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Jermaine Jenas to head up £1.6m campaign to woo summer crowds to racecourses
https://www.racingpost.comOf all the ideas they could have come up with to increase racing attendance this is the best they can do? Stick a “flavour of the month” celeb in a video campaign and that’s us done.
Just beyond belief.
No problem with Jenas who always seems like a nice fellow. But I do wonder about these sort of campaigns, which seem to be chasing an audience that is not interested instead of looking after the people who are.
Some people like racing and a day at the races, other people do not. I am not convinced even Mr Jenas will persuade people to go racing if they are not really interested.
We also have to face up to the fact that we are in grim economic times which are only going to get grimmer, at least in the short term (inflation now 9.1% on the official figures). Is it realistic to expect attendances to go back to 2019 levels at the moment?
I think Jenas is alright and I think he speaks well on TV.
He’s not the worst choice for trying to still further broaden racing’s appeal, but is there any Peaky Blinders wannabe left in the country who doesn’t already know what a day at the races had to offer?
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"Not sure about Jenas he isn’t anywhere near the top half of football punditry yet that is his specialist subject.
Yes he talks well but also very boring imoGaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
I should have added I dont mind him at all. Its just the dullness of the idea thats rather tiresome, instead of trying to be even slightly innovative about increasing footfall.
Judging from his efforts on The One Show, absolutely dreadful presenter on a dire programme.
Makes you wonder what the criteria was in selecting him, as he appears to know next to nothing about horse racing.
“flavour of the month” about sums him up but I don’t see the attraction personally.
I should imagine the criteria were that he ticks cultural diversity boxes, he’s in the public eye and he seems a nice bloke (does anyone actually dislike him?)
To damn him with faint praise he’s spectacularly “inoffensive.”
But as previously stated, I kinda feel racing is bombing a crater with this young adult push – awareness of what a day at the races has to offer among young adults has never been higher IMO.
I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
https://mobile.twitter.com/Ian_Davies_
https://www.facebook.com/ThePointtoPointNHandFlatracingpunter/
It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"I can’t imagine there is any name that could replace that of Mr Jenas that would make anyone say this is a worthwhile idea.
Frankly you’d be better off giving away £1.6m worth of free tickets.
I was thinking just give the £1.6 million to me, actually, but I suppose Richard’s idea works too.
Thing is, though, with ever rising fuel costs what they are, and public transport leading what looks to me like an impending return to a 1970s-style era of high inflation (and trade union after trade union launching industrial action to try to maintain their members’ pay levels in real terms), the cost of entry is the least of racegoers’ problems.
How do you get there?
How do you get home?
I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
https://mobile.twitter.com/Ian_Davies_
https://www.facebook.com/ThePointtoPointNHandFlatracingpunter/
It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"It’s a valid point but cost isn’t what I was getting at.
Jermaine Jenas or whoever else saying ‘go racing’ probably won’t get many through the door. ‘Here’s a free ticket, go and enjoy yourself for an afternoon/evening’ might. They may never come back but they’ll have a bet, put some money behind the bar and buy a £10 burger.
All joking aside, perfectly fair comment IMO.
I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
https://mobile.twitter.com/Ian_Davies_
https://www.facebook.com/ThePointtoPointNHandFlatracingpunter/
It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"On the free ticket point: why not throw in a voucher for a free bet on the Tote as well? Something like £5 or £10. If they win, it might make it more likely they will come back.
I like that idea.
It increasingly seems to me that the traditional key part of a day at the races – having a bet – is being pushed into the background.
It’s by having a bet that racegoers best engage with what they are watching – it’s just horses running round a field otherwise.
It doesn’t have to be a big bet, but having a horse to cheer on like you own it, and the result making a material financial difference to you, is still the best thing about the game in my book.
Every racegoer should, on some level, be a punter – that’s what racing’s marketeers should be striving for.
But aren’t.
I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
https://mobile.twitter.com/Ian_Davies_
https://www.facebook.com/ThePointtoPointNHandFlatracingpunter/
It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"I remember ‘The Morning Line’ decided to rope in Matt Dawson as a (ahem) popular sports star in a car crash of a regular feature. His tenure as captain on QoS showed that he had no interest in horse racing and I don’t suppose JJ is going to be any different. I’ll be happy to be proved wrong – perhaps Geordies will testify he was always at Gosforth Park belting out Blaydon Races.
I gather he’s just been done for using his mobile while driving. But that’s fine isn’t it .
I’d have been more interested if they’d plumped for Mark Lawrenson or Trevor Brookin’.
Absolutely Cork, racing and betting are something of a mystery to the uninitiated. A bit of gentle encouragement to try both might work.
I have no idea who he is, in fact with a name like that I thought at first he might be a she, and I cannot be arsed to Google him, so I will go back to contemplating my navel.
I've stumbled on the side of twelve misty mountains
I've walked and I crawled on six crooked highwayshttps://www.racingpost.com/news/jermaine-jenas-to-head-up-16m-campaign-to-woo-summer-crowds-to-racecourses/563898
For those not wanting racecards when they click on the link…Highly recognisable face to a wide target audience. The industry will have to offer huge concessions (free entry being the start point) because disposable income is about to disappear along with a few racecourses.
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