hairy_scotsman wrote:
Arai_or_Nothing wrote:
Sad but initially part of the allure of this race for Americans was the pricing. It was less expensive than any other GP and that was partly how it was sold to the developers.
Even last years race I saw constant advertising for event tickets at very affordable prices. I think I remember tickets starting at $75 per person for a regular ticket and some grand stand tickets with pit passes going for as low as $350, which is an excellent value and a fair price.
Now I see on their site they've gone all Ecclestone on the world and the rates are ridiculous. THIS is precisely why American GP's have died sudden deaths here in the states numerous times. It is just unbelievable. This sisn't some third world country where things like gross misappropriation of funds is taken lightly and Evil Little Troll and his people cannot make back alley deals as if it's the wild west. Furthermore, if indeed the deal was done without the proper procedures being followed, rest assured someone is going to be charged with a crime and I can see the Texas State Attorneys pursuing it for as long as it takes for someone to answer for it and recoup the funds.
It's a superb track and to would be a shame if F1 didn't race there every year.
In that bold portion are you referring to the USGP in Austin? Or the USGPs in Indy? Indy was inexpensive. Nothing about the USGP in Austin has ever been cheap. Not the seats, not the parking, not the food or drinks. Not anything, and F1 pit passes have never been sold by COTA for $350. No F1 seats for $75 either.In fact, since its inception, it's been one of the 3 or 4 most expensive GPs. The pricing has been the main sticking point for American fans. And what do you mean by "developers"? The current ownership, which booted out the founder of the GP, Tavo Hellmund, are the ones you can blame for the high pricing. They insisted from the beginning that they would cater to higher-end clientele (in opposition to Hellmund's strategy of going with lower prices and trying to attract as many fans as possible, making as much money as possible on volume and growing the sport in the States). The current ownership has never wanted to sell seats cheap or even at reasonable prices.
As for the remainder of your post, I agree.
Was referring to Austin.
The last 2 years ticket offerings were featured during commercial breaks and the first season on Speed Channel they promoted it to death and I remember them being rather inexpensive. So much so that I almost drove from Florida with my brother in law last year but decided against it due to my failing hip replacement and all the walking I'd have to endure.
In fact here's something I found via a quick google search.
Seating Area Three-Day Ticket Price Per Person
General Admission $159
Grandstand - Turn 11 $269
Grandstand - Turns 2, 3, 4 and 5 $299
Grandstand - Turn 12 (lower rows) $399
Grandstand - Turn 12 (upper rows) $499
Pulled from here: http://austin.culturemap.com/news/sport ... prise-you/Wish I could find the pit pass pricing info but not going to bother. One thing I have is an excellent memory and I'm far too young still to be going batshit crazy! Lol
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