Press Releases
University to conduct 2nd Reading Festival study – Will this year’s be worth as much to the area?
Release Date : 25 August 2010
Performers at the Reading Festival won't be the only ones making notes this weekend. Once again Reading researchers will be surveying Festival goers to discover how this year's event compares to last year in terms of financial benefit to the town.
In 2009, a similar assessment found that total gross spend associated with Reading Festival in 2009 was over £31 million, with more than £16 million of this being attributed to spending in the Reading region.
Gerri Excell, School Teaching and Learning Manager in the University's School of Construction Management and Engineering, will lead 14 undergraduates down to the site this Thursday. Last year 2200 surveys were completed by the students. This year's study will allow like to like comparisons to be made and provide a database for future evaluations.
Gerri Excell said: "The Reading Festival is a landmark for the town. I was amazed last year at how much money is generated by the event, both here in Reading and nationally. With a new Government it will be interesting to see if there are any changes to spending patterns and although we are still in recession, live music and festivals still seem to be going strong. We will find out!"
The Economic Impact Assessment of Reading Festival, commissioned by organisers Festival Republic, is not only an important study that provides valuable data during this tough economic climate. It is also an essential exercise for those students taking part.
Gerri Excell explained: "Our students are involved not only with technical construction but also sustainability and building costs. Collecting the data also highlights the importance of professional project management."
Ends
For all University of Reading media enquiries please contact James Barr, Press Officer te.l 0118 378 7115 or email j.w.barr@reading.ac.uk
Notes for Editors:
In 2009 the Assessment found that total gross spend associated with Reading Festival in 2009 was over £31 million, with more than £16 million of this being attributed to spending in the Reading area.
Two main components contributed to the expenditure; spending by visitors to the festival and expenditure by Festival Republic in producing the festival.
Festival goer (visitor) spending by over 90,000 people who attended the festival across the August Bank Holiday weekend (staff, traders, weekend and day ticket holder) amounted to an estimated £19,286,481 (an average of £209.19 per visitor - excluding entry ticket but including transport).
This visitor expenditure information was based on 2200 interviews carried out on site over four days by the Reading team.