In reference to the construction work going on? Yes I do. I have no confidence in their ability to market this project though. Selling a spot in line to buy a ticket......quickly silly... Insulted as a race fan?? There aren't too many people lining up to spend 100MMs to build facilities like this in America. Why not applaud someone taking the effort? The hotels will figure out the prices the market will bear. Hopefully Year 1 doesn't mess up their ability to get money from the State in subsequent years....
I just got the email also. I thought it strange. There's very little information that would make me want to pay $100 -- like can I see a track layout and pricing information please? Is that too much to ask? What if all these $100 deposits are only good for $700 per person seats? And, what's the $100 for? Is it deducted from the final seat price? What if I want 8 seats? Can I get 8 seats reserved in advance just for $100 down? Forget these "super seat licenses". Too many F1 events run their course in 2 or 3 years in the US and disappear. I'd never pay for the future rights to a seat when I don't even know if I'll like F1 ten years from now. The so-called New York event could kill Austin. I think I will go. I just don't think I need to put money down now for so much unknown.
+1 makes planning from Europe not so easy. That's the reason I will wait till year 2 or 3 before engaging on this race. They just dont seem to have an idea/plan/system for marketing. This race is not far away now and thats the plan for tickets? Not too re-assuring yet.
This is too funny. I come on the FERRARICHAT forum and people are *****ing about a $100 deposit for future premium seating? REALLY? As my rude poker playing friends say when you low ball an opening bid: "I spend more than that to watch two dogs ****". Sorry, but the irony is thick and the anti Texas theme is old hat by now. Texas....the state Americans love to hate. Pretty soon, we can start Civil War II.
I'm with you. A $100, refundable deposit. Who cares? It is the perfect way to separate those who have real interest and those who don't. As the email/FAQ section states - someone will contact you with options, before you have to decide. This process is supposed to unfold in the next 30-60 days. If you don't like what you hear, then bail out. The right to buy tickets for the next 15+/- years with guaranteed seating is basically standard with all new venues. I bought the same thing for college basketball tickets for goodness sake; I was happy to support the place that gave me a great degree, and with COTA, I am happy to support someone taking a big gamble and investing a lot of time/energy.
Anti nothing just looking for something COTA yet have offered - Professional and useable information about this event. I fail to see Texas itself as an issue. Its a large and varied State with many interesting features and sights. One of which will be this track. That being said COTA is a major disappointment for an organization. I love the 'contract mailed to Bernie' episode and now a convoluted way to simply reserve a seat for something as simple as a race. I were in Texas I would be embarrassed. F1 fans there deserve better than this ongoing musical chairs and stories. Even 'iamthesimpleone' is not impressed with their lack of marketing.
I'd gladly pay $ 100 for such a right, but the prices are more like $ 5,000. And that's not even including the ticket. I started a separate thread for this. http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=353181
The reason we can afford Ferrari's is because we got in a habit early of not throwing our money around. I want to go to this race. But, I think if this is the way they are going to market it, this is a big FAIL. It raises more questions than answers. It seems like an act of desperation instead of a marketing tool to get people interested in going. Give us at least some general information if you're going to ask for our money. Don't assume we will just send money because you say so. And, as I said, they didn't even say if it's $100 for one seat or $100 for every seat you want. What is it we are supposed to be buying? What good is one seat in advance when you want 4? What will the price ranges be? Is it too much to ask for information this simple when you ask for money?
Remember this group sent Bernie a 'contract' that suited them! Evidently the answer to your question is yes for now.
Your $100 (or $400) is fully refundable. Paypal won't play that game of saying one thing and then leave you holding the bag. So when you have little risk, what is the big deal? I agree that it could have been handled better. The first 3 years I attended the MotoGP races in Monterey, it was a cluster****. First year, I paid for 4 nights up front at $400/night for essentially a Motel 8 room. I may have made my money being careful with it but when I want to do something, I spend it and don't look back....life is short. Traffic was beyond horrendous, services sucked, and my seats sucked, but I had a great time. So you roll the dice on $400 refundable and see what it buys you. If you don't like the deal, walk away and get a refund. At least you have some shot at buying 'large' if that is what you are looking to do. Or you can just wait and see what happens. Good chance premium seats will be gone, but I can have a good time standing along the fence. I paypal'd. Nothing to lose. AXE
Just because you have an abundance of wealth doesn't mean that you therefore automatically abandon the concept of value for money! The saying: "A fool and his money are soon parted!" springs to mind, and frankly, anyone who spends any money: ...is a fool in My book!
Just got back from 9 days in Whistler (BC)... we hit the snow lottery! What a great place. I am happy to see construction speeding along. RE tickets and the PSL,... I wonder how many fans that will keep away. I would never do it... I'd rather buy scalped tickets at a premium for the year(s) I want to attend... Lets see... $100 allows you to get in queue to see what PSL's are available and at what price $1000-1500 buys you a PSL for the right to buy a seat for 15 years... (Anyone else think there will be an add'l annual PSL maintenance fee...) Now you finally get the privilege of buying a seat to an event... $$$$ Is the PSL holder permitted to resell his seat? Is COTA aiming for professional F1 tour companies to buy up the best seats? Or does COTA retain the right to sell seats not used by the PSL holder? Of course there is no guarantee of what events will be held... and for how long. Considering how things have progressed,... might be wise to offer a 5-10 year prorated guarantee tied to the F1 race... At least would be good PR. Glad to see them releasing a plan for ticket sales...
It's a joke. Lighten up. I try not to call people fools from a desktop. This is not about wealth. It is about hedging an opportunity. Refundable $100 requires abundant wealth? Not really. I haven't abandoned the concept of value for money. I do want to live life, though, and that costs me some money to live it the way I want.
Thanks for the heads up. FYI - email contact a little slow, so I just called. Very friendly over the phone. Just hoping this race happens.
I think the lack of realism is the loss of connection by some consumers between spending $350MM for a dedicated F1 track and understanding what it takes to get a return on that investment. JMHO. I have said it here and elsewhere, I don't know how to make those numbers work short of govt subsidies....at least here in the US. I can see $50MM all day long. A stretch at $100MM. $350MM? Think about it.
Simon, after all the negativity I have read from you on this site over this race I find it staggering to learn that you spent nine days in heaven, oops, I mean Whistler with good snow. The rest of the world will probably never be the same for you.
I've never posted anything but my honest assessment of the project at the time it was posted. Negative or just accurate at the time made...
Should have added an at the end of the post in that case. You don't think the concept of someone paying money "to watch two dogs ****" is being a bit foolish then?, interesting! To Me it would be a waste of money! A statement along the lines of: "I pay more than that to see My favourite team play!" would make far more sense and would not imply such a pointless waste of money (unless your team is really that bad of course!) But the implication of your post was that based on the fact that this is FCHAT, you can't believe people are quibbling about $100, as if it shouldn't bother them. Anyway, moving on: +1 On tifosi12's statement. "$1000~$1500 buys you a PSL for the right to buy a seat for 15 years... "!!! So you can pay to have first refusal on the possibility to buy a race seat for 15 years. To see what exactly? Will F1 still be racing in Austin in 15 years time? The history of F1 in the USA would say it's highly doubtful! So what is your 15 year option on a ticket purchase going to get you? As I see it, this shows a lack of confidence in the longevity of the event and so they're trying to get as much advanced money as they can.
Yes. Progress has been impressive in the last +/- 6 weeks. And they have published a plan to begin selling tickets. Does that mean I'm convinced there will be a 2012 race,... not quite there yet. As I've said before,... When COTA sells tickets with the 2012 race date on them... (and keeps construction progressing appropriately),... I'll believe COTA believe's there will be a 2012 race. But things look more promising now than they ever have. Now, would you agree that the last +/- 6 weeks show essentially no resemblance to the first 18 months? It's as if new management has taken control...
Sorry, we ALL recognize in Texas that nobody pays money to see dogs fornicating. It is a 'line' denigrating someone for making a small opening bet in a poker game. Ahem. Apparently, I am being much too subtle for some of my fellow posters. If you think filling in a form and committing $100 refundable is foolish, then so be it. I'm done on this subject.
There's just one little problem. You can't buy more than one. Have you tried? There's no way to buy more than one $100 slot. So, what's the $100 for? Can I reserve 200 tickets for a $100 advance? Does the $100 come off the ticket price or is it just a bonus to the organizers for early adopters? It's totally confusing. If this is the way they are going to run themselves, so far I'm not impressed.
