could be that we have to vote/say we want to attend on a meeting by meeting basis, until things fully open.

I'd love to go for 3 days in November with only 5000 allowed in. :applause:

Another message on email is its all "card only", no cash on course in bars, etc.

They are looking to see if on-course bookmakers can do card only too.
 
It’s only August......my contribution to this thread.

I get the bookmaker said it but it’s pure speculation unless he’s mystic Meg and can see into the future of what the situation would be like.

Thought the Covid thread was long gone from 2020 :dejection::highly_amused:
 
Thanks SW, that’s how I see it and the reason I ask about membership numbers is that should capacity be limited to 20,000 how many, if any, tickets are likely to go on general sale when they add up all owners, media, catering/security staff etc with the membership attendees, every chance this takes the numbers very close.
In other words buying membership may be the only way of getting in...
 
Craigy14 said:
It’s only August......my contribution to this thread.

I get the bookmaker said it but it’s pure speculation unless he’s mystic Meg and can see into the future of what the situation would be like.

Thought the Covid thread was long gone from 2020 :dejection::highly_amused:
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We all want to be positive Craigy but Cheltenham themselves are using very strong language about social distancing and highly likely there’ll be restrictions on capacity.
I know there are detailed discussions taking place between racing authorities and government on this so I have to assume the strength
of language being used reflects the thinking...
 
It would be a nice bookend (professor yaffle) if the Festival 2021 was the first fully attended sports event over 50k since they were the last to do so.
It's all about priorities.

If they won't let me in.
I'll be having a picnic (including a scotch egg) on cleeve hill, naked, clutching some high powered binoculars. With my own big screen (Iphone 11 pro).
 
In fact I might do that anyway.
 
Saxon Warrior said:
I'm not sure if Annual Membership has ever been restricted, like a football club selling season tickets they would probably sell as many as possible.

The Annual cost is £410, just over £100 more than buying 4-day club ticket for the Festival - but giving access to more Annual Members facilities, as well as all the other meetings.

I read on the email that they are transferring the whole of the new stand "The Princess Royal stand" over to Annual Members only to ensure they can socially distance, by having more space, bars, toilets etc.

I'm presuming if/when we can go racing this season, that if its on a maximum numbers basis then it would be Annual Members only to begin with.
If there are too many of us then it could be that we have to vote/say we want to attend on a meeting by meeting basis, until things fully open.

I'd love to go for 3 days in November with only 5000 allowed in. :applause:

Another message on email is its all "card only", no cash on course in bars, etc.

They are looking to see if on-course bookmakers can do card only too.
Click to expand...

Bookies can only take max £45 on course via card. Takes ages having it paid out to card. Won't happen.
 
Gets a bit chilly up there Q, I nailed a 3 wood off the 12th tee there once and the thing nearly finished behind me...
 
Istabraq said:
Gets a bit chilly up there Q, I nailed a 3 wood off the 12th tee there once and the thing nearly finished behind me...
Click to expand...

Cheers Ista.
I'll take a windbreaker.
And a driving Iron.
 
Lobos said:
Not according to my bookie mate. He is in his 60's though !!
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They could have slim pickings then across the country when racing opens up to spectators.

I don’t tend to bet on-course at all, and never do at Cheltenham.
Looks like cash punters would have to put their bets on in the town centre and then get the raceday bus up to the track.
 
Saxon Warrior said:
I just got my Annual Renewal email for Cheltenham members badge for the season.

The full paperwork is in the post to me, but early signs are they plan to charge full price on membership and refund back to us each time we can't attend a meeting because we're not permitted on track.

Its probably all they can do at the moment to:-

A) Get all the members renewal money
B) Show them how they will pay it back if there is no racing to watch, on a meeting by meeting basis.
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Assume ur renewing Saxon?

I plan to definitely 😀
 
FAQ’s on Cheltenham Membership

Will I be able to reserve a Grandstand seat?

Due to Social Distancing measures, it will no longer be possible to request/select a specific seat.
Seating will be allocated prior to racedays by the racecourse in line with Social Distancing measures at that time.

What if racing doesn’t proceed to allow spectators, and ai have already paid for my membership?

In the event that restrictions are put in place that mean you will not be able to attend racing the following rebates will be provided:
October 23 & 24 - £10 per day
November 13, 14 & 15 - £15 per day
December 11 & 12 - £10 per day

Of course this will be reviewed later in the year in respect of next year’s meetings. For 18-28 members, the rebates will be 50% of the above

Will entry to the racecourse change?

You will be asked to queue in line with social distancing rules. This may affect the speed in which you access the course.

Running to secure seats first will no longer be tolerated and you will be asked to remain at a safe distance after you have entered the racecourse.

Will numbers be limited in Members facilites?

It is highly likely that numbers will be limited during racedays in each facility. However, to ensure that you still have a dedicated space and area exclusive to you, we will be opening the public areas of the Princess Royal Stand for our Cheltenham Racecourse members only. This includes, the Vestey Bar, Champagne Bar and the entirety of the stand steppings overlooking the course. This is in addition to the usual Annual Members Bar in the Princess Royal Stand.

Do I need to have a health screening?

It is likely that all Members attending racing will be required to complete a health questionnaire prior to their attendance. This will also help us determine how many visitors we will have on site on a raceday. If this is the case you will not be permitted to enter the Racecourse if you have not completed this. If this is a requirement you will be contacted ahead of each raceday.

This is why it is imperative that we have all your contact information including an email address so please ensure you complete this on the renewal form. If this is not completed or the requested information cannot be provided this will affect your application. For this reason, we insist that memberships are not transferrable and only the member themselves can use the membership. ID checks will be performed upon entry.

Will you accept cash on-course? - better news in the FAQs for on-course bookmakers accepting cash.

For clarity, bookmakers may of course continue to accept cash at their own discretion, discussions are currently taking place between the Racecourse Association and betting operators as to the extent that bookmakers can increase their level of cashless transactions.

In order to protect our employees and customers from the requirement to handle cash during the Covid pandemic, all admissions, food and drink transactions will be cashless at the racecourse.
 
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This is an awful thread that’s done nothing but make us all think about the possibility of missing the festival. We’ve probably all thought about it but put the horrifying idea to the back of our minds locked away. But to see it on FJ.. awful. Four pages too. Hang your heads the lot of you. :highly_amused:
 
Kevloaf said:
I don't think I'll be going next year.

Better on TV isn't it, I love to know what the social stable is up to and I miss that on course.
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Sit in the Quevega bar and watch in person, great way to spend your day
 
Hurricane fly said:
Sit in the Quevega bar and watch in person, great way to spend your day
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:highly_amused:

The people that hang around the Social Stable encapsulate everything wrong with a generation.
 
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