FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[scotty]

The 2010 Turkish Grand Prix could be the final one in Istanbul after Bernie Ecclestone doubled the price of the contract to keep the race after next year, according to local media.

The Turkish media reports that Ecclestone would get $26 million from the Turkish as of 2011, nearly twice as much as with the current deal.

Ecclestone's new deal looks set to put an end to the Istanbul race, which was already struggling to attract fans.

Official figures for this year's event said just 36,000 three-day tickets were sold for the circuit with a capacity for 130,000 fans.

The Hurriyet Daily News reports that Ecclestone wrote to Faruk Nafiz Ozak, the Turkish state minister responsible for sporting events, to lay out the conditions of the new contract, including the increased fee.

Turkish officials said the fee requested was not fitting for a country like Turkey.

"In countries such as France and Germany, the Formula One CEO is requesting something between $1.5 million and $4 million," an official told the newspaper.

The report said officials will decide on the deal by the end of the month.

I can't say this is bad news. I especially like this bit:

Turkish officials said the fee requested was not fitting for a country like Turkey.

"In countries such as France and Germany, the Formula One CEO is requesting something between $1.5 million and $4 million,"

Do you think they even asked themselves why that may be?!

[Rusko]

shame, i think the track is decent. there is just isn't the interest is there, the stands were as good as empty this season. if it does go i hope they replace it with another racing track. not another eastern street circuit.

[cap-dude]

Darn. It's a really good track, but it just hasn't clicked. People aren't coming to the event and it's not had the action it deserves.

However if it does go, Portimao is waiting in the wings.

[Jabberwocky]

Darn. It's a really good track, but it just hasn't clicked. People aren't coming to the event and it's not had the action it deserves.

However if it does go, Portimao is waiting in the wings.

I think another middle east country is waiting in the wings.

where did he get the figures from? isn't silverstone paying 13 million this year?

[Jensonb]

The only reason I think this is a shame is because Jenson showed this year he goes well around that track.

[Juliet P]

I don't care, personally.

[Hanwombat]

woo

[cap-dude]

I think it's a shame the only track made for F1 in nearly 10 years that drivers actually genuinely enjoy is failing, whilst tracks like Valencia, and Bahrain prosper.

But I guess some tracks have to make way for Korea and India. and Turkey is being picked off first.

[Gaz]

I think it's a shame the only track made for F1 in nearly 10 years that drivers actually genuinely enjoy is failing, whilst tracks like Valencia, and Bahrain prosper.

But I guess some tracks have to make way for Korea and India. and Turkey is being picked off first.

nah ecclestone wants more races = more money its the teams that don't want that many as i understand it.

I don't see why he should charge them more tho since its not like they make money from ticket sales right? - i assumed it all went to the circuit.

[cap-dude]

I think it's a shame the only track made for F1 in nearly 10 years that drivers actually genuinely enjoy is failing, whilst tracks like Valencia, and Bahrain prosper.

But I guess some tracks have to make way for Korea and India. and Turkey is being picked off first.

nah ecclestone wants more races = more money its the teams that don't want that many as i understand it.

I don't see why he should charge them more tho since its not like they make money from ticket sales right? - i assumed it all went to the circuit.

I think what happens is, they pay Bernie. Then the track uses the money from ticket sales to make up for some of that money lost. Then the rest of the money comes from getting you to buy merchandise on track, as well as on track sponsorship.

All the same, Bernie is ripping of the tracks and he charges far too much money for nothing. I mean, what are the tracks paying for. It's no wonder Silverstone is struggling. If he lowered charges, tracks could lower ticket prices, and more spectators would come.

The circuits are suppose to make money from this, but really, the only person who wins is Bernie. It's a stupid system.

[Gaz]

yeh i figured thats kinda what happens and your right ticket prices are just daft.

[7UpJordan]

Oh deer.

[Jensonb]

I don't care, personally.

TBH, me neither.

I think what happens is, they pay Bernie. Then the track uses the money from ticket sales to make up for some of that money lost. Then the rest of the money comes from getting you to buy merchandise on track, as well as on track sponsorship.

I believe Bernie - well, FOM - sells the on-track sponsorship and they keep all the revenue from it.

[headless]

[Bruno_Brazil]

I think it's a shame the only track made for F1 in nearly 10 years that drivers actually genuinely enjoy is failing, whilst tracks like Valencia, and Bahrain prosper.

But I guess some tracks have to make way for Korea and India. and Turkey is being picked off first.

nah ecclestone wants more races = more money its the teams that don't want that many as i understand it.

I don't see why he should charge them more tho since its not like they make money from ticket sales right? - i assumed it all went to the circuit.

I think what happens is, they pay Bernie. Then the track uses the money from ticket sales to make up for some of that money lost. Then the rest of the money comes from getting you to buy merchandise on track, as well as on track sponsorship.

All the same, Bernie is ripping of the tracks and he charges far too much money for nothing. I mean, what are the tracks paying for. It's no wonder Silverstone is struggling. If he lowered charges, tracks could lower ticket prices, and more spectators would come.

The circuits are suppose to make money from this, but really, the only person who wins is Bernie. It's a stupid system.

This would help a lot: