The boss of Racing NSW, Peter V’landys, has slammed the state government over a scheduling conflict he says will undermine the world’s richest turf race.
The government is reportedly looking at scheduling a Bruno Mars concert at the redeveloped Sydney Football Stadium on the same day as The Everest is run at nearby Royal Randwick.
The Everest, which was first run in 2017, offers $15 million in prizemoney and is the highlight of the Sydney Spring Carnival.
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It’s scheduled to be held on October 15.
“Why would you divide Sydney into deciding where to go? We’ve worked very hard to bring an event to Sydney, it’s a home-grown event. We’ve established it, we’ve got interstate visitors, international visitors,” V’landys told Radio 2GB’s Ben Fordham.
“Why would you undermine it by putting a one-off pop concert down the road? It’s beyond comprehension. I thought when they told me it must have been the first of April.
“I just could not believe it.”
V’landys explained that he feels the two events can’t co-exist.
“You’re going for the same market. The Everest attracts the younger generation, we’re very proud that we’ve got an event for 20-35-year-olds, and they’re the same people that will go to Bruno Mars,” he said.
“Also, I don’t know if you’ve seen the road infrastructure in Moore Park and the eastern suburbs of Sydney, it can’t handle all those people in cars. Where are they going to park? It will be traffic chaos.
“It will take the gloss off both events. Why wouldn’t you do it the week before or the week after? They’re both vacant weekends with no competition.
“You would never see the Victorian government put a pop concert (against) the AFL grand final. It makes no commercial sense. It’s not good for NSW taxpayers.”
When Fordham pointed out that tourism minister Stuart Ayres said New York wouldn’t cancel a Billy Joel concert because the Yankees are playing, V’landys wasn’t buying it.
“New York has the infrastructure, and New York has the population. Sydney does not have the population of New York and it does not have the transport infrastructure,” he fumed.
“We’ve got a world class stadium that they’ve built. Why would you have all the residents offside early, by causing them maximum inconvenience?”
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