Financial troubles for A1? - Page 6

Kebab · 20 Feb 2006, 00:32 (Ref:1526616)

I found this list (not sure how accurate it is):

1. 2002 FIFA World Cup Final (1.3 billion viewers)
2. Euro 2004 Soccer Final (153 million viewers)
3. 2004 Olympic Games: opening ceremony (127 million viewers)
4. 2004 Olympic Games: closing ceremony (96 million viewers)
5. 2004 Super Bowl (95 million viewers)
6. 2004 Olympic Games: men's 100m metres (87 million viewers)
7. 2003 Champions League (67 million viewers)
8. 2004 Olympic Games: men's 200m freestyle swimming (66 million viewers)
9. 2004 Formula One: Monaco Grand Prix (59 million viewers)
10. 2004 Basketball: NBA finals (25 million viewers)

According to Autosport, F1 says it gets 350 million viewers per race ... which is a bit different to the figure above!!

Russfeld · 20 Feb 2006, 07:08 (Ref:1526714)

Unfortunately everytime someone, whether its press or fan; talks about F1 TV numbers they bring out the old over inflated 250 or 350mil viewers and didnt bother to notice several years ago they went to a new measuring system.

sceptic · 20 Feb 2006, 09:55 (Ref:1526814)

The 350m figure refers to viewers per season - i.e. adding all the races together.

Russfeld · 20 Feb 2006, 10:48 (Ref:1526879)

No, it was always used to indicate (inaccurately) single races. F1 has more than 350mil live views annualy.

Paddockman · 20 Feb 2006, 19:38 (Ref:1527271)

Thought this thread was about A1gp not F1 viewing figures

Roninho · 23 Feb 2006, 11:15 (Ref:1529744)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russfeld

If you dig a little deeper, if you peel away that lovely crisp skin from the breast of that succulent duck; you do find that there's a lot of holes, a lot of questions, and not many answers.

At the moment, February Whatever, 2006; A1GP is not economically viable.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Foxy Mole

Much as I enjoy the racing as entertainment, what Russfeld says is correct and he's put it in a very discreet way.

The way you guys talk it seems like you know more. Care to elaborate?

Russfeld · 24 Feb 2006, 07:12 (Ref:1530434)

Id love to know myself!

WHO is paying for this and WHERE is the money coming from?

El_Gibleto · 24 Feb 2006, 07:19 (Ref:1530436)

Is there actually any single seater series that is financially viable?

It seems A1GP isn't the only 'new' series over the winter that may be 'slow' paying the bills. It would be good if peole with grand ideas actually mastered paying the bills!

JohnMiller · 24 Feb 2006, 07:54 (Ref:1530453)

Shouldn't mastered have been in quotes too? LOL.

Kiwi3 · 24 Feb 2006, 09:58 (Ref:1530538)

Quote:

Id love to know myself!

WHO is paying for this and WHERE is the money coming from?

If you have no idea, how do you justify your earlier post?

Ian Sowman · 24 Feb 2006, 10:15 (Ref:1530563)

I think that was Russfeld's very point...

simon drabble · 5 Mar 2006, 16:56 (Ref:1536759)

talk of financial problems are out in the public domain - the commentators on the telly at the Durban round said tha the tyres were only supplied after a last minute pay out. I think i am right in saying that the Maktoum behind it is only a distant cousin and therfore not with the same financial wherewithal as his more high profile cousins.

In respect to the other series alluded to - i had heard that they were having problems as well. Its a shame as i had just started to get my board on side to looking to sponsor one of the front cars - i guess that will now be definately on the backboiler until the futre becomes clearer.

Raymondo · 7 Mar 2006, 11:33 (Ref:1539482)

I am connected with one of the teams and i can safely say that rumours of financial trouble at A1 are not only unfounded but actually complete rubbish. Obviously the first season was never going to pass without hiccups, but the organisers are extremely happy with the way that this first season has progressed, and they only see it going from strength to strength as time progresses. Long may this new and exciting series continue.

**Stephen Green** · 7 Mar 2006, 11:54 (Ref:1539495)

With which team are you involved Raymondo?

I hope you are right about the series being in the best of health as many of us enjoy the racing.

Raymondo · 7 Mar 2006, 12:13 (Ref:1539505)

I don't actually work for the team so its probably best if i don't reveal which one, but lets just say i am particularly closely connected with one of the team owners and have ties to numerous others involved in A1.
This series is not going to be disappearing.

Russfeld · 7 Mar 2006, 12:31 (Ref:1539513)

Well I cant discuss who I work for, but I know of actual, factual occurences of A1GP being late with payment, or having not yet paid. And i can find several other people, each at a different organisation, who can say the same. Whether you choose to accept that is up to you.

simon drabble · 7 Mar 2006, 12:34 (Ref:1539519)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russfeld

Well I cant discuss who I work for, but I know of actual, factual occurences of A1GP being late with payment, or having not yet paid. And i can find several other people, each at a different organisation, who can say the same. Whether you choose to accept that is up to you.

Certainly all in the public domain sadly supports this rather than Raymondo's version. Let's just hope its a case of the middle eastern custom of paying as late as possible......

Mystery · 7 Mar 2006, 13:06 (Ref:1539541)

Quote:

Originally Posted by simon drabble

Certainly all in the public domain sadly supports this rather than Raymondo's version. Let's just hope its a case of the middle eastern custom of paying as late as possible......

That was exactly what I was thinking - this kind of paying style is far from the norm is that particular part of society (no disrespect intended) so I just don't see this as unusual or particularly worrying. Many highly reputable and well financed businesses are just bad payers for many reasons, some of which don't relate to poor cash flow or lack of resources, so I haven't seen anything yet which worries me - other than the gradual loss of teams throughout the season.

Raymondo · 7 Mar 2006, 13:15 (Ref:1539547)

I havent seen recent TV viewing figures, but by the time of the Dubai race last December it was around 10 million globally per race, which is a quarter or F1's figures. Not too shabby given that was half way through the inaugural season. 80,000 people attended Brands Hatch, 100,000 attended Durban and if my source is correct (i have no reason to doubt him....) they have already sold over 150,000 tickets for China. I think thats pretty impressive. Word has it that the President of Indonesia was ecstatic at the positive publicity Indonesia received through the event there and is more than just a little keen for there to be a repeat event next season. Sure, Germany and Portugal were disappointing in terms of attendance but i think they will be replaced by other venues like the Netherlands next season. I don't think people are giving the organisers enough credit for the Herculean task of creating this brand new series from scratch, taking it from concept to reality in 2 years. All of these achievements make a few late payments seem pretty insignificant if you ask me, it is worth noting that the people who founded this series have very deep pockets indeed so i wouldnt worry about that at all. Sure there will always be doom and gloom mongers out there who will seize on any negative news they can, and there is little i can do to dispel these rumours without revealing my position, so i am in the slightly frustrating position of having to just say "Sit back and wait and see. Time will tell". I guarantee you will be eating your words very soon

jbzspace · 7 Mar 2006, 16:41 (Ref:1539666)

Twice during the past few days we've gotten offers for free tickets to Laguna. Bryan Herta is giving tickets to members of the Stars of Karting Series, and I just got an offer as a subscriber to the US A1Gp team newsletter (check out their website)

Wish we could be there. We have a conflict with another series.

Sunday should be beautifull as the rain is expected to move out on Saturday.

Laguna is a great spectator track.

simon drabble · 7 Mar 2006, 16:47 (Ref:1539668)

when looking at the spectator at the track figures do the promotors specify how many where free and how many were paid for?

Paddockman · 7 Mar 2006, 21:57 (Ref:1539829)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raymondo

I am connected with one of the teams and i can safely say that rumours of financial trouble at A1 are not only unfounded but actually complete rubbish. Obviously the first season was never going to pass without hiccups, but the organisers are extremely happy with the way that this first season has progressed, and they only see it going from strength to strength as time progresses. Long may this new and exciting series continue.

Well said!!!

sceptic · 7 Mar 2006, 23:31 (Ref:1539905)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raymondo

80,000 people attended Brands Hatch

No they didn't.

All of the car meetings combined at Brands last year wouldn't have got much more than 80,000.

The official figure for A1GP is just over half of that. And even that figure counts those who went on both Saturday and Sunday as two visitors.

Kebab · 8 Mar 2006, 00:31 (Ref:1539931)

Giving away tickets is nothing new - DTM do it all the time and Audi and Merc are forced to buy tonnes themselves which they usually give to employees, I believe.

This is the first year, I am glad they have the common sense to give tickets away to create interest and atmosphere!

Kiwi3 · 8 Mar 2006, 02:15 (Ref:1539965)

Well joining in the spirit of not being able to disclose who I work for, but it is a well known multi-national, and my client is another well known multi-national, who have a brand that is consistently ranked as one of the world's top ten for awareness (to give you an idea of the scale of the company). And......they are always really late paying their bills!

So what, this is nothing new! Lots of very large profitable companies are slow at paying invoices.

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