Piping Inverness seen as no longer financially viable
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A major pipe band competition which was due to be held in Inverness next summer is no longer financially viable, according to organisers.
A statement from Team Piping Inverness reads: “It is with deep regret that we must announce the cancellation of Piping Inverness 2023, incorporating the European Pipe Band Championships, which was due to be staged at Bught Park in Inverness.
“Due to the fees associated in staging this event and the increasing costs of infrastructure etc, it is unfortunately no longer financially viable to stage Piping Inverness in 2023.
“We have endeavoured to try and stabilise and reduce these costs since this year’s fantastic event concluded, however we have been unable to do this to a level that would enable us to move forward. We appreciate how this will also be a huge loss to the local businesses of Inverness and surrounding area.
“We would like to thank the pipers, drummers, majors and all of our partners, traders and contractors who have worked with us in delivering the event this year and in 2019.
“However, the biggest thanks must go to all of the events’ attendees who joined us from Inverness, the Highlands and around the world, allowing Piping Inverness to have been such a great success.”
The one-day event traditionally attracted between 15,000 and 17,500 visitors and 100 pipe bands from around the world.
LCC Live won a three-year tender with the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association (RSPBA) in 2018 to deliver the European Pipe Band Championships in 2019, 2022 and 2023, with 2020 and 2021 not staged due to Covid.
Events in 2019 and 2022 helped bring a multimillion-pound boost to the local economy.
Inverness Provost Glynis Sinclair said: “Inverness councillors have supported the hosting of the European Pipe Band Championships in Inverness through awarding Inverness Common Good funding to LCC Live Event Services Ltd who organised this prestigious competition for the RSPBA which had been in abeyance during the pandemic.
“It is with great sadness that we have heard that LCC Live Event Services have decided not to proceed with the European Championships in 2023.”
RSPBA was invited to comment.
