Changes to Manx Grand Prix Race Schedule 2025

Summary

The request sought a complete breakdown of emails, business cases, meeting minutes, and correspondence regarding changes to the 2025 Manx Grand Prix schedule, to which the Department for Enterprise responded with a strategic review document while withholding some specific records under exemption.

Key Facts

• The Manx Grand Prix (MGP) schedule was shortened in 2022 following a pandemic-era review that identified safety risks and limited growth potential.
• The MGP currently generates 25% of the economic benefit of the TT for 60% of the net cost.
• The MGP audience is described as niche, mature (70% over 50), and predominantly British (80%) traveling by ferry.
• Strategic threats identified include rising costs, safety concerns, and a lack of professional teams or star riders compared to the TT.
• The Department for Enterprise policy aims to maximize visitor spend and economic growth through motorsport events.

Data Disclosed

• 2025-08-22
• 2025-10-02
• 2008
• 2010
• 2013
• 2019
• 2020
• 2022
• 2024
• 2026
• £1,000,000
• £2,500,000
• £3,000,000
• £4.3m
• £2.5m
• £48m
• £10.2m
• £90
• £180
• 80%
• 85%
• 70%
• 20%
• 60%
• 25%
• 128 pages
• 6 documents

Original Request

A complete breakdown of all a) emails b) business cases d) meeting minutes e) decisions agreed dates f) correspondence in the name of Member responsible 'Mrs S Maltby' in this subject matter? g) copy of signed policy paper.

Data Tables (31)

Full Response Text

HOW DID WE GET HERE? 2008 First MGP Visitor Survey 2010 ​Formal DED Review of MGP 2013 First Festival of Motorcycling and Classic TT 2019 Final Festival of Motorcycling and Classic TT 2020 Covid-19 Pandemic – Customer Research 2022 Solus MGP returns with shorter schedule THE CLASSIC TT "Echoing to the sounds of legendary machinery from the 1950s to the 1990s, the Classic TT was a resounding success. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Classic TT one day becomes bigger than the real thing!" "One of the greatest biking events on the planet!" "If you were at the Classic TT you don’t need me to tell you how good it was" 2020 PANDEMIC - REVIEW OF TT AND FESTIVAL OF MOTORCYCLING - Launchpad for a new era of TT racing and content distribution

• Research identifies challenges facing Festival of Motorcycling
• Limited T&A growth potential
• Support for classic elements but interest in MGP modern racing remained limited
• Lower standards of risk management than at TT identified 2020 PANDEMIC - REVIEW OF TT AND FESTIVAL OF MOTORCYCLING
• Final MGP race days in 2019 reportedly took place without full marshal cover
• No action by MMCC during pandemic hiatus till Autumn 2021
• DfE political position to take no action till after MGP Centenary 2020 PANDEMIC - REVIEW OF TT AND FESTIVAL OF MOTORCYCLING
• TT brand ambitions compromised by Classic TT and Festival of Motorcycling as was

• MMCC supported in event review considering current and new pressures
• Classic TT dropped, shorter MGP introduced for 2022 to deal with marshal and medical pressures
• MMCC asked to develop plans / strategy for the longer term future WHERE ARE WE NOW? THREATS • Cost • Economic Benefit • Safety • Relevance • Public / Political Support STRATEGY • Growing audience • Growing economic benefit • Growing income • Driving safety performance • Strengthening brand OUTCOMES • More fans ✓ • More visitors ✓ • More income ✓ • Defensible level of safety ✓ • Strong brand ✓ THREATS • Cost • Economic Benefit • Safety • Relevance • Public / Political Support NO STRATEGY OUTCOMES • Less fans X • Less visitors X • Low income X • Increasing costs X • Weak brand X WHO IS INVOLVED? 11 x Committee Members 3 x Senior Members – Chair, Vice Chair, FD 2 x part time staff "A sports promoter will handle activities such as projecting attendance and revenues, creating a budget, selling sponsorships, overseeing marketing, handling on site logistics and dealing with all of the business activities related to running an event." ACUE Race Organisation DfE Promotion MMCC Promotion Race Organisation ACUE Race Organisation DfE Promotion THE FINANCIALS COMIN POLICY FOR MOTORSPORT: "Isle of Man Government actively promotes, supports motorsports events which contribute to the economic development of the Isle of Man by attracting visitors, securing employment and developing wider business and commercial opportunities." DFE POLICY FOR MOTORSPORT "The TT and Classic TT are promoted as part of the Department for Enterprise objective to deliver economic growth by developing events that attract visitors for the Island, thereby generating local spend through the visitor economy. The Department’s main focus for the events is to ensure that they are developed in such a way that both the number of visitors and the money spent by those visitors increases whilst on Island. The Department must be mindful of the clear rationale and objective in developing the visitor experience that underpins the economic model on which the event investment is based and must agree that this development is to be for the broader benefit of the Island as a whole." Cost £1,000,000 Ex Ben -£369,000 2011 – INITIAL REVIEW Cost £2,500,000 Ex Ben -£1,100,000 2024 – POST CLASSIC TT ERA Cost £3,000,000 Ex Ben -£1,750,000 2026 – CURRENT TRAJECTORY 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 2004 2008 2012 2016 2022 2026 Cost Ex Benefit TT Net Cost: £4.3m​ Visitor Spend: £48m CPA: £90​ MGP Net Cost: £2.5m​ Visitor Spend: £10.2m​ CPA: £180 MGP = 60% of the net cost of TT for 25% of the economic benefit​ All fixed course and infrastructure costs included in TT budget​ ** Based on 2023 figures CAN IT GROW? Male British (80%) Travelling by ferry (85%) Mature (70% 50+ / 20% 65+) Loyal Staying for 7 nights IRISH RR CALENDAR 2022 - Cookstown 100 - Tandragee 100 - North West 200 - Kells - Munster - Skerries 100 - Walderstown - Faugheen - Armoy - Ulster Grand Prix - Killalane IRISH RR CALENDAR 2024 - Cookstown 100 - Tandragee 100 - North West 200 - Kells - Munster - Skerries 100 - Walderstown - Fauheen - Armoy - Ulster Grand Prix - Killalane "THE MGP JUST NEEDED TO BE BETTER MARKETED" - Niche amateur level sport - Lacking 'star' riders and professional teams who own large audiences - One off contest without rivalries or narrative - Minimal interest from press and broadcasters - No product strategy = no marketing strategy Peak visitor season Peak season for resident travel Displacement Few sports club pop ups OPERATIONAL CHALLENGES COMIN POLICY FOR MOTORSPORT: "We will ensure that motorsports events are operated to a defensible level of safety, so that all reasonable steps are taken to minimise the risk of serious personal injury to participants, visitors and residents." CHALLENGES FOR MANX GRAND PRIX - c50% less medics and marshals in total than TT - c50% more riders at MGP - MGP overall lower levels of experience, funding and support - Significantly greater speed differential at MGP (TT c15mph / MGP c30mph) DISCUSSION DISCUSSION TOPICS DEPARTMENT APPROACH DEPENDENCIES SHAPE STRATEGIC LEVEL DEEPEN SUPPORT HOLD SUPPORT REDUCE SUPPORT FISCAL v ECONOMICS OWNERSHIP / ROLES PURPOSE ON TRACK v OFF TRACK SCHEDULE TIME OF YEAR PUBLIC SUPPORT VISITORS / FANS ACUE / TTMA / MRMS NEXT STEPS 2025 MMCC PUBLIC CONSULTATION? MANX GP 2025 Ideas Concept • Two separate events ran back to back • 3 Race Manx GP promoted by MMCC • 4 Race Classic TT promoted by DFE • Return to two weeks of activity Haven't we been here before? • Yes; but this is a reimagined concept based on experience gained previously. • Return to two weeks of activity, but moving Classic TT to the end to drive visitors to reduce risk of marshal and medical shortages and provide more contingency options. • Create two strong weekend sporting propositions with the CTT becoming the finale. • Remove part of clash with BSB Bank Holiday event for potential CTT riders. Classic TT V2 • Second chance for Classic TT benefiting from Motorsport Team's recent upscale of resource and knowledge gain. • Leverage current format negativity to facilitate change. • Schedule to include two Superbike Races – the most popular element of the CTT concept. • Less but better off track activity, designed to attract visitors and raise revenue whilst remaining cost effective. What about the MGP? • MGP is ringfenced to allow MMCC and supporters to operate event without visitor or commercial pressures whilst reducing conflict from previous years. • Option for new riders to develop before moving to TT remains. • MMCC to step into promoter/marketing role for MGP. • Addition of Lightweight Race / Ultra Lightweight to give riders more options and fans more racing. Who would do what? • MMCC – MGP brand, marketing, web site, socials, merch, programme, TV broadcast. • DFE – CTT brand, marketing, web site, socials, merch, programme, TV broadcast. • DFE – Finances, facilities, comms, radio broadcast, trade sites (both events). • ACUE – Race organisation (both events). What does this fix? • Current negative sentiment re shorter schedule • Visitor interest • Sporting narrative / entertainment What does this not fix? • Cost benefit (but could reduce net deficit) • T&A issues (but other interventions could be implemented)

Page 1 of 7

V2. 10/04/2024

Department Paper No.

TO: Minister and Member for Motorsport, Department for Enterprise and Department Members CC: Mr Mark Lewin, Chief Executive Officer FROM: Paul Phillips, Head of Motorsport
Date of Paper: 3rd October 2024 Date of Department Meeting:

SUBJECT: Manx Grand Prix/Classic TT

What is the purpose of this paper?
Seek Approval Compliance: Please indicate whether the below have been considered. If applicable, please append or detail in paper. • Legislative Impact Assessment for major primary legislation. • Public Sector Equality Duty & Equality Impact Assessment1
• Public Sector Climate Change Duty & Impact Assessment2 • Data Protection Impact Assessment • Risk Assessment Completed3

Not Applicable Not applicable Not required Not required Not Applicable Are there any resource/personnel implications? No Is the request to be funded from within existing revenue budget?
Not Applicable If request to be funded through fund reclaim identify fund? Choose an item. Will Treasury or ESB approval be required? No Has appropriate internal and/or public consultation taken place? Yes Is the Department acting within its legal powers (vires)? (Please provide details in the paper, including reference to any advice received). Yes Are there any cross Government implications?
Yes If yes, which other Departments are involved?

Have you consulted with these Departments? 4

Not Applicable Is there a communication plan required? No Does the recommendation have Political and/or Board approval within the Division or Agency? Not Applicable If yes date approval given:

Are there any potential Conflict of Interest issues? No Please identify Conflict of Interest:

1 Equality Act 2017 Section 143 [Public Sector Equality Duty]
2 Clause 21, Climate Change Act 2021 [Duties of Public Bodies]
3 Treasury Risk Management Policy 2023-28 4 Please include the other Department’s views in the consultation section

Page 2 of 7

V2. 10/04/2024

1. Introduction and Background:

2. This paper relates to the future of the Manx Grand Prix Races (MGP) and follows the Department for Enterprise Political Workshop on the subject held on the 9th of September 2024.

3. At this workshop, the Department’s Motorsport Team delivered a presentation detailing the recent history of the event back as far as the 2010 review conducted by the then Department for Economic Development. The presentation slides are provided as Appendix A.

4. The document provided an overview of the challenges facing the MGP. These include increasing costs, decreasing visitor numbers (and by association economic benefit), decreasing commercial revenue, a range of operational challenges and an ineffective organisational structure.

5. Issues and Options:

6. The challenges facing the MGP are not new; however they have been brought into sharper focus following the 2024 edition of the event. Unprecedented poor weather severely disrupted the event, exposing the current shorter event schedule to significant disruption.

7. This disruption caused considerable negative sentiment amongst many of those involved in the event, individuals who were visiting the event, and from some individuals in the wider Island community, including people involved in the hospitality sector.

8. This negative sentiment took root on social media in particular, with the Department being blamed for the events troubles, despite not being the promoter or organiser. The overriding theme in this sentiment, is a desire to see the MGP run over two full weeks once more, as had been the case for several decades until the Covid 19 pandemic.

9. At the Department Political Workshop, the long term sustainability of the event in its current format was discussed, including a discussion around alternative means of delivery in the future.

10. The Motorsport Team presented an alternate concept for the future, which would see the event return to the two week format, enabled by the reintroduction of the Classic TT, previously operated between 2013 and 2019. The presentation slides detailing this concept are provided as Appendix B.

11. Whilst lacking in the detail, the concept was considered as a means to address the negative sentiment detailed above, and as a means to grow visitor numbers, create income earning opportunities and reduce some of the known operational challenges.

12. The Motorsport Team were tasked with engaging with key stakeholders around this concept, and to develop a more detailed plan if deemed viable.

Page 3 of 7

V2. 10/04/2024 8. Since the workshop, the Motorsport Team have engaged with key stakeholders including the Manx Motorcycle Club (MMCC), ACU Events (ACUE), The TT Marshals Association (TTMA), Manx Road Racing Medical Services (MRMS), along with a select group of competitors and team owners to discuss the viability of the concept.

1. The reception to the concept has been positive, with MMCC, ACUE, TTMA and MRMS confirming their support in writing, details of which are provided as Appendix C.

2. The Motorsport Team has completed further analysis of the resources required to implement the Classic TT. Whilst this process would need to continue through the months leading to the event period, the Motorsport Team is well versed in delivering high quality sports and entertainment events.

3. The recent growth of the TT, and the creation of the various digital and marketing assets available to the Motorsport Team now compared to the previous Classic TT era give cause for optimism in terms of what can be achieved in terms of sporting entertainment, audience engagement and income generation. The audience for TT is now four times bigger than it was the last time the Classic TT was delivered.

4. There are a range of options available to the Department when it comes to the MGP, and these were debated at the aforementioned workshop. All but one of them would result in the end of the MGP after more than 100 years.

5. The only option that has viability is the one detailed in Appendix B, where the MGP is ring fenced for sporting and heritage reasons, promoted by the MMCC, and the Classic TT is added to the schedule, designed to grow visitors and income, and promoted by the Department. Both events would be organised by ACUE as before.

6. If taken forward, the Motorsport Team would use 2025 to reverse the negative sentiment, and create a realistic strategy for the following two years, including the setting of KPI’s around economic benefit, commercial income and audience growth.

7. Resource Implications: (including finances):

8. A one year financial plan has been created in support of this concept and has previously been discussed with the Department CEO and FD. There can be no doub

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