Montreal Ticket Sales/Attendance

Also have been getting offers nonstop via email. Only second time since the mid-80s that I've missed this race, but my group decided against going primarily due to the underwhelming sound. I hope attendance is down, if only to send a wake up call to the FIA...

 

I'm going, and would not mind lower attendace because I hate crowds...

 

I believe this may be the last Canadian GP for quite a while. I hope attendance is up although I also received endless strangely translated emails from the organizers beckoning for attendees .

 

same here....multiple emails for reduced admission

 

I hate crowds too… but I use to go for the sound. I could listen to a gaggle of lawnmowers any weekend here in the suburbs, and view better coverage of the race on TV now.

 

Was looking at tickets about a week ago and they' had a lot of left over seats outside the hairpin

 

Agree. Absolutely love the city and the race weekend vibe...

 

I too was fearing losing the Grand Prix to Russia or a much richer Arab/Asian country. The installations are getting quite old and the GP is a source of pride and embarassment at the same time.

However, a 10 year deal was reached yesterday so we're covered until 2024 and 25 to 40 million dollars will be invested for improvements.

 

Good news

 

+1

Just heard they've changed the gravel to tarmac in a couple of places. [Outside of the hairpin & at turn 13 I believe].

At least the infamous speed bumps remain....

Cheers,
Ian

 

Combination of the 3.

The Hamilton/Rosberg battles are very entertaining though, so I would say that's the least contributing to the problem.

 

At least they don't have specials running on Groupon & LivingSocial like Austin did.

Stands looking pretty packed for FP1 & 2. THAT'S how it's supposed to look on Friday. Pay attention COTA.

 

Yes, a "Michel Boisvert" sent me a tweet yesterday that an announcement was coming soon....

and sure enough:

New Canadian GP contract set to be announced | Grand Prix 247

 

Michel Boisvert
@cheesy_poofs
@Austin_F1 The mayor of Montreal has called a press conference Saturday to make an major announcement regarding the future of the #GPCanada

 

Canada seals new 10-year F1 deal, commits to facility improvements:

Canadian Grand Prix seals new 10-year deal // F1 News // James Allen on F1 ? The official James Allen website on F1

 

I just got back last night from the race. It was Packed! so dont know where the low crowds thing came from it was very busy. AND HOT & HUMID - i think this was the warmest GP i've been too. I'm a crispy critter.

 

Certainly the shots we saw on TV showed a big crowd, both in the stands and the general-admission areas (which, in my opinion, are terrible).

I'm curious to see what "pit and paddock" improvements can be made, without filling in at least part of the adjacent rowing basin. When the current complex was built in 1988 it was considered state-of-the-art, but I guess that's not good enough anymore. (I find it interesting that even after all these years, the building adjacent to the old start-finish line after the hairpin is still there!)

 

I've been to 4 CGP's but missed the last 2 in favor of the USGP. I'd planned to go back to Montreal next year and take my youngest son. If they don't improve the sound of the cars, I'll be hard pressed to spend the $. I loved sitting inside the hairpin and listen to the cars coming in at full speed on my left, watch them brake hard, then full on the throttle coming back out on my right.

It won't be the same with the growling sounds the cars make now.

 

I loved Montreal when I went in 2005 - great city, solid facility, great fans.

I booked a seedy, grungy hotel (unbeknownst to us), and my wife demanded we get another hotel (I had my young kids with me). I was able to get the Hilton where all the drivers were staying at a rate close to the seedy hotel, and the hotel staff was extremely friendly.

We met Ralf Schumacher - he was great, very polite.

I also strongly resemble Jacques Villeneuve (more so then than now) - so many people pointed at me and said "JACQUES!!!" and we all had a laugh.

A truly memorable experience within driving distance of where I live (about 8 hours). I'll never forget it.

Glad they signed a 10 year deal, it's a keeper!!!

 

Maybe they would sell more tickets if they dumped KERS and brought back v12's.

 

the Pit & Paddock area is kinda tight. the garages are not easily accessible to the hospitality area and all the marketing support stuff... so its not Modern... the Paddock Club suites are not enclosed AC etc.. they are nice but still open with big AC ducting coming in.

It would make sense to fill in the rowing basin and use that reclaimed land for a modern building...

 

You mean like this? I shot this video at the hairpin 5 minutes after walking into CGV for my very first in-person F1 experience in 2010. It was like coming home for the first time.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/52143223@N05/5179943152/