Despite receiving $3 million less for this year’s Carnival, Pan Trinbago intends to slash its ticket prices and offer to patrons an all-inclusive section providing meals and drinks for the Panorama semi-finals at the Queen’s Park Savannah.
In 2017, the pan body received $23.5 million in funding from Government. This year the figure has dropped to $20.5 million.
Secretary of Pan Trinbago Richard Forteau said the reduction in this year’s allocation had the organisation going over its budget and coming up with measures to attract more ticket sales.
“What we have done was look at the overall picture of the economy and its downturn. We realise if we want to draw the crowds to the competitions we had to make some adjustments to our ticket prices for Panorama,” Forteau said. This year is Panorama’s 55th anniversary.
Forteau said Pan Trinbago is offering patrons $250 tickets to enter The Greens for the semi-finals of competition on January 28. In previous years the price was $300.
For the February 10, Panorama finals at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Forteau said Grand Stand general admission and special reserve tickets are priced at $400 and $700 respectively.
“Last year the ticket prices were all over the place. Patrons will be given a better deal this year.”
Pan Trinbago will also offer to pan lovers a North Stand inclusive section, where they will be provided with an all-access-pass, meals and drinks for $450 which Forteau said was “a steal of a deal.”
“We are trying to cut everything else except the $1 million first prize for Panorama this year. With the $20.5 million allocated to us we have been trying to work around that,” Forteau said.
PANYARD JUDGING BEGINS
Preliminary judging for 56 single pan bands started last night at panyards across the country and ends on January 11. A total of 16 of the bands will move on to the final which takes at the Basketball Court in Arima on January 14.
Judging for the prelims of approximately 100 small, medium and large conventional bands begins on January 15. On January 28, 14 medium and large conventional bands will square off at The Greens of which ten of each will advance to the finals on February 10 vying for a $1m first prize.