6 replies to this topic

[floormanager]

Important Announcement

IMM 2025 Sussex – Event Postponed

Dear Mini community,

 

It is with heavy hearts that we have to inform you that IMM 2025 Sussex is being postponed.

 

The reason is low ticket sales, which means that it is not financially viable to run the event as originally planned. This is despite our best efforts to scale down and reduce costs as much as possible.

 

IMM is entirely volunteer-run and run on a not-for-profit basis, and this decision has not been taken lightly. Our aim has always been to create an incredible event for our fellow Mini lovers, but we must also act responsibly with the resources entrusted to us.

 

IMM 2025 ticket prices were carefully calculated on the costs of putting the event on and information on ticket sales provided by previous UK IMM events. Due to the rise in costs over the past year, we needed to sell 3,500 tickets to cover outgoings. But sadly, we are not even half-way there.

 

Please be patient while we work out our next steps

 

We understand this will be disappointing, but please know we’ve done everything in our power to make it work. We are doing our very best for the community we love.

 

We’re now working hard to reschedule IMM 2025 to a new date, giving more time for us to build the support we need to make this event everything we want it to be. We are also exploring additional revenue streams to cover costs.

 

Your Questions Answered

 

• Why was the event postponed?
  Ticket sales were significantly lower than expected. Even after reducing costs, the event became financially unviable.

   

• Why not keep it going with fewer people?
  Unfortunately, large-scale events like this have fixed costs such as venue hire and security that can’t be scaled down proportionally. Lower ticket numbers meant a large financial shortfall, meaning a personal cost to organisers.

   

• How were the ticket prices set?
  Ticket prices were based on event quotes, site costs and information provided by previous UK IMMs. We did everything we could to keep prices as fair and affordable as possible while still covering costs.

   

• What happens to my ferry booking or travel plans?
  We recommend contacting your travel insurance provider regarding any ferry or travel changes due to the event postponement.

   

• When will new dates be announced?
  We are actively working to secure an alternative date and will update you as soon as this is confirmed.

   

• Will tickets be refunded or carried over?
  We will share detailed information about ticket options shortly. Please bear with us while we finalise the best approach.

   

• How can I help?
  Spread the word, rally your clubs and fellow Mini fans, and consider supporting us when the new dates go live. We’ll need the community behind us more than ever.

 

Thank you for your understanding, patience and continued support. We’re committed to making IMM 2025 a celebration worth waiting for.

 

IMM 2025 Sussex.

 

 

[16vmini]

not surprised , but gutted , they would have known earlier about this happening , pretty short notice , bet they gutted to and lots to sort out behind scenes now , 

[MiniMadRacer]

Very sad but in todays financial climate, but probably not unexpected, the ticket prices whilst maybe unavoidable due to rising running and operating costs, have pushed it beyond a lot of people budgets

 

[mini-mad-mark]

Plenty of people will pay 160 quid (or more) to go and watch (what I would consider) a bang average pop band for two hours.

 

Not me by the way, just my best comparison of a price for something that I think is quite common for plenty of "average" people to do - let me add something I would do occasionally - A decent meal out for two people with a bottle of wine and a few drinks, with a taxi home (responsible drinking/driving!) would be in the order of 100 quid  - these are UK prices, your locality may be different if you are outside the UK

 

I would say it depends what your priorities are; I personally don't think the price was excessive and would have gone, other than some uncertainty over an operation which happened sooner than thought so I could have gone as it happens..

 

I don't know but I will hazard a guess that near-European take up may be less than expected for (fairly) obvious reasons but UK participation should have been OK I would have thought?

 

Does anybody have any comparison numbers from previous IMMs? (total numbers, splits by country - especially UK as we have to get across the water and the spiritual home of the mini)

[mab01uk]

The only club I heard connected with the IMM (mentioned from memory some months back in MiniWorld magazine), was the 'Mini Cooper Club' which I was surprised still existed and if it still did seemed a small low profile club to organise such a big event? Maybe the UK IMM event is now just too big for the potential number of enthusiasts wanting to attend, many of whom are maybe not really interested in an expensive ticketed event spread over several days. The successful European IMM's seem to be on a smaller scale as they can't rely on a big UK Mini attendance crossing the channel?

I remember the 'Mini Cooper Register' hosted the 1989 IMM at Silverstone and many of those involved with the organisation said they had sleepless nights and would never volunteer to take it on again. That was also with the major advantage of being on the same site as the BL backed Mini 30th Birthday Event with lots of media coverage and at a famous race circuit with all the facilities for a large event already in place.

Edited by mab01uk, Yesterday, 07:31 PM.

[floormanager]

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The only club I heard connected with the IMM (mentioned from memory some months back in MiniWorld magazine), was the 'Mini Cooper Club' which I was surprised still existed and if it still did seemed a small low profile club to organise such a big event? Maybe the UK IMM event is now just too big for the potential number of enthusiasts wanting to attend, many of whom are maybe not really interested in an expensive ticketed event spread over several days. The successful European IMM's seem to be on a smaller scale as they can't rely on a big UK Mini attendance crossing the channel?

I remember the 'Mini Cooper Register' hosted the 1989 IMM at Silverstone and many of those involved with the organisation said they had sleepless nights and would never volunteer to take it on again. That was also with the major advantage of being on the same site as the BL backed Mini 30th Birthday Event with lots of media coverage and at a famous race circuit with all the facilities for a large event already in place.

I was there in '89
 

[Blumeanie]

Well that sucks!

Sad news. I do hope it gets legs again!