December 13, 2006
Ascot Racecourse Announces Plans for 2007 Improvement Work
In June this year Ascot Racecourse reopened with a new realigned track and grandstand, replacing its outdated 40-year old predecessor. The new grandstand was built over a period of 20 months and was delivered on time and on budget. Experience of the building since June has enabled Ascot to identify its successes and as is inevitable with any major redevelopment, the areas that need improvement.
Since June, Ascot has welcomed extensive feedback from all of its customer groups. A thorough analysis of this feedback, together with an independent review undertaken by Peter Rogers, Technical Director, Stanhope, has now been completed. The review has highlighted many successes in the design and running of the new facilities, including the removal of the crossings over the track, the new track surfaces, removal of the pedestrian tunnel under the Royal Enclosure, many aspects of the stand itself, and the new parade ring at the heart of the site.
A programme of works is now underway to address the areas that have been identified for improvement, focusing on aspects relating to the Silver Ring, Royal Enclosure, Viewing and General Admission, as follows:
Silver Ring
Close to 19,000 people visit the Silver Ring on the busiest days during Royal Ascot and the temporary surfaces in 2006 were not of the quality that Ascot believes to be acceptable. They will be enhanced for Royal Ascot 2007 with additional lawned areas and the range of catering and presentation of amenities will also be much better. The site will generally be dressed to a higher standard.
For some racegoers in the Silver Ring there was also a feeling of remoteness from the track and some difficulty in negotiating the viewing bank. To address this, the eastern end of the Silver Ring lawns will be re-profiled and the lawns will be re-graded to improve viewing and access. Other operational improvements will also be made, including the provision of a temporary 2000-seater stand.
Royal Enclosure
The Royal Enclosure is a vital part of Ascot’s heritage and thereby remains a key priority. In 2007 the Royal Enclosure will be extended beyond the existing Level 4 area in the new stand to include a dedicated area at concourse level in the western end of the stand, leading to an exclusive large lawned area in the Old Paddock. These areas will incorporate clubs, restaurants, bars, betting facilities and large TV screens.
The Duke of Devonshire, Her Majesty’s Representative and Chairman at Ascot, will be writing to all members of the Royal Enclosure in early January with more detail on the facilities.
Viewing
Remedying the areas where viewing was restricted in 2006 has been a key focus of the review. The slope of the lawns down to the track, and from west to east, is too gentle, which restricts the view of the action on the course in some areas. Equally, some customers using the lower steppings, particularly at the western end, have their view restricted by people standing on the lawns.
To address this, the lawns will be re-graded to increase the gradient and improve the view of the track. The steppings and seating areas will be elevated and the rake increased so that people can see better over race-goers on the lawns. The bookmakers’ area, including the rails bookmakers’ pitches, will be lowered in relation to the steppings. All of these actions will improve sightlines considerably.
There will be no alterations to the track itself.
General Admission
The General Admission area will be more comfortable and attractive in 2007 with the plaza lawns now in place. In addition to the above-mentioned viewing improvements, catering outlets in the General Admission area will be better dressed and the 2007 Royal Meeting will see the return of a permanent raised bandstand on the lawn adjacent to the Parade Ring - a much more prominent position.
In addition, all bars throughout the site will be re-named, honouring historical equine heroes and those of the more recent past, including a “Grundy & Bustino Bar” and bars commemorating the likes of Mill Reef, Brigadier Gerard, Dubai Millennium, Choisir and Montjeu.
Scheduling & Budget
The programme of works is now underway, with the viewing improvements scheduled to commence before Christmas (post this week’s BGC Christmas Meeting). The project will be completed by the end of April 2007 and is expected to cost in the region of £10m, which will be funded from within the contingency reserve of the original redevelopment project.
General Admission and Silver Ring tickets are now on sale for the Royal Meeting and have been held at 2006 prices. Royal Enclosure members will be invited in early January to apply for their badges, which will also be held at 2006 prices.
Douglas Erskine-Crum, Chief Executive of Ascot Racecourse, said:
“We have had a number of important issues to consider since the return of racing to Ascot after the 20 month redevelopment project. The measures we have announced today will successfully address those issues, within our contingency budget and in time for Royal Ascot 2007. We look forward to delivering in 2007 the experience our customers expect and deserve from us.”
Peter Rogers, Technical Director, Stanhope Ltd said:
“The new stand at Ascot has been rightly hailed as a magnificent achievement. As with any major new building, areas for improvement are always identified once the building becomes operational, not least after an event such as Royal Ascot. I am sure that a combination of this programme of works - which will address operational and viewing issues - together with customers becoming more familiar with the configuration of the new facility, will result in racegoers experiencing the very best that Ascot has to offer.”
Further information:
Nick Smith, Head of Public Relations, Ascot 020 7404 5959 (from 12pm 13th December only)
07771 791 449 (at all times)
Notes to Editors:
Peter Rogers is a Director and co-founder of Stanhope plc. He is a Chartered Engineer, and is involved with property and construction at Government and industry level and is instrumental in driving changes to working practices, safety and efficiency and was responsible for the delivery of the seminal £700m Broadgate development, as well as many other key developments in London, including Chiswick Park. He is currently involved with Stanhope in the delivery of business parks, major urban regeneration projects including Croydon, Bracknell and Stevenage town centres, as well as various City developments including Bishopsgate Tower, the tallest building in the City of London. He is a Non Executive Director of Firstbase, providing key worker homes for English Partnerships and challenging housing construction methods. His Board appointments include: Board member of Constructing Excellence (and Chairman until Dec 2006); Chairman of the Strategic Forum for Construction’s Olympic Task Group (previously Chairman of the Strategic Forum for Construction from Jan 2002-Jan 2006); a Trustee and Chairman of the Building Strategy Committee for the Victoria & Albert Museum; Member of DTI consultation group for the Construction Act; Member of ODPM Steering Group for the Code for Sustainable Homes. Peter is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, and an Honorary Fellow of RIBA.
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