Cost of spectating at a Grand Prix

[Sodemo]

I dont go anymore to Silverstone for the F1. I go to DTM, Touring car events. Much cheaper and better racing. I last went in 2004 and it cost £90 for all 3 days I think.

[The Happy Track Fan]

The cost of attending a Grand Prix is just pure insane, especially when the race lasts 90 minutes.

Going to Montreal with my wife would easily cost me $1,500.00 for a weekend. That is simply not worth the money. I absolutely can't justify it. Anywhere else would involve flights, and that drives the price up even more. Plus, Montreal is not a very good circuit, neither competition wise or for spectators, so my interest is even less.

I can go to about 4-5 other races for that much.

Besides. The thought of giving Bernie Ecclestone my money just gives me indigestion in the worst way. The worst thing that ever happened to Formula One racing was letting that man have control of the sport. Complete Greedy Moron.

[Spritle]

Stuff like this doesn't help:

http://en.espnf1.com/usa/motorsport/story/101631.html

That aside...Indy, loathed as it was by many was a bargain aside from the hotel gouging which is really a shame it is allowed.

I went every year to both quali & the race and paid about $150 for a grandstand seat, under the overhang out of the sun & rain on the start finish line on race day, EXCELLENT seats!

With what Austin wants for a grandstand seat & a hotel room I will never go. General admission at more than what I paid at Indy to sit on a hill was OK for me when I was 18, not today.

I will look at Jersey if it happens but if they want $600 for a grandstand they can soak some other moron.

[JamesH]

Do any of you go to club events? Entry £10-20, perhaps 15 varied races in a day, ability to walk round the paddock and pit garages?

Racing tends to be a bit more exciting too....not as fast, but closer.

Give it a go. The circuits need your income.

[wnut]

You're right JamesH, the local events have a far more open and friendly atmosphere, you don't get beaten up by security goons or subject to hooligan behaviour, and it is always good to go through the pits!

Better on track action too, with as you say up to 15 races of different categories, way way better value.

Grand Prix race meetings used to be as good!

1st meeting I ever attended had:

Production cars 2 races
Modified Production 2 races
Formula Vee
Production Motorcylces
Racing Motorcycles
Grand Prix

With a 30 min practice (some mixed) for each category in the early morning.

In later years FF was added to the program.

Then came Bernie ....

[peckstar]

I live 160km from the melb GP track. caught the train on thurs which cost me $40 return. it was free entry to the track, i had packed my lunch, bought a couple of cokes. cost for the day $52.

to do the same thing today would cost me about $100 for the day.

to get to an event at my local race track for a state level race would cost me a bout $60 for the saturday.

Reckon F1 is great value

[formerf1champ]

LOL! Who goes to the GP??? It's only worth going to the GP, as a spectator, if you're a professional driver competing in the supports.

Originally Posted by Knowlesy

So I started going to testing instead, but they don't really do that very much these days.

That's not a bad alternative. You Euro folk are a lucky bunch.

Originally Posted by Kai

I've yet to go to a grand prix, .

You're not missing much. You, being on the West Coast, would have more fun at that big historic meeting at Laguna Seca.

Originally Posted by Armco Bender

Includes armed guards.

Hehehe

[formerf1champ]

quote JamesH

Do any of you go to club events? Entry £10-20, perhaps 15 varied races in a day, ability to walk round the paddock and pit garages?

Yes I do! Often!

Racing tends to be a bit more exciting too..

Not always. some cars a clearly better (or more money has been spent on them) or some drivers are much more confident. Even if a race is processional (as far as a race for the front is concerned), you can always find a point of interest, like a particular car to take a photo of or observe.

..not as fast, but closer.

I will admit. Regardless of where I am at Phillip Island, I always make the effort to get to the start/finish line in a fvee/fford race.

The circuits need your income.

PI does not need my income.

[Dixie Flatline]

I think the Australian Grand Prix race organisers have recognised that prices are skyrocketing (not helped by Bernie's demands to keep the race in Melbourne) so they are varying the types of tickets that can be purchased by spectators. Not sure if it's helping the affordability issues, as I haven't been to a grand prix for a while (three children tends to stop me from going these days), but at least they're trying something.

[peckstar]

Kids are free dixie, you should take them

[Dixie Flatline]

Originally Posted by peckstar

Kids are free dixie, you should take them

My 21 month old son would destroy the circuit.

I'm being serious.

[NickoGP]

Bernie/The F1 Circus don't actually care about spectators. They make their money from the TV Rights. If no one turned up, they would still race.

Eventually the traditional circuits would all go bust, but some rich businessman would build one somewhere for the glamour and.. oh wait.

[hgmonaro]

I went Friday. Borrowed the wifes myki to catch the train in, which I got off due to an incident somewhere and called the wife to come and take me the rest of the way Got in with a teacher friend who was taking his class, bought lunch ($18.50 for 3 chicken strips (small.. more like nuggets), chips and a drink. Caught train home using wifes myki and got her to come and pick me up from the station. So about $30 in total to watch 2 practice sessions of F1, V8's, a few other cars, the Roulettes, the FA18 and the odd gris girl. Not to bad.

[Paulaweybridge]

Totally agree with both of you.

A good club event is often far superior.

Originally Posted by wnut

You're right JamesH, the local events have a far more open and friendly atmosphere, you don't get beaten up by security goons or subject to hooligan behaviour, and it is always good to go through the pits!

Better on track action too, with as you say up to 15 races of different categories, way way better value.

Grand Prix race meetings used to be as good!

1st meeting I ever attended had:

Production cars 2 races
Modified Production 2 races
Formula Vee
Production Motorcylces
Racing Motorcycles
Grand Prix

With a 30 min practice (some mixed) for each category in the early morning.

In later years FF was added to the program.

Then came Bernie ....

[chillibowl]

Originally Posted by NickoGP

Bernie/The F1 Circus don't actually care about spectators. They make their money from the TV Rights. If no one turned up, they would still race.

Eventually the traditional circuits would all go bust, but some rich businessman would build one somewhere for the glamour and.. oh wait.

spot on! how many races do we have now where they have to cover up grandstands to hide the fact that people are not showing up?

i suppose you cant blame them because the money is in the TV rights but at some point that model will fall apart. people (new viewers and the casual fan) tune in because F1 is an event, a spectacle, a happening....people see a crowd and go 'oooh whats happening over there' so if you lose the live crowd why would anyone bother to stop and look in to see what everyone else finds so interesting?