F1 is famous for expensive ticket pricing. Grandstand, which takes up the majority of the seats, starts at 460 euros ( price taken from Abu Dahbi Gran Prix ). Some professionals insist that ticket prices should be reduced to cope with poor spectator attendance in major Grand Prix competitions, reasoning that the Montreal Grand Prix was packed due to affordable ticket prices. Does it have to stick to their prestige rule or does it is necessary to give more accessibility to its audiences? Does a sport with dull audience attendance can be managed sustainably?
< References >
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/motorsport/formulaone/11098605/Dwindling-spectators-prompt-Formula-One-managers-to-discuss-high-ticket-prices-with-Bernie-Ecclestone.html
http://tickets.formula1.com/en/3312-abu-dhabi-fom/
< References >
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/motorsport/formulaone/11098605/Dwindling-spectators-prompt-Formula-One-managers-to-discuss-high-ticket-prices-with-Bernie-Ecclestone.html
http://tickets.formula1.com/en/3312-abu-dhabi-fom/
http://colorlibrary.blogspot.com.es/2012/08/chinese-grand-prix-shangai.html#.VE1Z4PmG_5A
I think that if they lowered their prices a bit, more spectators would attend the F1 races, but the problem is maybe the sport itself(it's not the most spectator friendly sport, it works quite good in your own living room as well). And probably, other sports would be more affected by a low attendance(and maybe the F1 drivers don't really feel the enthusiasm from the crowd as much as other athletes do)!?
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment.
DeleteGood opinions from different points of view!
In my opinion, low audience attendance might have a big impact.
F1 is a capitalist driven sports. It has to be sponsored by investors
to make their cutting edge technology cars. Because of poor audience attendance, sponsors may draw back their financial support. Then the teams are going to be in trouble developing the racing car, which makes this sport exist.
It is a fact that F1 tickets are expensive but I think there is a reason for it. As you said above, F1 is a capitalist driven sport and I don't think is has to change, it has always been like that since years and years. It reflects on how spectacular and "private" it is to attend an F1 race.
ReplyDeleteSo you think that it has to keep its posh strategy!
DeleteThank you for your comment.
I think there is a reason why they haven't lowered the price of the tickets even though the stadiums are not full. It’s a part of their strategy and image and moving in a different direction might not be as profitable. However, I do think they can find other ways to draw spectators other than lowering the overall price. If they can manage to make the experience more enjoyable for the spectators, more people might be willing to pay the high price and they will be able to fill the stadium.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment, Sara!
DeleteIt is a good opinion to increase audience attendance keeping
the identity of the sport!
Do you have any ideas to make F1 competitions more tempting to actually go there?
Well, for one they could take advantage of the latest technology, offering a more interactive experience at the race. They could increase spending on screens and coverage over the entire course, or they could allow the audience to follow the progress of the race on their phones or tablets. Of course, this offer can only be available for people attending the race (if not, staying at home might be a more appealing alternative). Another alternative is to have more entertainment during or around the time of the race. Since the time you get to see the actual race is very limited in F1, other entertainment might help draw more audience to the stadium.
DeleteI appreciate your suggestions! The interactive experience will definetely be interesting to go to the game. It could give more sense that the audience is in the race with the drivers since the drivers have been detatched from the spectators during the game. Le Mans race would be an good example of 2 suggestion. They held it as a integrated racing event offering attractions and promotions for audience not to get bored during the 24 hours of race with accomodations as well.
DeleteSeem strange to keep the ticket prices at such a high level while attendance is dropping steadily, do you think the sport is heading for a crisis ? I ask because there have been many teams recently that are either quitting, going into administration or announcing plans to withdraw from the competition. It is obviously hard to maintain a team in such an extremely expensive sport when the fan base seems to getting smaller, or is the fan base maybe just moving to watching the events through broadcasting ?
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment! Yes, I think it is a crisis. Because both TV and on - the - spot followers are decreasing. F1 should develop the strategies to make the race more attractive to attend. They are settled at the present selling the tickets of social prestige and economic success. Actually, to see the game, it is better to watch it on TV since it shows best how is the racing going through high tech broadcasting system. If you attend the race, all what you see is the starting grid and the arrivals. And the game is getting less and less interesting because the results are predictable. As Sara suggested above, like interactive experience, they should make the circuit more compelling place. No matter how this sport is driven by capitalists, its root is in sport, which can't exist without supporters.
Delete