Williams at odds over F1 theme park

[John S]

Williams is yet to agree to be formally affiliated with Formula One's first official theme park, set to open in Dubai later this year.

F1-X is a 70-acre park with over 20 major rides and exhibits, and a star attraction at the entrance is set to be a full-sized grid of Formula One cars.

Grove-based Williams, however, is so far refusing to provide for the 'grid' a show car or rolling chassis, despite the personal involvement in the request of F1 Chief Executive Bernie Ecclestone, according to reports in the German press. 
 
Williams, the only team in F1 not backed by a car manufacturer or a billionaire individual, is arguing that because it does not benefit directly from the display of its name or sponsors, the use of its car should accompany a commercial settlement.

Ecclestone is quoted as advising Sir Frank Williams to ask his sponsors for additional payments, since they will benefit the most from the exhibit in Dubai.

Source: GMM
© CAPSIS International

[FW14B]

To be honest whilst I can understand that Williams want to milk as much money out of anything they can given their finances, I do wonder if this is a case of cutting their nose to spite their face.  Yes, being paid to put their cars there would be good, or getting extra sponsorship money for the increased exposure might be a good option (can't somehow see RBS doing that though), being the only car not to be present will be damaging as such displays can attract new fans or marketing options as people get a chance to see racing cars up close.  Williams not being there will mean it will not be seen so may not be open to new opportunities. 

[cosworth151]

I can see Sir Frank's point. They need every penny they have to be competitive. Th fact that they may loose at least one major sponsor (RBS) at any time doesn't help.

Why should they spend their scarce resources just to help The Evil Troll and a few of his billionaire buddies rake in even more scratch?

[Steven Roy]

I know Bernie has an odd idea of business practise but if whoever owns the theme park wants a Williams I am sure Frank would be only too happy to sell them one.  it is not his job to subsidise someone else's business.  If there is an F1 theme park the F1 teams should benefit from it financially.

[Alianora La Canta]

The other point is that if Williams is mid-contract with the current sponsors (which its statement that it has funds for the next two years suggests), it might not be able to negotiate an increased fee from sponsors until 2011. It's hardly going to put a car in the Middle East for free for two years in its current state, is it?

[Ian]

I totally agree with Cos here. The troll is saying on one hand he wants to cut costs, but now on the other hand he wants teams to give a car for nothing. The greedy so and so wants it all ways.

[TheStig]

The point is Williams did not have any more money too put in the pot.
They are trying to survive with finances,to just get a team for this year,without having to dip in to support external events:

TheStig

[Dare]

The point is Williams did not have any more money too put in the pot.
They are trying to survive with finances,to just get a team for this year,without having to dip in to support external events:

TheStig

That's the way I see it Stig.Of all
the teams Williams probably has to watch
their money more keenly than any other team

[Scott]

I don't know much about this theme park they are talking about, or who owns it and how it came to be (especially with regards to how much dough they put in Bernie's pot for permission to use the F1 logo and the rest).  I do think however that if someone is taking advantage of the F1 brand, that they should be prepared to offer the teams some sort of compensation or royalties if they want any team brands showing up at the park.  Again, I don't know the details, but it seems pretty straight forward to me.  Frank's mind is usually as clear as anyone involved in F1, so I would not put it simply down to Williams having financial difficulty.

[cosworth151]

The fact that the park is located off somewhere totally inaccessible to most F1 fans follows Bernie's "Scr*w the fans, show me the money" philosophy.