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Spa, ticket sales, future....

Discussion in 'F1' started by jknight, Aug 26, 2009.

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  1. jknight

    jknight F1 Veteran

    Oct 30, 2004
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    Central Texas
    #1 jknight, Aug 26, 2009
    This being one of the few remaining circuits from long ago and reported as the driver's favorite track has had sluggish ticket sales. Despite the influx of purchases during the time that MS was reported to be one of the Ferrari drivers, I was surprised to read that only 50 of 3000 wanted a return on their tickets. I hope that they will at least break even on sales to avoid the deficit of the past. This is definitely my most favorite circuit of all and thankgoodness the various sports car series keep it on their calendars.

    Carol

    * * * *
    from f1 live

    Only 46,000 race-day tickets have been sold so far for Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps.

    Track boss Andre Maes said the number is short of the famous and popular venue's 2009 target of 70,000 spectators, according to RTL Belgium.

    "At the moment it is impossible to say if the figure (70,000) will be reached. We don't know what's going to happen in the next days, nor what the weather is going to be," Maes explained.

    Last year, attendance of 52,000 led to a €4m loss. 66,000 attended in 2007.

    RTL Belgium said 70,000 is the target because it would allow the Spa promoters to break even.

    It is said that 3000 tickets were sold within a few hours of the announcement of Michael Schumacher's aborted comeback, but that only about 50 of those asked for their money back.
     
  2. Gilles27

    Gilles27 F1 World Champ

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    #2 Gilles27, Aug 26, 2009
    Well, sluggish ticket sales have affected all of racing, even NASCAR. Let's just hope these events can weather this economic depression and stick it out into the future. This is one of those 'Big Picture' issues where you hope Bernie and Friends begin to realize it may be worthwhile in the long run to 'work' with these events in a financial sense. After all, how many of his prized newer events are doing well?
     
  3. Bas

    Bas Four Time F1 World Champ

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    #3 Bas, Aug 26, 2009
    I think lowering the ticket prices (for this event anyways) could be a solution. Make them 65 a pop and some 90K sales.


    I think its the economic downturn affecting it the most though. Many people just don't have 800 euro to go see an F1 race with each other right now.
     
  4. Napolis

    Napolis Three Time F1 World Champ
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    #4 Napolis, Aug 26, 2009
    People want a good show and reasonable prices.

    The 24 Hours of The Numbering get 250K fans.
     
  5. jknight

    jknight F1 Veteran

    Oct 30, 2004
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    Central Texas
    #5 jknight, Aug 26, 2009
    Last edited: Aug 26, 2009
    Also applicable reasons for the Monaco Historics - the seating area (no assigned seats!) for the historics in '08 was 40 GBP for the weekend; same area with assigned seat for F1 weekend was 900€. Honestly, I think we had the far superior show with the historic gp racing machines (not to mention lots more racing)!! there were some real battles amongst some of the drivers - still had the same circuit, large screen tv, but had paddock access after the race.......the LMS race last weekend at the Nurburgring had a good sized crowd; the Mercedes stand at turn one appeared to be full, something for everyone at that event.

    Carol
     
  6. Anthony_Ferrari

    Anthony_Ferrari Formula 3

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    #6 Anthony_Ferrari, Aug 26, 2009
    Well at least it sounds like I shouldn't be struggling too much to get a decent view! I thought the ticket prices were pretty reasonable.
    I'm one of the 5000 who bought hoping to allow my lad to see MS. We haven't cancelled - in fact it never crossed my mind to.
     
  7. ronrob

    ronrob Formula Junior

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    #7 ronrob, Aug 26, 2009
    IMO there are several factors but, at the risk of stating the obvious, the fabulous Spa circuit made money when the Tifosi made the trip. MS having been born in a country a few miles next door didn't do any damage either.
     
  8. tifosi12

    tifosi12 Four Time F1 World Champ
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    #8 tifosi12, Aug 26, 2009
    Valencia had sluggish ticket sales and in the end nearly sold out. I would think a similar thing will happen at Spa.

    What puzzles me is that Ecclestone seems to have no feeling for timing his GP calendar weather wise:

    They should have had the Belgium GP earlier to avoid the cold weather and the Valencia GP (and others) much later in the season to avoid the hot weather.
     
  9. VIZSLA

    VIZSLA Four Time F1 World Champ
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    #9 VIZSLA, Aug 27, 2009
    IMO it says a lot about the financial health of F1 that the Schumacher "bump" wasn't much bigger.
     
  10. James_Woods

    James_Woods F1 World Champ

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    #10 James_Woods, Aug 27, 2009
    Maybe few believed the Shumacher thing was really going to happen?

    I wonder if possibly something like the American NFL local TV blackouts for games that did not sell up to reserve could be possible? Hard to do, though, in this era of satellite TV...
     
  11. VIZSLA

    VIZSLA Four Time F1 World Champ
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    #11 VIZSLA, Aug 27, 2009
    Bite your tongue :)
     
  12. tifosi12

    tifosi12 Four Time F1 World Champ
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    #12 tifosi12, Aug 27, 2009
    The Schumacher bump would have been huge if it had lasted: Many people buy their tickets last minute.

    We saw that in Valencia, where pre sales were at 50%, then everybody waited for Schumacher and finally Alonso to drive. Once Alonso was confirmed, the sales progressed.
     
  13. VIZSLA

    VIZSLA Four Time F1 World Champ
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    #13 VIZSLA, Aug 27, 2009
    But Valencia was Fernando's home race. His appearance would be the big draw there as you'd think Michael's appearance would be at Spa his only home race this year.
    In any case, things are not rosy at the box offices.
     

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