F1

Re: Bulgaria next?

astms — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 12:14:16 GMT

This might all be academic anyway. Check out the post named Bulgarian Grand Prix: Fantasy? on the BBC board. It's from a Bulgarian and makes interesting reading.

I can't wait to see how many locals turn up to watch Abu Dhabi !

Re: Bulgaria next?

pedekay — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 11:59:41 GMT

katiekutie:

champalonso:
Surely even CVC would get worried if the TV viewing figures dropped too low? It's all very well plying the celebs and wealthy bods with champers every race, but the combination of empty grandstands and zero racing will eventually have an impact - i.e. the poor ordinary plebs will find something better to do with their time!

The only time CVC will get worried is when there are less than 18 promoters wanting to run an event. Whilst they can sell them all they will be happy. Lets be honest, out of the TV audience, who does not watch races like Turkey and China which have small at the circuit support? I'll bet the vast majority of enthusiasts still watch the race. Yes, the on track action can have an effect but constant changes to the rules seem to help in that direction, just look at this year!

Here's a thought. Suppose all the F1 fans got together and boycotted the actual races in protest at ticket prices. It's so unlikely as to be impossible, but just suppose for a moment. If nobody was buying tickets the promoters/circuit owners would refuse to pay CVC's price. So, apart from the government-sponsored tracks, CVC would not get the full 18 circuits needed to hold the F1 series. So there would not be an F1 series. Is this possible, is this how much power the fans have?

Re: Bulgaria next?

katiekutie — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 09:30:23 GMT

champalonso:
Surely even CVC would get worried if the TV viewing figures dropped too low? It's all very well plying the celebs and wealthy bods with champers every race, but the combination of empty grandstands and zero racing will eventually have an impact - i.e. the poor ordinary plebs will find something better to do with their time!

The only time CVC will get worried is when there are less than 18 promoters wanting to run an event. Whilst they can sell them all they will be happy. Lets be honest, out of the TV audience, who does not watch races like Turkey and China which have small at the circuit support? I'll bet the vast majority of enthusiasts still watch the race. Yes, the on track action can have an effect but constant changes to the rules seem to help in that direction, just look at this year!

Re: Bulgaria next?

champalonso — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 23:17:36 GMT

Surely even CVC would get worried if the TV viewing figures dropped too low? It's all very well plying the celebs and wealthy bods with champers every race, but the combination of empty grandstands and zero racing will eventually have an impact - i.e. the poor ordinary plebs will find something better to do with their time!

Re: Bulgaria next?

Admin — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 18:33:47 GMT

All I care about is seeing decent wheel to wheel racing. I've got no interest whatsoever in the wheeling and dealing behind the scenes. These prima donnas are boring and tedious. THEY SHOULD KEEP THEIR SQUABBLING BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. These idiots want too much limelight, not many sports would put up with the main protagonists having so much exposure.

Re: Bulgaria next?

pedekay — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 18:25:20 GMT

coops3:
katiekutie:
coops3:
katiekutie:
astms:

They should sell loads of Ferraris in that market shouldn't they?

Just what F1 needs, another new circuit with no tradition of motorsport and few fans.

Far better than wasting our time getting back to North America!

I've said it before, CVC have no interest in who attends the event, that's the promoters problem. Just so long as the promoter comes up with the cash for CVC and the TV rights get paid they have little interest in anything else, I guess it's just business to them, no room for sentiment in business afterall.

Would you not agree that that's a bit of a problem?

I suppose it rather depends on your viewpoint.

If, like me, you like to attend GP's, follow them avidly throughout the season and have interestes beyond the result of the race then, yes, it is a problem.

If you are selling a finite resource, in this case a maximum of 18 events per annum, and you have bank loans to repay and shareholders wanting a dividend I guess you would sell to the highest bidder. Like I said, it's just business to them.

I hear what you're saying, but I would argue that the number of fans that attend Grand Prix should be of at least some concern to everyone involved in the sport, whatever their viewpoint.

Yes, at the moment CVC don't have to worry. But if the fans stopped attending altogether, at any circuit, then there would have to be some rethinking. I guess the sponsors want fans, and if they complained about lack of attendance, then the teams would have to put pressure on management, a sort of knock-on effect. Although there is the tv audience of course, the sponsors may be happy enough with just that.

It's like politics in a way, most of the time the politicians don't worry about what people want. Then the people get really annoyed about something and make their displeasure felt, and the politicians have to take notice - (like the Poll Tax protests, or the expenses claims uproar.) So if the F1 fans got really angry about high ticket prices and stayed away, management would have to take notice.

Re: Bulgaria next?

coops3 — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:59:33 GMT

katiekutie:
coops3:
katiekutie:
astms:

They should sell loads of Ferraris in that market shouldn't they?
Just what F1 needs, another new circuit with no tradition of motorsport and few fans.
Far better than wasting our time getting back to North America!
I've said it before, CVC have no interest in who attends the event, that's the promoters problem. Just so long as the promoter comes up with the cash for CVC and the TV rights get paid they have little interest in anything else, I guess it's just business to them, no room for sentiment in business afterall.

Would you not agree that that's a bit of a problem?
I suppose it rather depends on your viewpoint.
If, like me, you like to attend GP's, follow them avidly throughout the season and have interestes beyond the result of the race then, yes, it is a problem.
If you are selling a finite resource, in this case a maximum of 18 events per annum, and you have bank loans to repay and shareholders wanting a dividend I guess you would sell to the highest bidder. Like I said, it's just business to them.

I hear what you're saying, but I would argue that the number of fans that attend Grand Prix should be of at least some concern to everyone involved in the sport, whatever their viewpoint.

Re: Bulgaria next?

katiekutie — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:08:48 GMT

coops3:
katiekutie:
astms:

They should sell loads of Ferraris in that market shouldn't they?

Just what F1 needs, another new circuit with no tradition of motorsport and few fans.

Far better than wasting our time getting back to North America!

I've said it before, CVC have no interest in who attends the event, that's the promoters problem. Just so long as the promoter comes up with the cash for CVC and the TV rights get paid they have little interest in anything else, I guess it's just business to them, no room for sentiment in business afterall.

Would you not agree that that's a bit of a problem?

I suppose it rather depends on your viewpoint.

If, like me, you like to attend GP's, follow them avidly throughout the season and have interestes beyond the result of the race then, yes, it is a problem.

If you are selling a finite resource, in this case a maximum of 18 events per annum, and you have bank loans to repay and shareholders wanting a dividend I guess you would sell to the highest bidder. Like I said, it's just business to them.

Re: Bulgaria next?

coops3 — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 11:38:54 GMT

katiekutie:
astms:

They should sell loads of Ferraris in that market shouldn't they?
Just what F1 needs, another new circuit with no tradition of motorsport and few fans.
Far better than wasting our time getting back to North America!
I've said it before, CVC have no interest in who attends the event, that's the promoters problem. Just so long as the promoter comes up with the cash for CVC and the TV rights get paid they have little interest in anything else, I guess it's just business to them, no room for sentiment in business afterall.

Would you not agree that that's a bit of a problem?

Re: Bulgaria next?

katiekutie — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:57:06 GMT

astms:

They should sell loads of Ferraris in that market shouldn't they?

Just what F1 needs, another new circuit with no tradition of motorsport and few fans.

Far better than wasting our time getting back to North America!

I've said it before, CVC have no interest in who attends the event, that's the promoters problem. Just so long as the promoter comes up with the cash for CVC and the TV rights get paid they have little interest in anything else, I guess it's just business to them, no room for sentiment in business afterall.

Bulgaria next?

astms — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:46:30 GMT

They should sell loads of Ferraris in that market shouldn't they?

Just what F1 needs, another new circuit with no tradition of motorsport and few fans.

Far better than wasting our time getting back to North America!