2008 schedule

[indycool]

The ALMS announced its schedule for '08 as having doubleheaders with CC at Long Beach, Houston and Road America and with the IRL at St. Petersburg, Mid-Ohio and Detroit.

[JohnSSC]

I am going on memeory here, but there was some attempt to do this early on. I believe there was a single event in Washington, D.C. at a temp course near RFK Stadium during the End of Days with CART.

The problem was and possibly still is that CART/CC thinks of itself as the headline act. According to scribes like Gordon Kirby, the double event this year at Road America resulted in more people going to the ALMS event with fewer attending the CC event.

It is difficult to promote your series as the "premier" open wheel series when you are playing second fiddle to ALMS and next season with Rolex...CC starts to look more like a support race rather than headliner...

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by JohnSSC

The problem was and possibly still is that CART/CC thinks of itself as the headline act. According to scribes like Gordon Kirby, the double event this year at Road America resulted in more people going to the ALMS event with fewer attending the CC event.

And more people attend the ChampCar race at Long Beach than the Saturday ALMS event. It seems that who has held the date of the event longer seems to have more fan attendance.

The ChampCar race on the Sunday at RA had more people attend than it did in 2006, so there is a positive progression there. Such a partnership should be given room to grow and benefit both parties aswell as the event as opposed to people such a Kirby et al writing it off after the first year.

[climb]

Originally Posted by mountainstar

My approach is do deal with it as it comes. I would say let the schedule be released first then go from there.

Oh I hope you won't be out of this forum that long!

[paul-collins]

Originally Posted by D.R.T.

And more people attend the ChampCar race at Long Beach than the Saturday ALMS event. It seems that who has held the date of the event longer seems to have more fan attendance.

It all comes down to promotion - Long Beach is a long standing OW event and is promoted as such. After the weekend there were some local scribes who were suggesting that the ALMS ought to be the headliner for 2008, though...

Road America, they used the wrong type of sportscar (a Daytona Prototype) to promote the Saturday race, and skewed promotional time toward the CC race, and yet the ALMS outdrew CC. FWIW.

ALMS was ignored by Andretti Green promotions at St Pete and drew few people. They did pretty well at Houston, probably 2/3 the CC crowd - this for a race that is promoted by a team owner from CC (Mike Lanigan). Mid Ohio, the crowds were pretty equal (Honda promoted) and Detroit there was probably a slight skew toward the IRL in terms of attendance.

I guess what I'm saying is that for each race, the attendance reflected (a) the weekend position (Saturday less attended than Sunday, typically) and (b) the promotional effort dedicated to one series over the other. Except for Road America. It was clearly an outlier.

[stradlin21]

Originally Posted by D.R.T.

I understand you need to be critical Indycool, its your thing but what would be stopping ChampCar from running at these venues. None are in danger of being closed down from local governments, all 3 have good support from fans and sponsors etc

erm, a schedule which was crippled with cancellations and weak races? You don't have to be an OW expert to be critical D.R.T, anyone with half a brain could see that things in 2007 for Champ Car have been nothing short of shambolic

The main problem that Champ Car has unlike the IRL is that they just can't plan anything properly. At times it felt like they were just turning up to venues and saying "Can we race our cars here?" and then they were being told "no!". Obviously that wasn't quite the case but it certainly felt like it was!

There is nothing wrong with the places that Champ Car want to race it's just that they make a pigs ear of actually trying to organise it.

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by stradlin21

There is nothing wrong with the places that Champ Car want to race it's just that they make a pigs ear of actually trying to organise it.

But the three in question LB, Houston and RA have all be successful with its organisation, so why cast doubt over these events.

[indycool]

Well, Long Beach lost $1.4 million, according to Dover Downs SEC documents, the year before GF and KK bought it, although yes, it's well organized and I'd expect it to come back. Road America had to be a track rental, given the relationships between CC and RA. Houston. Who knows?

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by indycool

Well, Long Beach lost $1.4 million, according to Dover Downs SEC documents, the year before GF and KK bought it

Not exactly current evdience, to indicate anything regarding the current shape of Long Beach.

Originally Posted by indycool

Road America had to be a track rental, given the relationships between CC and RA.

Had to be ?

It seemed a deal between the RA, ALMS and CC. Didnt the event even run the ALMS date ?

Originally Posted by indycool

Houston. Who knows?

Then why bother bringing it up. Its this commenting for the sake of commenting that weakens alot of the worthwhile things you might have to say.

[indycool]

Don't misunderstand me, D.R.T. I think the ALMS doubleheaders with both CC and the IRL have been helpful in drawing people for a big weekend at those sites. Further, expenses can be cut by having only one TV production company and equipment to shoot both races for both networks.

You're right. Long Beach '03 was long ago. Has it recovered? I don't know. ALMS sure may have helped. Road America is just not going to lose money, period and already had those experiences with both CART and CC...thus a track rental, or perhaps some complicated deal with ALMS and RA. Houston is a wild card. We really don't know and can't see much about it.

[D.R.T.]

Great, so without any actual knowledge regarding these events, I would think it would be weak to try and cast doubt over the events

[indycool]

Doubt comes from three cancelled CC races in '07 well after they'd been announced and every other major sanctioning body already announcing a schedule for '08.

[stradlin21]

anything official from Champ Car about the schedule?

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by indycool

Doubt comes from three cancelled CC races in '07 well after they'd been announced

So generalisations, not any real substance regarding the specific events. Thanks for the input Indycool

[indycool]

Want some substance on Vegas?

[emjaya]

The schedule is with the FIA, it will be released at Surfers. Maybe.

[luke]

V8 supercars today released their 2008 calender inclduing a tba, I'm looking forward ro those bashing away if it is released a few days later at Surfers and may include 1 tba as well, ohh no!!! the world has ended

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by indycool

Want some substance on Vegas?

What does Vegas have to do with the 3 events in question, Indycool ?

[indycool]

Nothing, D.R.T. That's merely one I CAN give substance to.

Mark C.'s site now has the schedule being released mid-November.