Less than 40,000 tickets sold for Europe GP in Valencia

[John S]

   Silverstone's 120k+ crowd looks premier league by comparison.    

Valencia has sold less than 40,000 tickets ahead of next weekend's European grand prix. El Pais newspaper reports that, of the street circuit's deliberately reduced capacity of 45,000 seats, only 85 per cent have been sold. And of the 38,000 tickets sold, 64 per cent of them were purchased by foreign visitors, the Spanish publication added.

Spain has been devastated by the European financial crisis, with unemployment at almost 25 per cent and the European Union needing to inject $125 billion to rescue crippled banks.

It is expected that next Sunday's Valencia race will be the last in the port city until 2014, with an alternating scheme with Barcelona set to be formalised soon.

Valencia's sports and tourism minister Lola Johnson, however, insisted on Tuesday that the "grand prix is an opportunity because it adds value to Spain at a particularly difficult time for the country".

The event "ensures the continued promotion of Valencia and helps sustain the growth of a strategic sector such as tourism", she added.

She confirmed that the 64 per cent of foreign spectators next weekend hail primarily from the UK, Germany, Italy, France, the US, Finland, Norway and Switzerland.

OneStopStrategy.com, Today.

[Scott]

So I guess the Spanish bankers were the biggest fans...I hear they are broke. 

[cosworth151]

More likely the banks' depositors are broke. The Bankers are probably doing just fine.

[lkjohnson1950]

The strength of Spanish Banks, like Santander, may have something to do with why Luca is suddenly interested in cost controls. 

[Jericoke]

The strength of Spanish Banks, like Santander, may have something to do with why Luca is suddenly interested in cost controls. 

Canadian frugality might be another reason.

Read past the bit about Mark Martin, and Noris McDonald explains his theory as to how a Canuck is taking the fun out of Ferrari:

http://thestar.blogs.com/autoracing/2012/06/heres-why-mark-martin-is-so-popular.html

[Scott]

Too bad.  I bet Spain would appreciate a full-house infusion of cash in the economy.

[lkjohnson1950]

The strength of Spanish Banks, like Santander, may have something to do with why Luca is suddenly interested in cost controls. 

Canadian frugality might be another reason.

Read past the bit about Mark Martin, and Noris McDonald explains his theory as to how a Canuck is taking the fun out of Ferrari:

http://thestar.blogs.com/autoracing/2012/06/heres-why-mark-martin-is-so-popular.html

Not sure Marchionne has any control over Ferrari's budget, but he might have the ear of those who do.

[F1fanaticBD]

For obvious reasons, we will never have the amount of sale Silverstone had, in Valencia, and even if the European Grand Prix would have been hosted in Donington Park, it still would have been a sell-out.

To be frank, Valencia seems like those grand prix like Bahrain, where not the fans, but the paycheck to Bernie matters. But as the Spanish economy stumbles, I am sure, we will not see this Valencia track anytime soon. (Though I really liked the design outlook of the track)

[Ian]

Loads more than that at Monza was'nt there Scott. 

[Jericoke]

To be frank, Valencia seems like those grand prix like Bahrain, where not the fans, but the paycheck to Bernie matters.

 

The pay cheque is what matters to Bernie.  We all know that.  He knows that, the teams know that, the tracks know that.

Deep down, Bernie knows that the sport is driven by the fans.  As long as the governments of the world are willing to bend over in the service of their local fans, Bernie will keep pushing the sport that way.

A correction is coming soon, and when FOM goes public, and becomes worthless, who will be standing on his pile of money, ready to bring F1 back to the fans?  Mr. Eccelstone will be free of the mountain of CVC debt, and be able to charge half price for a GP, and still take home twice as much money.  The racing is back where it belongs, the sport itself is healthy, and Bernie wins.

[lkjohnson1950]

I fear you give Bernie too much credit. I don't think he gives a d@#$ about ANYTHING but the check. And he'll keep the fees high as possible to keep his pockets well lined.