17.01.12 - THE GRAND NATIONAL

Grand National Sales Remain On Track

With just 12 weeks to go until the 2012 John Smith’s Grand National meeting, Aintree Racecourse reported that ticket sales for Grand National Day, Saturday, April 14, remain 16% ahead of sales pace.

The 2011 event, which took place from Thursday, April 7 – Saturday, April 9, witnessed a sell out attendance on Grand National Day and was the first time the event completely sold out in 30 years.  Aintree’s famous Ladies’ Day, staged on Friday of the meeting, also sold out prior to the event.  The 2011 Grand National achieved a TV viewing audience of 8.8 million viewers in the UK alone, more than the FA Cup Final and achieving a 63% audience share of the available viewing audience.

Commenting on strong sales, Julian Thick, Managing Director, Aintree Racecourse, said: ‘We are delighted that sales continue to be strong for Grand National Day.  Pleasingly, Ladies Day remains 5% ahead of sales pace and Liverpool Day is marginally ahead by 1%.  With entries for the race closing in just two weeks time, creating the narrative for the race, we’re confident the momentum and excitement will build as we enter our crucial sales window.’

Since last year’s festival, The John Smith’s Grand National has won the coveted title of Tourism Event of the Year at The Mersey Partnership Tourism Awards.  Latest availability on ticket and dining package for the 2012 John Smith’s Grand meeting can be found at www.aintree.co.uk.