FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[McLaren Fan]

From Grand Prix.com:

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Rhine-Neckar region of Germany, which represents the interests of more than 65.000 member companies, has written to its members urging them to buy tickets for the German Grand Prix in 2010, in order to save the race.

The city of Hockenheim says that it cannot go on subsidizing the event and and with no help coming from the regional or central government, the circuit is hoping that its business community will show solidarity and buy 20,000 tickets to secure the future of the event. The council will decide in mid-March whether or not to go ahead with the race and it seems that this decision will be based on whether or not the 20,000 tickets on offer have been sold. If they are not sold then Hockenheim says it will not be able to run the event. If the tickets are sold then a new grandstand will be organised for the ticket-holders.

The logic of this move is that the businesses that benefit from the race are being offered the chance to put something back into the event and thus save it.

A pathetic state of affairs, really.

[darwin dali]

But maybe the way to go. If the larger community really wants the race and does the math re. revenues/costs, then they should help out. There are creative ways of off-setting the costs for the tickets they buy (e.g., sweepstakes, incorporating into commercial/advertising gigs, etc.).

[McLaren Fan]

I think it's definitely the way to go. No doubt the Grand Prix contributes a reasonable amount towards the local economy, so the businesses may decide it's worth chipping in. I think it just shows the effect Ecclestone's greed is having on Formula One.

[EwanM]

What is the financial state of the Nurburgring in all of this?

[Gert]

The Nürbergring is having 2nd thoughts too.

I'm really not sure that having a GP makes any financial sense anymore - for 1 thing by the time you've bought a ticket you've got no cash left to spend in the area.

[7UpJordan]

I think it just shows the effect Ecclestone's greed is having on Formula One.

Couldn't agree any more on that. Bernie's trying to look for a space for the Indian Grand Prix and probably also a space for the Grand Prix of Um Bongo, Um Bongo they drink it in the Congo.

I would like to see Schumacher step forward and try and save the German Grand Prix future. He'll be doing every F1 fan a favour, whether you loved him or loathed him in his driving days.

[EwanM]

I think it just shows the effect Ecclestone's greed is having on Formula One.

Couldn't agree any more on that. Bernie's trying to look for a space for the Indian Grand Prix and probably also a space for the Grand Prix of Um Bongo, Um Bongo they drink it in the Congo.

I would like to see Schumacher step forward and try and save the German Grand Prix future. He'll be doing every F1 fan a favour, whether you loved him or loathed him in his driving days.

All we can hope for is a Hamilton style push if Vettel becomes successful. Even so, British GP attendances have never ever been bad. Alot of that is due to the number of hardcore fans in the UK. I don't think Germany has that same level.

[McLaren Fan]

Schumacher said he was fine with Formula One moving to new venues, so I don't suddenly expect to see him trying to save the race.

From a person point of view, because of the history etc. I would like to see a German Grand Prix; but part of me also thinks if the Germans don't care, then why the hell should I?

[cap-dude]

Because of theres more Germans in F1, than any other nationality. You'd think Germany would be following F1.

Not only that, the German drivers are all pretty good. Glock, Heidfeld, Rosberg and Vettel are all great drivers. Especially Vettel. Sutil has his spectacular moments, and then his not so spectacular moments. Whlst we've also got Nice Hulkenburg coming through, who will no doubt drive for williams in a year or two.

[Rivelution]

I think the majority of German race fans are sports car fans. When you look at sports car races in Germany theres a crap load of fans!!

[EwanM]

i think it could be more of a cost factor. Im sure Germany has alot of race fans, hence why the other events get big turn outs. But F1 is just so damn expensive for normal people, and when you put it in comparison with say the DTM for value for money etc.

[McLaren Fan]

Because of theres more Germans in F1, than any other nationality. You'd think Germany would be following F1.

Not only that, the German drivers are all pretty good. Glock, Heidfeld, Rosberg and Vettel are all great drivers. Especially Vettel. Sutil has his spectacular moments, and then his not so spectacular moments. Whlst we've also got Nice Hulkenburg coming through, who will no doubt drive for williams in a year or two.

You misunderstand me. The number of German drivers and their levels of ability has nothing to do with this. The fact is the German fanbase has evaporated since Schumacher retired. Given that countries like Canada and the United Kingdom always have had good turn outs, regardless of whether their countries had successful drivers, we have to conclude the German "fans" are a pretty fickle bunch. As they don't care enough to attend their home Grands Prix any more, then it seems reasonable to ask why not drop the German Grand Prix and get another race on the calendar, preferably one whose stadia are filled.

[EwanM]

Add China and Turkey into that mix too.

[McLaren Fan]

i think it could be more of a cost factor. Im sure Germany has alot of race fans, hence why the other events get big turn outs. But F1 is just so damn expensive for normal people, and when you put it in comparison with say the DTM for value for money etc.

The costs of going to see a Grand Prix now are not much different from 2006. Schumacher has retired and the fanbase has evanesced.

[McLaren Fan]

Add China and Turkey into that mix too.

Don't worry. I'm not a fan of those Grand Prix either. The only thing saving the Turkish Grand Prix for me is that Istanbul Park is a decent enough circuit.

To be fair to the Chinese and Turks, though, many of them are not terribly wealthy. Germany is a much more wealthy nation, so it's a little bit unfair to suggest the Chinese and Germans are as bad as one another.