Air Show Pricing

Hi Michael,

Admittedly I am an EAA staff member, so I haven't had to "pay" to attend AirVenture in about 7 years now, unless you count having to work during the convention and missing much of what goes on.  But to address your post:

-Weather and airplane attendance:  I'm fairly certain overall attendance was up for both visitors and airplanes in 2009.  What exactly was it that you missed? 

- Pricing:  just my opinion (admittedly biased), but I think EAA's pricing for AirVenture is extremely competitive - for $37 a day (non-member pricing) you have access to hundreds of informational forums, various entertainers (evening music, comedians, etc), hundreds of vendors, AND a world-class air show.   IF all AirVenture was about was just an air show, with nothing else offered, you might have a valid point.  But have you been to music concert from a Top-40 entertainer lately?  You're looking at a minimum $75 and up for 2 or 3 hours of entertainment, versus an entire day of activities during AirVenture.  Have you been to a Major League Baseball game lately?  Or an NFL game?  They are not cheap!  Most major airshows are charging $20 and up for admission.  For example, the Dayton Air Show is charging $20 for adult admission, and the Thunder Over Michigan show is charging $30 for adult admission.  Most shows are offering lower advance ticket prices, including EAA - I highly suggest taking advantage of this for any show you plan on attending this year.  All the freebies you can pick up during AirVenture from the sponsors, vendors, etc. are generally worth $37 in and of themselves.  So again, I'd argue that our prices are right in line with other major events. 

- As an organization we are trying to be fair to vistors, vendors, performers and sponsors.  Overcharging one or the other to subsidize someone else's costs just doesn't work.  We (EAA) have been doing this for a very long time, and prices are the way they are for a reason. 

I don't know what else to tell you, other than I hope to see you in 2010! 

Zack

I agree with Michael, EAA needs to make more of an effort to reduce the cost of attending AirVenture.  I really want to attend AirVenture but the cost of getting there, renting a place to stay, and admission to AirVenture for the week makes it cost prohibitive.  Maybe the big airshows could be on just Saturday and Sunday since most of us have seen many many airshows.  I don't think the vendors should be charged more because that would likely result in less vendors and that would be a bad thing.  Perhaps if we focus AirVenture on what most members want form EAA we could find some areas in which we could reduce or eliminate cost so the cost of tickets could be reduced.

I don't think your examples of professional sporting events or concerts is valid because for the price of a ticket to one of those events one gets to see the entire show but one can not see all of AirVenture for the price of a one day admission ticket. I hope those of you at EAA HQ are listening and sincerely make an effort to reduce the cost of attend AirVenture so more members and non-members will be able to attend.

Ted

Airventure is one of the best deals going and if anything is underpriced.  Nowhere can you see so much for so little.  If you want a comparison go price a NASCAR event.  Even if you have to attend several days the admission cost is low compared to what you see and experience.  There is no camparison anywhere in the world.  Last year was a record in all areas which says EAA is doing it right.  My preference is lower attendance at higher prices which will draw a more serious crowd and maintain the revenue.    

These prices are more than reasonable.  I've never been but am going this year and can already see the value (in my opinion)  Many other events that have this type of quality are easily a lot more money.

garth

Lest we forget, pilot starts, and more importantly, pilot completions are down.  Although AirVenture is a great convention for the membership, a lot of the draw is people that are interested in aviation.  We need to be inclusive and try to get those people "over the fence" and into airplanes.  The more we people we draw in the better off we are.

I wonder what percentage of attendees are EAA members.  Seeing as non-members pay a higher price the more non-members the better as long as the event stays focused.   Agree that the more inclusive the better.    

 I think the price isn't bad at all. If you come just for the air show, I would maybe feel the same. But this is a all day event, you will not find any where. Just the free stuff you can get from vendors, hats-etc, pays for the admission. After the sun goes down, you can grab a movie and popcorn. No extra cost.

Seems that the masses actually come to see airplanes if I'm not too far off. For those that fly in and do have experimental, antique, classic, etc, and park in show-plane parking, you'd think that we'd get a break on admission, but that isn't the case. I know the warbird guys get their own breaks but us non-warbird participants get to pay full price on admission (OK, we get a mug and patch), and if you're camping in non-North -40, we get to pay full $ for that as well. One would think that for being part of the overall attraction, we'd get a small break...

This is a never ending debate, and in the end we all drink the juice anyway.

*EDITED*

What "Freebies" did you get that are worth including into the price of admission?

This is one of those "hamster wheel debates" - you can't please everyone all the time.  But picking up points from Zack & Frank Juedes posts got me thinking.  How about breaking down some of the things that are going on in a day at AV and trying to price them individually, then comparing that to the price for AV?  I tried to pick things that you could reasonably do in one day without being a marathon runner.

If I want to add an airshow - just an airshow, mind, nothing else.  You may get one or some of these, but probably not all of them - forums, veterans, historical, record breaking, futuristic, or any other kind, of aircraft to meet/prowl around, museum access, vendors to window shop in.  Just an airshow.  Zack reckoned somewhere between $20 and $30 depending on which airshow.  So lets average that at $25.

Normal museum entrance fees?  $8.75 for an adult ticket to the AirVenture museum.  Access is included in the AV ticket price.  And don't forget, that includes access to the Museum Speaker showcase, not just a tour of the collection.  I looked up the Milwaukee Public museum for a comparison.  Their adult ticket costs $12.  This does not include any of the special exhibits or Imax theater.  Plus (again, PLUS, not less) - "There is a 12% convenience fee for online ticket purchases" or $5 for phone purchases on the day.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not here to bash MPM, I think it is a fantastic museum, and am happy to pay for a visit.   I'm just using it for a comparison.

If I go to the Oshkosh cinema, a quick check of the website shows me that tickets are $8.75, plus (yes, PLUS, not less) a $1.00 service fee if I book in advance.  If I want to buy some popcorn, that is about another $2 or $3.  So to be conservative, lets say $2.  Now I'm looking at $10 just to watch a movie.  Which keeps me entertained, (or not!) for about 1.5 to 2hrs at the most.

If you don't fancy the movie theatre, how about Theatre in the Woods?  I'm not sure you can put a price on that - whether it is Richard Branson, Mike Melville and Burt Rutan on stage, or the Lt Dan Band, or any one of the other events that are held there in the evening.  So I'll just stick without pricing it, and see it as an alternative if you don't want to take in the fly-in movie theatre.

So, to recap....

Non-AV                                                AV

Movie & popcorn -     $10                 included

Airshow -                     $25                included

Museum visit -            $8.75            included

Total -                          $43.75            $37 (or $35 if you book in advance, with NO booking fee)

I think thats not bad.  And I'm Scottish, for goodness sake     

Mr Herlt, I hope you reconsider your feelings on the entrance fee.  I don't think anyone could deny that, for a full day's entertainment, you get your money's worth.

Anyone see the NASCAR race on sunday?

This is exactly why EAA should listen to its customers.....

For those that didn't, the stands were less than half full.

Eventually it catches up to you.

For what it's worth, I also noticed that NASCAR prices for most races are on average twice the price of an AirVenture daily ticket, and typically more like 3 or 4 times the price. 

Until we start playing bumper tag with airplanes and acting like 2 year olds I think we are OK.  NASCAR has a myriad of problems none of which are related to EAA. 

I got 5 free hats, sunglasses and 2 sets of playing cards. Go to Disney once, then tell me your paying to much.

As a board member of the Mid-Eastern Regional Fly-In (MERFI), I agree with the MERFI board’s decision to waive the admission fee for all pilots of aircraft who attend this year’s event. Most pilots will spend well over $100 to fly to MERFI.  So, to show our appreciation and to encourage them to come, these pilots will not be charged.

Last year, over 300 aircraft flew into Urbana, Ohio for the two day MERFI event.

I know that one can’t compare Oshkosh with MERFI. Yet, I wanted you to know how a small show is reacting to this economy.

Michael,   it's refereed to as OSHCASH by most of my friends, BUT, where else can you go and do so much and have the time of your life ??????? for a whole week????  Yes, i agree that it costs a lot, 2 years ago I spent $600.00 in gas round trip just to attend,$220.00 for primitive camping, $110.00 for a ticket, A bunch for $5.00 hamburgers, $4.00 french fries, both of which are dried out and seldom warm, $2.50-$3.00 for WATER etc........  I save up $1,000.00 for a year, every year, and  have the time of my life for a week! Do i like the total cost?   NO!!!   but like hundreds of thousands of others, I do it. And I will continue to do so until GOD tells me I can't, thats why the prices will remain high and go even HIGHER until we quit attending.

As for me, I hope to see you there because I will be attending OSHKOSH, the GREATEST aviation event in the world.

Brian

I"m Canadian, came to Oshkosh the last two years running, I have to tell you that it is more than worth the price of admission.

Each year we have the Canadian aviation expo, you could get through it in about 90 min. and it is only about 5bucks less. It would be like comparing little league baseball to the World series. 2008 was my first year and when I got there I was in complete AHHH!!!

                                Thats my take

                                      Sam