US Grand Prix- Austin (USA)

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Flavio Galtieri

Well he certainly has a downer on the "British" doesn't he? What relevance is Bernie's nationality for heaven's sake?

And 95% of the British GP's audience are British? So what? It's a sell out annually and there are other Grand Prix within easy driving distance in Belgium and Germany. Just like a short hop if you're from Texas!!

I can see why it's an easy target if budgets are being cut and schools are under pressure but I think if he revisits the issue in 5 years it will be seen as a success.

I've been to Austin myself and it's a really great town, I think the GP will be very well suited there. With a bit of luck there could be a US Formula One driver again soon and that'll help.

I don't see this as downer on the British, he's merely pointing out who runs F1. Most people in the US will never have heard of Bernie.

[Flavio Galtieri]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

I don't see this as downer on the British, he's merely pointing out who runs F1. Most people in the US will never have heard of Bernie.

I beg to differ. He uses the phrase "British monopolist" twice and other times just refers to Ecclestone by name. The writer is trying to rub in the nationality of the F1 holder, probably just to point out he's a foreigner.

In any case it's a badly written piece, thrashing around all over the place trying to find any reason to trash the event.

[JeremySmith]

Originally Posted by Flavio Galtieri

I beg to differ. He uses the phrase "British monopolist" twice and other times just refers to Ecclestone by name. The writer is trying to rub in the nationality of the F1 holder, probably just to point out he's a foreigner.

In any case it's a badly written piece, thrashing around all over the place trying to find any reason to trash the event.

I read the piece, it's complete rubbish..

[skycafe]

Originally Posted by Purist

And Watkins Glen certainly seemed to be a reasonably popular venue for the GP back in the day. It lasted for 20 seasons there for goodness' sake, so it couldn't have been that bad.

Having just read the article, I stumbled on the mention of Watkins not being success. What did it in was the increasing cost to run the race I believe.

[Flyin Ryan]

Originally Posted by Flavio Galtieri

And 95% of the British GP's audience are British? So what?

It's to draw a point that if Texans are paying for this to draw in tourists and the only people that go are people living in Texas, no new income is brought into the state that'll cover the costs they're putting into it.

With a bit of luck there could be a US Formula One driver again soon and that'll help.

Not as long as the Europeans expect everyone coming through their formulas to be ride buyers.

Perez may be a draw for all the Mexicans that live in Texas.

In any case it's a badly written piece, thrashing around all over the place trying to find any reason to trash the event.

Look, I'm a diehard racefan. I love the sport. Why on earth though in this economy is the Texas state government and the city of Austin paying off that snake oil salesman that'll someday stab a knife through their back just as he has done to multiple other promoters the world over?

[Flyin Ryan]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

I don't see this as downer on the British, he's merely pointing out who runs F1. Most people in the US will never have heard of Bernie.

For the best.

[Purist]

I'm not sure Bernie is any worse a snake oil salesman than quite a few characters out there, like the "top bankers" and hedge-fund managers. And I think cities are going toe be FAR MORE ****ed off, and this will be across the entire country mind you, by the wider impact of this current mess in the NFL.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Flavio Galtieri

I beg to differ. He uses the phrase "British monopolist" twice and other times just refers to Ecclestone by name. The writer is trying to rub in the nationality of the F1 holder, probably just to point out he's a foreigner.

In any case it's a badly written piece, thrashing around all over the place trying to find any reason to trash the event.

Get real; to Americans Ecclestone is a monolpolist and a foreiegner.

Originally Posted by Flyin Ryan

For the best.

Damn right.

[ujoint]

Enough austin bashing. Give it a chance at least the first time. this is 2011 and the world power brokers are changing daily. Feel forunate you even got a race in the USA again. IMO. Americans in general probably don't hate the British. BE sucks period, no mater his nationality.

[Louis Agilais]

I don't agree with the people that say Americans won't go to Austin to the GP. From my perception, the Indianapolis event was one of the GPs with more people in the stands. Ok, it's the American capital of motorsport, but I don't think that's only because of that. Americans are a people that wouldn't allow an event of worldwide projection to be held in their territory and with the grandstands not full.
They would be embarassed by that and they will go there even if they have no clue what is F1 or who is Vettel or Hamilton, Webber, Alonso, etc.

[Flavio Galtieri]

Well I for one really hope this works.

I can understand the controversy about state funding in the current economy but I think the GP will put Austin on the world map, which currently it isn't, and that will be the benefit for taxpayers.

If you asked a European to name a city in Texas they'd say Houston first, or at a pinch and if they were a little older Dallas (because of the TV show). I bet hardly anyone would say Austin or even know it's the State capital.

I've been lucky enough to vist Texas many times and Austin is an undiscovered gem for me. I think it's slightly "alternative" nature will fit in really well with F1 fans and others if they only knew it existed. That's where I think the benefits will come from for the people paying for the tax breaks.

[Louis Agilais]

There's still San Antonio to add to that list of Texas cities that people would say before mentioning the capital. But there you go, like Dallas and Houston they also have a NBA team, so that's probably the reason. Also it seems to me that Austin is the capital of Texas in the same way Den Hague is the capital of the Netherlands: for a reason other than its size, population or economic importance in the region

I do agree that having a NBA team or hosting a Grand Prix "puts the city on the map" and probably all the money invested will return. I just don't agree that, because of this, they charge the city for that privilege the amount of money they do.. it just doesn't seem right..

Chosing the cities based on merit or well defined criteria seems to be the fairer option, like they do with the Olympics or the World Cup. Although we all know that that tends to generate corruption, it's still a better way to go..

[fourWheelDrift]

Originally Posted by Louis Agilais

Chosing the cities based on merit or well defined criteria seems to be the fairer option, like they do with the Olympics or the World Cup. Although we all know that that tends to generate corruption, it's still a better way to go..

Problem with doing it that way is the well known cities will always have an advantage and the Austins of this world don't get the chance to put themselves on the map. When was the last time the Olympics went to a place no one had heard of? Well I suppose there's London coming up .

[Louis Agilais]

Originally Posted by fourWheelDrift

Problem with doing it that way is the well known cities will always have an advantage and the Austins of this world don't get the chance to put themselves on the map. When was the last time the Olympics went to a place no one had heard of? Well I suppose there's London coming up .

Yes, it's true, but nevertheless it's always better than the system we have now of going to "whoever pays more". Or, it's fairer. And a system like the one I'm defending always gives room to the Austins of this world, because they can apply for a GP, and, if they have a case, they can win. For instance, Atlanta is not the most important city of the U.S., I think, and they still had the 96 Olympics (as Salt Lake City, the Winter ones)

[thebear]

The "Fat Lady" has not yet sung:

http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns23292.html