There’s no denying that the Grand National is not only the biggest highlight on the horse racing calendar, but arguably the biggest in British sport. Every year, hundreds of thousands of fans will turn to the bookies to punt on the prestigious National Hunt event and it really is a lottery in terms of picking the winner.
One thing that isn’t a lottery is the sheer amount of money the Grand National can generate. It’s not just the number of bets that are placed, but Aintree itself will receive an economical boost via the large number of visitors who flock to the Merseyside village each year.
The benefits to local businesses
It’s not just Aintree racecourse that receives a welcome economical boost, but every business in the local area will be quids in over the course of Grand National weekend. According to reports, just over 150,000 fans descended on Merseyside for the 2016 event which provides an insight into how popular the Grand National is. You can begin to imagine the amount of money that changes hands across pubs, clubs, hotels, restaurants and other entertainment outlets.
To provide a more exact figure, the local hospitality industry coined £10 million in revenue and Aintree itself was accountable for £30 million via tourists and fans. To the majority of British cities and towns, the revenue might not seem that sizeable, but to Aintree it’ll prove huge.
In the lead up to April’s extravaganza, expect hotels to be fully booked, transport links stretched to their maximum and every pub and restaurant full to the hilt. It really is an exciting time of year for the local population and businesses will continue to go from strength to strength owing to the Grand National.
Long-term future
For as long as the Grand National is run at Aintree, the whole Liverpool area can rest assured the financial long-term future is safely secure. The Grand National is embedded within British culture and heritage, and is watched by over 500 million viewers each year from 140 different countries. Therefore, the Grand National is one of the most watched sporting events across the world and the economic benefits will spread further afield than just Merseyside.
The rest of the UK tends to receive a boost shortly after the Grand National – as overseas visitors in particular – will stay on and explore some of the local and national tourist attractions. The bookmakers and online gambling companies will welcome the vast majority of cash from fans and tourists, as the Grand National is renowned for first-time punters and the financial benefits are felt across the land.
The Grand National is that deeply rooted within British culture, there’s no way the financial gains will ever nosedive. The world famous event will only ever accumulate more fans and followers as its popularity soars, so it’s safe to say that the Grand National will not only benefit the local area, but the whole of the UK. Ahead of the 2019 edition, the Grand National runner odds are now available so take a plunge and see if you can earn some of the moolah that is up for grabs.