Key facts
- The Royal Ascot festival is projected to contribute £140 million to the UK economy.
- Around 300,000 fans are expected to attend the five-day event.
- The festival will serve 38,000 hospitality covers.
- Ascot's overall operations support £264.5 million in GVA and 3,903 jobs.
- £50 million of visitor expenditure will be generated during the week of Royal Ascot.
This year's Royal Ascot festival is anticipated to inject £140 million into the UK economy, drawing approximately 300,000 attendees over its five-day duration. The event will feature extensive hospitality, with 38,000 covers to be prepared by over 30 Michelin-starred chefs.
Ascot Racecourse highlighted that its broader operations, supply chains, and visitor spending collectively support an estimated £264.5 million in Gross Value Added (GVA) and 3,903 full-time equivalent jobs across the UK. Research indicates that tickets are being purchased from more than 70 percent of UK postcodes, with £50 million of the total £78 million in visitor expenditure expected during the week of the festival.
In related news, Ascot CEO Felicity Barnard has indicated that the racecourse is considering pooling media rights with other prominent international racing events, such as the US Breeders' Cup and Australia's Melbourne Cup, to create a more marketable package. Barnard described Royal Ascot as a unique moment in the British summer and a significant event in world sport.