Chase Carey Welcome to the Piranha Club

[billy bleach]

Quite today

New F1 chief Chase Carey recently told the Times newspaper that he is alarmed by the lack of promotion of the Silverstone race.

"You could walk though London and not even know the grand prix was on," he said.

I have news for you matey. I live 10 miles from the track and there is never any promotion to speak of for any event . Their complacency and arrogance is breath taking

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

Quite today

New F1 chief Chase Carey recently told the Times newspaper that he is alarmed by the lack of promotion of the Silverstone race.

"You could walk though London and not even know the grand prix was on," he said.

I have news for you matey. I live 10 miles from the track and there is never any promotion to speak of for any event . Their complacency and arrogance is breath taking

The only problem is that the British GP is one of the few GPs around the world that consistently sells out completely, and they have been known to run a stand-by list. In fact, the most expensive tickets are already sold out, and over 50% overall have gone.

Add to that they have had to increase the number of tickets by around 25% over the last couple of years to meet the demand. They don't need, at this time, to promote the race to get spectators through the turnstiles, although it might add to the hype about how exclusive it is.

And talking about exclusivity, did you know that Silverstone becomes the busiest "airport" on the Sunday of the meeting, handling the constant flow of helicopters bringing in some of the drivers, their families, senior team members, all the "VIP" guests, and not forgetting those spectators that like to beat the crowds.

[Greem]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

I have news for you matey. I live 10 miles from the track and there is never any promotion to speak of for any event . Their complacency and arrogance is breath taking

You do know how event promotion works in this country for most circuit racing, don't you?

I'll enlighten those who don't: for almost all events aside from MotoGP, WSBK, the F1 and perhaps one or two others, the organisers (promoting club) rent the circuit for their own ends and it is they who have to promote the event. The circuit gets their costs covered plus a touch of profit, and if the circuit sells the tickets for the club then there's a slice for the circuit on the tickets but all the rest of the money goes to the promoting club.

It's not usually in the circuits' interests to splash out (tens of) thousands of pounds in advertising for smaller events, they leave it to the clubs to do that. If they bring in a significant crowd then everyone wins, and if they don't the club costs are usually covered (but not always!) by the entrants' entry fees.

The live music industry uses pretty much the same model - the risks are with the promoters, not the venues. The rewards, likewise.

[chillibowl]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

New F1 chief Chase Carey recently told the Times newspaper that he is alarmed by the lack of promotion of the Silverstone race.

not having read the article, is CC having a dig at the British GP promoters or was he commenting on FOM's failure to promote one of it's series top events in general?

his opinion that FOM has traditionally done a horrible job at promoting the sport as a whole is not really open for debate...FOM has fallen far far behind what other organizing bodies do for their respective sports.

to that point, looks like they are trying to organize a street demo in London this year.

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/f...mo-901706/?s=1

that however leaves us with a different problem....the more popular they make F1 the greater the risk of falling victim to the realities of popularity...which in the case of the British GP translates into even increasing ticket prices!

#neverhappy

[Mike Harte]

Chilli, to be fair to Silverstone, although it is expensive, they have increased the spectator numbers by about 40,000 in the last few years whilst they also reduced the prices so that the ticket revenue was roughly the same. And as I wrote earlier in this thread, they really don't need to publicise the GP because it will be a sell out - well, it has been for many years.

As to the demo in London, my memory tells me that this has been done in previous years. The problem is that it tends to cause gridlock right in the centre of a major city, and it costs an absolute fortune to manage, what with closing off streets, and having to have the police "marshalling" the area.

Mind you, the Wimbledon men's final was on at the same time last year, and when the race finished, my sons and I went and sat in front of a jumbo screen to watch the last couple of sets. And that was far more exciting than the F1s, especially with Andy Murray winning!

[chillibowl]

agreed...in terms of ticket sales, the Silverstone promoters do a great job so they have little need to spend more on promotions as their methods clearly work in selling out their own event.

but the benefit of promotion in London isnt just limited to London or UK residents thinking about attending Silverstone...i would think there are additional benefits for FOM to directly handle advertising in one of the more tourist visited cities in the world.

[ScotsBrutesFan]

Maybe it's just me, but I don't see why there should be massive promotion in London...I don't associate Silverstone with London.

Other countries where the Circuit is within the City like Montreal, Melbourne, Mexico City, or even Austin, where the city can be seen from the circuit. Absolutely knock yourself out with city centre events but London to Silverstone ... doesn't work for me.

[Adam43]

I thought the same. Promote F1 and the products within it in London, but there is no need to promote Silverstone there. As you say it's not that relevant and, as pointed out above, it's sold out anyway.

[Greem]

Originally Posted by ScotsBrutesFan

Maybe it's just me, but I don't see why there should be massive promotion in London...I don't associate Silverstone with London.

You may not, but to a lot of people not having lived their lives in this green and pleasant (for now) land, "British" means "near London".

I know we joke about visitors turning up in the Highlands and referring to them as "near London", but there's a reason for that. To many people, 500 miles is just across the state line...

[S griffin]

I do agree, why does Silverstone need more promotion, considering it's one of the few sold out GPs on the calendar?

[wnut]

Originally Posted by S griffin

I do agree, why does Silverstone need more promotion, considering it's one of the few sold out GPs on the calendar?

From Silverstone's point of view, once the spectator accommodation is sold out it is pointless advertising the GP.
However from Mr Carey's perspective he has far more irons in the fire that all need promoting, TV and foreign race promotion and affamation, and that is clearly not being done.
The joys of Mr E's short sighted money grabbing approach to F1, and the difference to milking a sport for all its worth and trying to build the same sport.

[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by wnut

From Silverstone's point of view, once the spectator accommodation is sold out it is pointless advertising the GP.
However from Mr Carey's perspective he has far more irons in the fire that all need promoting, TV and foreign race promotion and affamation, and that is clearly not being done.
The joys of Mr E's short sighted money grabbing approach to F1, and the difference to milking a sport for all its worth and trying to build the same sport.

I agree. I believe that the proposed demonstration in London is to promote F1 in general, not to simply sell more Silverstone tickets (which isn't needed. It'll also (maybe?) encourage more people to watch the British GP on TV too if they 'see the cars live' in London, which should be good for the spot, and good for the sponsors.

[Sodemo]

I'd laugh if they brought out the 2004 cars again... the ones that actually produce some noise and spectacle (for the crowds).

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by VIVA GT

I agree. I believe that the proposed demonstration in London is to promote F1 in general, not to simply sell more Silverstone tickets (which isn't needed. It'll also (maybe?) encourage more people to watch the British GP on TV too if they 'see the cars live' in London, which should be good for the spot, and good for the sponsors.

As long as Carey understands that the cost should be borne by the FIA/FOM and certainly not by Silverstone.

It matters not a jot to Silverstone whether it more people watch it on TV as they don't benefit from the money that FOM raises from the media.

[S griffin]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

I'd laugh if they brought out the 2004 cars again... the ones that actually produce some noise and spectacle (for the crowds).

No thank you. Grooved tyres and traction control? Hardly spectacle