- CEO says accommodation costs affecting attendance
- Course claims that changes will spark revival in 2026
Cheltenham racecourse has effectively confirmed that crowds at its showpiece meeting will be down for the third year running when the 2025 festival opens on Tuesday, while also suggesting that “unforgettable days out” for racegoers this year will be the catalyst for a revival in the festival’s fortunes from 2026.
The overall attendance at last year’s Cheltenham festival was 229,999, a drop of 18% on the record attendance of 280,627 in 2022, amid complaints from racegoers about the price of admission, food, drink and accommodation in the local area for spectators attending multiple days.
Written by Greg Wood
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/mar/10/cheltenham-festival-crowds-down-third-year-running-horse-racing under the title “Cheltenham festival crowds will be down this week for third year running”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
