Circuit of The Americas today announced that it has been declared ready to host the 2012 F1 United States GP by Charlie Whiting, who directs racing, safety and technical matters for the FIA. Whiting visited the Central Texas racing circuit as part of a scheduled pre-race inspection and approved the circuit for “Grade 1” status, hence appropriate to host an F1 race.
I'm sure that complimentary tour will include some local sight-seeing along that fascinating access road we've seen?bhallg2k wrote:"The three-day ticket price also includes complimentary shuttle service between downtown Austin and the track."
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I think its a smart move. If they expect the non-race days to be empty then printing "3 days" on the ticket might encourage a few extra people more to turn up on the non-race days to get their money's worth.hairy_scotsman wrote:No single-day passes? Really? I already know I'm going all 3 days but my family is only coming on Sunday, so I have to buy 4 3-day passes when I'm only using one?
It would only be 2 extra days thrown in for free if it were priced like a 1-day ticket. I don't know if they'll sell exclusively 3-day passes, but I think it would be a mistake. Some people who don;t need them might buy the 3-day passes anyway, but I think more people in that class of buyer would just opt out. Giving people as many fan-friendly options as possible to fit their needs is a better way to maximize sales, imho.richard_leeds wrote:I think its a smart move. If they expect the non-race days to be empty then printing "3 days" on the ticket might encourage a few extra people more to turn up on the non-race days to get their money's worth.hairy_scotsman wrote:No single-day passes? Really? I already know I'm going all 3 days but my family is only coming on Sunday, so I have to buy 4 3-day passes when I'm only using one?
Think of it as 2 extra days thrown in for free.
What arbitrary number that exists in your head is okay for them to charge?bhallg2k wrote:"The three-day ticket price also includes complimentary shuttle service between downtown Austin and the track."
I guess that's one way to put it.
If GA prices are anywhere near $600, I'm going to start a movement to rally against CotA ever receiving one dime from the Major Event Trust Fund.
I'd say a three-day pass for $123 - the going rate for an equivalent ticket to the Canadian GP - is a good place to start.thearmofbarlow wrote:What arbitrary number that exists in your head is okay for them to charge?
Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is 34 years old. It wasn't $300 million to construct. It's in Canada. It is in very large part government backed. What makes you think the US GP, which wouldn't even have government backing if you had your way, would be able to price their tickets accordingly? Things that make you warm and fuzzy rarely have bearing on reality.bhallg2k wrote:I'd say a three-day pass for $123 - the going rate for an equivalent ticket to the Canadian GP - is a good place to start.thearmofbarlow wrote:What arbitrary number that exists in your head is okay for them to charge?
So you have a whole litany of reasons why you're pissed off, the majority of which can be filed under "Oh well, %&#* happens." If you really think there's no long-term taxpayer benefit to funding something like this race... have fun with that. :-"bhallg2k wrote:What would make me warm and fuzzy is the chance to have an actual seat without having to pay thousands of dollars for a PSL and season tickets to events that I have no intention of attending. I'd like the opportunity to purchase a single-day ticket, because I also have no intention of paying ~$300/night for a hotel room in Austin. I'd like to be able to park on-site so that I won't have to wait for hours and hours to return to civilization by bus.
Finally, as someone who lives in Texas, it would tickle me silly if my tax dollars were used for something other than lining the pockets of the powers-that-be at CotA. I don't know who started the lie that using public funds to subsidize sporting events and infrastructure benefits taxpayers, but it seems like that fallacy is here to stay.
If demand is such that the prices being bandied about can be sustained, CotA doesn't need METF money.hairy_scotsman wrote:Sure, this circuit is very expensive, but as Pup said, supply & demand (not costs of production) sets prices. You can only hope the price will support those costs.
The venue itself is not publicly funded. Thus far the entirety of the bankroll has come from private funds. Do not cloud the discussion with off-topic articles regarding the public funding of construction for sports venues as it has NOTHING to do with CotA or the Major Events Trust Fund.bhallg2k wrote:If demand is such that the prices being bandied about can be sustained, CotA doesn't need METF money.hairy_scotsman wrote:Sure, this circuit is very expensive, but as Pup said, supply & demand (not costs of production) sets prices. You can only hope the price will support those costs.
@thearmofbarlow
I'd just like to go on the record thanking you for your enormous contribution to this discussion. Where, oh where, would we be without a stark reminder that there's always someone who looks at the status quo and marvels as if it's a Rembrandt or a Matisse?
Here's some light reading about the folly of public subsidies for sports infrastructure, provided by The American Enterprise Institute, an organization that's rarely shy when it comes to the advocacy of policies and initiatives designed to bolster the accounts of big business.
