Apologies if this has already been mentioned but I don't turn the computer on every day.

The cost of the car park at the NEC for Crufts 2013 will be £10.

If anyoen you are going with has a blue Badge you don't pay for parking. 

So might be worth bringing Aunty Maud out for a doggy day ;)  Obviously the person who the badge is for needs to be with you.

Sorry but apparently charge applies to disabled too.

The Kennel Club has been informed that, as part of a major programme of improvement works, the NEC has upgraded its parking facilities which will improve the visitor and exhibitor experience for Crufts 2013.
 
New coaches and signage have been introduced, improving journeys from the car parks and around the site. An enhanced choice of parking services will be available to visitors and as a result, from September 2012, parking will cost £10.  The £10 charge will also apply to disabled parking, which is located close to the halls, and which has been extensively upgraded.

That is new then, Oh well may rethink shows at the NEC then.

Sooner than Crufts that will catch LKA too if it changes in September.

I like that show but my word that is steep for parking on top of the 30 odd quid spent on entries already! I too was taking along blue badge mother.

B*gger my new pup can only enter one champ show this year, the LKA, and it's at the NEC :(

If memory serves LKA always charged less for the car park than Crufts so I assume the show committee have some say in the charges, if that is still the case then LKA may still allow free Blue Badge parking.

The car park charges are totally independent of the exhibitions. Car parking at LKA is £10 - no mention of a reduction for blue badges.

The car park charges are totally independent of the exhibitions.

Funny that as the carpark charges used to be different for the different shows.

They may have been in the past but certainly not for a good few years. I attend at least three trade shows a year at the NEC, as well as dog shows, and the charges have always been the same across the board.
I do seem to remember someone telling me the charges were less for the Ideal Home Show but I have never been.
Jeff.

I am living in the past Jeff so you could well be correct.

:-) Bet it's nice!

Bet it's nice!

Can make you wonder why everything seems to be in such a mess now, it no longer seems a hobby for like minded people and it would seem it is no longer available to all it is fast becoming an interest for the wealthy only.

That is going to cost me £70 with parking to enter two dogs so that both me and OH can get in, over £100 for the day without refreshments.

My friend always parks  in the station car park, apparently much more reasonable.

The last couple of years I have stayed at a hotel within the NEC, the car park used to be free but they have now started charging even if you are staying there, plus they charge £10 per dog to stay in your room. I think like another poster that showing is getting to be a hobby that only the wealthy or those that have several litters a year can afford.
Entries have been down at a lot of shows this year, I know cost is not the only reason for not entering, but it does make you stop and think and pick and choose where to spend your money.
Have been on the train a couple of times to Crufts, but again it depends if they issue the special offer tickets usually 12 weeks before, got a return from Manchester for £12 return one year, but last time I went by train it was £34 but still with the price of petrol and what you save on parking worth considering.

Do judges have to pay for parking? :)

And then they wonder why entries are down....actually they are up this year in my breed but overall they are down.
Aileen

As has been said before, the car parking charges are out of the control of any of the exhibitions; the KC has no influence on what's charged by the NEC.

I know my uncle goes to some rallies etc. at the NEC and he said the charge for parking was a lot less than we were charged and that was only recently, so I wonder if this ruling will be for every carpark and event now?  I have to say that it will put me off entering!

The NEC website states the car park charge for each event.

> The [url=http://www.thenec.co.uk/" rel=nofollow]NEC website[/url] states the car park charge for each event.

Wow, some are totally different! Free, £15, £10, £8, how do they work that out?!

It's disgusting should be the same charge for everyone. 

Hi Gemma,

You are obviously better on the PC than me :-) Can you point me in the direction of the events that are NOT £10 please. I found a couple where there is no fee shown but I know they are charged £10.
Thanks,

Jeff.

Ignore me, found them! :-)

Has everyone seen that there are also enhanced parking options with guaranteed places for £20 & £50 per day?  Will have to be some enhancement!

Livestock Event in October parking FREE!!!!!!  OK so they may not take up as many halls, but there again do they have as many people in attendance?

Motorhome an Caravan show in October free parking although their details state that disabled drivers are being charged £10 from September?

£50 per day! I assume for that they pick me up from home?

Perhaps we should ask the organisers of LKA and Crufts to get us a better deal with parking.

LKA at least could easily move to Stafford or Stonleigh?

Perhaps the NEC car parking fee differs as each organisation *may* pay more for the halls?
There could be a sliding scalebetween the two costs.
Or perhaps it differes for the number of parking staff that have to been in attendence?
Or perhaps the number of visitors/exhibitors expected to be using the parking facilities?

If they want to charge that much why can't exhibitors (who have already paid quite a bit to enter their dogs) get a reduced price from the Show Society and just charge visitors the full price, after all, without our dogs there wouldn't be much of a show?
And although I have once used a bus to get me from a car park that was in the back of beyond at NEC for Crufts (for Breeders Comp so not our usual day) I didn't know that buses were available for LKA? never used one.
Paula x

This is not to you Boxacrazy, but I really don't know what all the fuss is a about, I'm sure we paid £8 for parking at the NEC so this is only a £2 difference and I'm shocked to hear that blue badge holders were getting free parking!!! Everyone should be charged if charges apply and yes those with blue badges park in preferential spaces, so all good...
The cost to enter isn't going up much it's the fuel prices to get to these places which cripple most people, maybe we should be looking at the vehicles we drive and also consider lift sharing too..

And although I have once used a bus to get me from a car park that was in the back of beyond at NEC for Crufts (for Breeders Comp so not our usual day) I didn't know that buses were available for LKA? never used one.
Paula x

Of course there are. I'd never use the one car park where you have to walk as it is just too much to carry that far. I always see LKA as good practice for Crufts with a youngster as it is the only time you can practice going on a bus.

The train station car park is £8 on weekdays and £5 on weekends and after 10am weekdays. It's closer to the NEC too so no buses and much easier to get out of at the end of the day.

I've always walked my dogs in at either LKA or Crufts as I've viewed it as a good bit of exercise for the dogs.
IF I do have stuff that I need I use my fishing trolley or just take enough to fit into a rucksack and one carrier bag.

At most I have taken upto two Boxers and a fishing trolley loaded with stuff to both LKA and Crufts.

I always tend to park in the same park regardless of which show I am going to or which hall we are located in.

> LKA at least could easily move to Stafford or Stonleigh?

I thought about Stonleigh for LKA but some times it's really cold in the NEC in December so Stonleigh would be 10x worse lol

I can tell you now that Stoneleigh yesterday was not cold, it was wayyyyy to hot, especially in the KC Hall.  I've never sweat so much in my life before!

I have only been to Crufts once as a helper[decided I would go dog free to see how everything worked] was horrified as to how far we had to push her trolley, 2 crates, 3 dachsies, chairs etc., as they were quite low it was back breaking too,once the building came into sight I gave a big sigh of relief little realising we still had a long way to go to where our hall was, when we finally got inside we then seemed to back track to where that hall started as our ring 23 was next to the outside wall, to top it all it was drizzling with rain.

Coming home was worse as we were tired, I had left home at 4am,my friend 3am and it was heading for 6pm,the walk seemed twice as long, my friend said she was seriously thinking of going on the coach organised by our local ringcraft in future as they drop off and pick up at the door, not sure how much room there would be for show trolleys etc.

Yes in nice weather Stoneleigh is fine but in the sheds (thats where we were) on a icey cold December day (which most of my LKA's have been) would probably be very very cold!

I have only been to Crufts once as a helper[decided I would go dog free to see how everything worked] was horrified as to how far we had to push her trolley, 2 crates, 3 dachsies, chairs etc

There is no need for this. You will know your ring and hall in advance, the paperwork will tell you which entrance is the nearest to your ring, and if you park in any of the car parks where shuttle buses leave (all but one), you simply walk to the nearest bus stop which isn't very far anywhere, get onto the bus (trolleys go on them all the time) and get dropped off right by the entrance. Same as for going back. There is also the possibility of buying a drop off pass so you can drive all the way up to the right hall, drop off a friend/helper with everything and let them wait there, park the car and get back on your own.

Being my first time and seeing droves of folk doing the same thing I thought that was how it worked.

I didn't travel with my friend so had to arrange where to meet up and in which carpark, she had been doing it this way for years but age was catching up with her.