$ 5,000 for a USGP seat? REALLY????

This is common practice for the last 10 years in the Arena / Stadium world. I know just in the Dallas area that the American Airlines Center Mavericks / Stars, Texas Motor Speedway, and Jerryworld ( Cowboys Stadium) , all sold PSL's to get a base of season ticket holders. I expect this is the same in most if not all the new stadiums built in the US for a while now.

Yes, that up front money just gets you a place at the table to buy your PSL, and then you usually are required to buy those seats to a package of all the major events at that venue each year.

I did it for 6 years when Texas Motor Speedway was built. Our group of 6 guys got our money's worth from the cost, but when we bailed in year 7, there was no market for the PSL by then, and we got nothing out of them. Enough had been turned back in, that the venue had a ton to sell.

They state on the website that general admission tickets will be available in early summer. That gives you 6 months before race time to buy. There will be plenty of ticket brokers who do buy the PSL's, and you will be able to pay the going rate to them to sit wherever you want. I agree that for year 2, they need to get out in front, and sell tickets earlier, but with all the stops and starts this thing has had, I'm just glad to know it is going to happen, and that there are rooms under $250 in neighboring towns, that are still plenty close to the track.

 

I saw that in the email I got. But, the information is incomplete. They don't even have a track layout or ticket prices yet. How are you supposed to "invest" in a license if you have no idea what you're buying? Where are these "licensed" seats? What do they cost?

My other point is that the F1 calendar changes all the time. Maybe they change it next year to a time when you can't go. What do you do then? Buy the tickets and sell them on Ebay?

What if Bernie pulls the plug on Austin? What do you do with your "license" then? Get a refund?

And, who is to say that the racing is any good in the future. It's quite possible that by next November, the season could be over already. What if they change the rules and it's no fun anymore?

Is it worth thousands of dollars to see a race that doesn't matter and your favorite team/driver is already working on next year?

I understand the concept. I actually don't disagree with the concept. The problem is there's not enough information to act IMO.

 

$100 refundable deposit, not a big deal to separate those with real interest from everyone else.

They stated the price for 15 year rights was $1000 - $5000 (now, is this per seat or just to get in the door, I suspect the later) depending on position/amenities included, and you have the right to purchase tickets for all events, not just F1.

In 30 days or so you get to hear the sales pitch so to speak, and if you don't like what you hear, withdraw and get your money back. There are not a lot of details right now, but they need to gauge interest, get feedback, and present options. If you don't like what you hear in 30+ days, walk away.

To those grousing about the licensing of ticket space - this is standard for all new venues, so get used to it. If you object, just buy from scalpers. COTA is not inventing some new scheme here, just following the lead of others.

 

The problem is they are following the wrong direction of others.

F1 is still very, very sketchy in the US. You can't compare it to and follow the NFL. What they need is to get the fans on their side. What they need to do is install confidence, particularly when the race was nearly cancelled a month ago and the announcement of the NY race.

In short, instead of trying to fill their pockets with $100 bills, they should be telling us WHY we need to be investing.

That's what marketing does. I see no marketing here at all. I just see an email asking for $100 for "something".

 

This is the same group who sent Bernie a 'contract' that suited them. As you have said it is far easier to get tickets for any other race in the world of F1. This is really ridiculous.
I do hope NY/NJ are seeing this and laughing. Its just a race and a ticket. Nothing more.

It is very difficult to actually want to give COTA any money at all now or in the future. Too many other good races with little hassle to go to.

 

How long before this track has a Nascar race that will draw 5 times as much? That's were the money is in the US. If you want to sell a super seat license, market to that group.

 

Many of my friends have already paid the deposit. Fchat may not reflect the totality of the F1 fanbase...

 

I'm in. I am not distracted by the noise. We'll see what it means in due time. I am one that polled it would not happen in 2012.

 

not a detailed chart, but.......

http://f1us.co/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Suites-and-Main-GS.jpg
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I'm not sure the start-finish area is really the place to be. I'm much more interested in the Turn 1 complex, even if they are just steel bleachers (like at Monaco and Indy)

 

+1 Start-finish is, at most tracks anyway, for the corporate posers (with their fancy arse PSL's paid for by their companies.....)

My guess is there will be *plenty* of seats around the track - No PSL or advance deposit for the next 10 years etc needed.

Hopefully they'll also have good ol' "general admission" and you'll be able to wander all over the place - At least in year one so you can see where you'd like seats next year.....

Cheers,
Ian

 

"Yes and no" Hopefully, it'll be the same as Indy - Friday & Saturday you can do that - OK, it's not a tire change during the race but how many tire changes do you need to see?

And "people spotting". OK, I'll go with that. But then all you've (generally) got is watching 'em fly by in a straight line...... I'm thinking the end of the DRS zone may be a good idea.

Cheers,
Ian

 

Start/ finish lines are totally overrated. Give me a section where I can see passing and more than 100 feet of track.

 

+1 On that!

The ideal would be a seat on the start line for the start of the race, followed by an express trip round to a more interesting part of the track to see some proper action and then towards the end of the race: another express trip back to the start line to see the finish and enjoy the celebrations.

 

+1

Easy enough - Just buy 2 seats!

Cheers,
Ian

 

Fair enough.

Having said that, there's still a long way between a $5K-$10K Paddock Club pass and a $250 (?) S/F ticket......

I'm out of touch - What does an S/F ticket cost at, say, Silverstone?

Cheers,
Ian