The Return of the Royal Easter Show The 2021 Sydney Royal Easter Show has been the biggest ticketed event in the world in 2021. Karen Sweaney looks at its success
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he gates have officially closed, the rides are back on the road and the animals and farmers have returned home, with the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW (RAS) having revealed remarkable attendance levels for the 2021 Sydney Royal Easter Show, welcoming 800,000 people to the event over its 12 days - becoming the largest event to take place globally since the COVID-19 pandemic. Held from 1st to 12th April, the Show broke five attendance records since its relocation to Sydney Olympic Park, while successfully delivering a COVIDSafe event with the daily capacity limits dispersing crowds and ultimately creating history through higher mid-week attendance. RAS General Manager Agriculture and the Show, Murray Wilton, said following an incredibly tough year for all Australians, the Show was an incredible success, commenting “the Show has provided an opportunity for our farmers and Sydneysiders to come together safely and celebrate everything we know and love about rural Australia: farmers, food and family fun.” Initially capped at 60,000 attendees per day, as of 9th April, NSW Health approved an additional 10,000 general admission ticket holders for its second weekend based on the RAS’ success in delivering a COVIDSafe show over the previous nine days. In a statement welcoming this, released during the Show, Wilton advised “we are delighted to provide more patrons with the opportunity to come to the Show over its last weekend. “Following the cancellation of the Show in 2020, there is 28 Australasian Leisure Management Issue 144
massive interest and affection for the Show, and we want to give as many people as possible, in a COVIDSafe manner, the opportunity to experience what only the Sydney Royal Easter Show can offer.” The Show’s COVIDSafe practices, included more than 180 cleaning staff and 130 hygiene personnel onsite and encouraged patrons to utilise the Show crowd management system to take control of their journey at the Show via the Show app. Planned at short notice with the event only being given approval to be staged in December last year, the attendance figures - which included ticket holders, agricultural and commercial exhibitors, staff, volunteers and others working at the Show - demonstrated, Wilton explained “this year’s Show
