Curraheen Park offers an excellent opportunity for your organisation to enhance and maximise your fund-raising efforts. We have had tremendous results with Benefit Nights at Curraheen Park. This success is largely down to the extensive effort and commitment towards getting the most out of fundraising in terms of ticket sales as well as race and programme sponsorship.
Curraheen Park Facilities
The concourse area offers the enjoyment of:
- bars, tote facilities, a fast food restaurant and a weigh-room viewing area.
The upper level offers the enjoyment of:
- an excellent bar facility overlooking the racetrack
- the Laurels Restaurant which can accommodate up to 180 people
- three Hospitality Suites – the Mardyke, the Duhallow and the Muskerry – which can hold 44, 40 & 30 people respectively or combine to hold 114 people for full dining
- bars licensed to operate for up to two hours after the final race
- live music after racing
How can Curraheen Park be used for fundraising?
We offer a non-negotiable charge for the benefit night, which is outlined later in this document. It should be noted that these charges, while commercial, recognise the value of community-based and charitable organisations. While it is up to your organisation to determine how you wish to operate your fundraising methods, the following are an indication of some useful activities.
Race Sponsorship
The fundraiser must guarantee the stadium the minimum amount of sponsorship listed in the pricing structure. An effective way to gain sponsorship of individual races is to suggest that each race be named after the relevant sponsor. You will need to get sponsorship for each race - normally 9 sponsors at approximately €500 and one main sponsor at approximately €1,000. However, the above figures are suggested only as a guideline; the amount charged for race sponsorship is dependent on your target market.
Entry Ticket Sales
The full gate receipts taken on the night are returned to the organisation undertaking the benefit, consequently pre-selling of tickets assists the organisation in raising funds.
Complimentary tickets issued provide no monetary benefit. Tickets issued by our staff on the night are sold at our advertised prices and the revenue from these sales is returned to your organisation. Entry revenue from restaurant and suite sales is also returned to you.
Programme Sponsorship
Curraheen Park manages the compilation of the ten races for the night (race information for the card is usually supplied to your organisation two days prior to the event for printing purposes). A print company chosen by your organisation is responsible for compiling and printing the race programme for the evening and sales of advertising within the booklet are used very successfully by many organisations to raise significant funds to cover the cost of printing. The average cost for such advertising is €50 to €100 per page but it is up to each organisation to determine what is appropriate.
Greyhound Nomination
Six dogs are drawn for each race. Many organisations successfully sell a nomination for every dog in each individual race (normally at €50 per dog), generating income of about €300 per race, less the value of a token prize (usually €20) presented to the nominator/s of the winning greyhound. It is also possible to sell dog nominations to more than one person and form nomination syndicates.
Benefit Hospitality
The Restaurant and Hospitality Suites at Curraheen Park are managed by Kudos Creative Catering – a separate company to Cork Greyhound Race Company Ltd. Consequently, should your organisation require Restaurant/Hospitality Suite bookings for your Benefit Night, we recommend that you make a booking with Kudos Creative Catering simultaneously when confirming a date with us.
To contact Kudos Creative Catering and to ensure you obtain your requirements, i.e. bookings for meals in restaurants and suites, please call Charlene Collins on 1850 525 575 or (021) 4933154.
All bookings and payments must be administered by Kudos Creative Catering and final bookings for the suites must be confirmed three weeks before the event with the Hospitality Manager
A common method of raising extra funds is to charge a higher amount than usual for Restaurant tables, where the difference paid by your supporters is effectively a donation to your benefit organisation. Your organisation should negotiate dining arrangements for the Hospitality Suites & Restaurant directly with Kudos Creative Catering.
Very significant levels of fundraising have been achieved at Curraheen Park using a combination of the methods mentioned above but, ultimately, the level of fundraising achieved depends entirely on the determination and commitment of your organisation and its members. Consequently, we strongly encourage and welcome any new fundraising ideas and suggestions from participating organisations.
Stadium Entertainment
Live stadium entertainment will be organised by Curraheen Park at no cost to your organisation.
Race Photography
Race photography, charged at cost, is to be agreed between Curraheen Park and your organisation.
Winning Dog Sheet
Curraheen Park will provide a branded sheet of €40 value to the winning greyhound.
Winner’s Trophy
Curraheen Park will provide a trophy of €40 value for the main event. If preferred, your organisation may supply a trophy/prize for the main event and other races if appropriate.
Curraheen Park Hire & Sponsorship Fees
The fundraiser must guarantee the stadium the minimum amount of:
|
Thursday |
Friday |
| Stadium Hire |
€6,000 |
€6,000 |
| Race Sponsorship |
€3,000 |
€3,000 |
|
|
|
| Total |
€9,000 |
€9,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Curraheen Park does not retain the race sponsorship mentioned above.
It is issued as prizemoney to owners of greyhounds racing on the benefit night.
Hospitality bookings (Suites and/or Restaurant) are made by separate negotiation
with our Hospitality department and fees are not included in the above amounts.
See Benefit Hospitality on page 2.
All rates are correct at this point in time and are subject to change based upon the
normal commercial practice of the stadium.
Stadium Hire and Sponsorship are exempt from VAT.
These prices are non-negotiable.
A Deposit of €1,000 must be paid a month before the Benefit Night.
Final payment must be made at least one week prior to the event.
Dates are allocated on a first come, first served basis and are subject to discussion
with your organisation. Curraheen Park has the final decision on any dates offered.
Please contact Noel Holland, General Manager at (021) 4543095 if your committee wishes to arrange a Benefit Meeting at Curraheen Park or indeed if you have any questions about any information mentioned in this document.