A Four Day Airshow On Great Yarmouth Sea Front In 2017

At a time when airshows are dropping off the radar left, right & centre it's refreshing to see plans for a brand new event for next year -

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Courtesy of the Great Yarmouth Mercury website -

www.greatyarmouthmercury.co.uk/news/spec...h_air_show_1_4585960


The new seafront event – geared to attract up to 300,000 people and a £10m-plus boost to the local economy – will be held from June 15 to 18.

It is being staged by Greater Yarmouth Tourism and Business Improvement District (BID) as part of its drive to bring more visitors and spending power to the borough.

The airshow, featuring two evening and two afternoon display sessions, aims to feature military and civilian displays and become the biggest single event in East Anglia.

Crowds will be able to watch the breathtaking aerial action from the Golden Mile’s seafront and sands. .

A taste of the flying antics was served up at today’s official launch, when VIPs and invited guests watched the smoke-trailing Twister team spiral over their heads at Potter’s Resort at Hopton.

The Great Yarmouth Air Show will be the biggest event to be held in the borough – adding to its reputation for staging other crowd pleasers including the Maritime Festival and Out There Festival.

It is hoped the event will grow to generate more than £20m by its third year when the aim is for the show to be self-sustaining through the income it generates including sponsorship and park and ride operation.

Event director Asa Morrison said: “This is a huge opportunity for Great Yarmouth to showcase itself in hosting a new event which has the potential for a major economic boost for area through swelling visitor numbers as well as providing a free event for the local residents.”

Mr Morrison hoped people would book breaks to coincide with the show – and return to the area later to see its other big events.

“It will help accommodation-providers and attractions, but many more businesses, including shops, will also benefit through the increase in spending power,” he added.

June was chosen to avoid the already-busy main summer holiday season, at the request of the tourism sector, and to coincide with a traditionally dry and warm month, he added.

Air displays are planned for Thursday and Friday evenings, and Saturday and Sunday afternoons – with more detail of the aircraft to be announced later.

“The show is working closely with a highly-experienced flight display director who has already assessed the seafront and will be dealing with the Civilian Aviation Authority over the flying regulations,” said Mr Morrison.

The event would not be possible without the vision and funding of the BID board – but would also generate income from park and ride schemes as well as trade and promotion stands, he added.

Sponsorship was also important with a range of levels and costs from an overall branding partner to corporate and community packages.

GYTABIA chairman Gareth Brown added: “Great Yarmouth is a big destination worthy of a big event and we are proud to share our plans to stage what is set to become one of the biggest events in the region. “

He praised the support already received from the borough council and emergency services in planning the event.

For more information visit the show’s website www.greatyarmouthairshow.co.uk

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The show now looks to be in the balance (Courtesy of BBC Local Live - Norfolk - www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-england-norfo...4c5be4b0cb77c14e5f44)

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A meeting is to be held today to decide whether the Haven Great Yarmouth Air Show will go ahead or be cancelled, or even postponed.

I received a tip-off late last week that the seafront air show, set for the 15-18 June, was going to be cancelled. Costs for public safety and counter-terrorism measures could far exceed expectations.

Since then I've spoken to people linked to the town's tourist authority, the council and seafront businesses and have been told the final decision is to be made at a meeting of the Greater Yarmouth Tourism and Business Improvement Area later.

Members of its management team met late yesterday, and at 10:30 today the whole board will meet.

I understand a short-notice meeting of political group leaders on Great Yarmouth Borough Council has been called, and that this will include a discussion on the air show. The indications I've had from those group leaders is that there's a risk the board members could decide the show cannot go ahead.

If it doesn't, it will be a huge disappointment: the whole idea of the air show was to attract more visitors to the town.

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Now announced as cancelled. -

BBC Website -
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-38812395

A four-day seafront air show has been cancelled due to spiralling safety costs around counter-terrorism measures and medical cover.
The Great Yarmouth Air Show, which is due to begin on 15 June, was expected to attract thousands of visitors and give a £10m boost to the local economy.
But members of the organising team, the Business Improvement Area board, have met and called it off.
They said an additional £130,000 was needed to fund the event.
'Difficult decision'
Gareth Brown, chairman of the Greater Yarmouth Tourism and Business Improvement Area (GYTABIA), who is also a member of the air show management team, said it was "extremely disappointing that the air show cannot happen this year".
He said: "The board have had to make a very difficult decision... due to significantly higher than anticipated additional costs of more than £130,000 associated with counter-terrorism measures and medical cover for the air show.
"As with any event of this ambition, it is vital to take as much time as necessary to put the required measures in place to ensure the event will be safe and is a success."