Safety key as Perth Royal Show aims for increased crowds

The 2016 Perth Royal Show is hoping to attract larger crowds this year with new rides on Sideshow Alley a key draw.

To emphasise the safety of the 31 rides at the Show, a group of students from Notre Dame University out the rides to the test yesterday in advance of the opening of the Show today (24th September).

One of the Show’s new rides, the XXXL, pulls riders horizontally and vertically with forces equivalent to a top fuel drag racing car while the Extreme Thriller - a pendulum swing ride – is also making its debut at the Claremont Showgrounds.

Show organisers are hoping for increased visitor numbers, with last year’s event experiencing a 13% decline in visitor numbers (350,000 people went to the show last year, down 50,000 on the year before) and runninh up a $3 million loss.

Show organisers blamed a million dollar cut in funding from the Western Australian Government and an AFL finals schedule which featured home games for the Fremantle Dockers and the West Coast Eagles.

Free Show admission for children had been a Western Australian Government policy going back to 2004 - aimed at ensuring city children had the opportunity to engage with the agricultural industry. 

Commenting on the 2015 Show, Royal Agricultural Society of Western Australia (RASWA) Chief Executive Peter Cooper told local media “the loss of the kids-12-and-under-go-free government initiative and the fact that there were four football finals leading into the show did affect the money families had for discretional spend.”

RASWA has set out to keep entry prices competitive, with standard tickets costing $29 for adults, $15 for children, $15 for pensioners and $17 for seniors. A standard family ticket will cost $74.

Discounted tickets have also been available for pre-purchase and through IGA stores across Western Australia until 1st October.

In addition to Sideshow Alley and nightly firework displays, agricultural components of the Show include the Petstock Animal Nursery and the Creatures Great and Small Pavilion while in the main arena there will be a motorised Monster Ball measuring 4 metre in diameter and FMX riders showing off their aerial jumps and stunts.

One of the new additions this year will be the rabbit agility displays when bouncing bunnies will be put through their paces on an agility course including jumps, tunnels and other equipment.

The Perth IGA Royal Show runs from 24th September to 1st October.

For more information go to www.perthroyalshow.com.au

Images: The Extreme Thriller ride (top) and agricultural displays are a cornerstone of the Show (below). Images courtesy of the Perth Royal Show.

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