precedent for the future. in time, how do smaller shows compete with that? What further incentives to you need to offer to keep attracting volunteers? More importantly who do think ultimately pays for these incentives? It's the competitors (and spectators) in their entry fees. The slippery issue for me is that if EV need to keep making these events more expensive to enter the sport will become more and more elitist, ultimately driving participation down. This in turn will effect spectators and more worryingly corporate sponsorship. I certainly wouldn't advise one of my clients to sponsor an event with as many empty seats as there have been at other big events lately... Other sports, particularly golf, have huge numbers of players and spectators and subsequently attract huge corporate sponsorships. These sponsors use the volunteers to promote their products through the competition adding value to their involvement. They don't have the luxury of big dollars, but could be using what they do have MUCH better and without giving volunteers cash incentives or free tickets and risking cannibalisation of the sport. Maybe I should be volunteering my 20years marketing experience instead! all anybody wanted was a decent meal and a bit of respect, two things taken away by the outsourcing of volunteering. now they have had to go the other way and that does set a president maybe? but in all honesty free entry isn't costing them anything, in fact it's what you used to get (no mention of a good feed