Glares at every race in the US
The only reason I’m able to attend the USGP is because I don’t have to get a hotel since I live like right next to the track. Absent that…Formula 1 would be impossible to attend for me. Something tells me that if they wanted, Formula 1 could set up Formula 2 and Formula 3 as more affordable alternatives, and maybe at circuits that Formula 1 don’t go to.
It’s wild to me that living in the US the cheapest GP for me to go to including travel and hotels would almost definitely be the one in Canada. Hell I could fly to a European GP for the cost of a Las Vegas race weekend.
Wait is Canada cheaper than the USGP for you?! Damn. Shorter travel then?
The tickets for Canada are supposedly about half the price of any of the USGPs. Flights to Montreal seem a bit more expensive than to Austin but not enough to make up the difference.
Damn. Let me know if you ever get out to Austin, though. I’m happy to recommend local spots.
I went in 2013, it was an incredible weekend. But looking at prices now, there’s no chance I’ll ever go again. Makes far more sense to fly to Hungary and watch their grand prix for far cheaper.
Cost is high due to the high cost to FOM to be on the calendar and a lack of government subsidies, lots of other races get a big hand out. Its rare for this race to do much more than break even. Silverstone relies on the halo effect of the F1 race to improve sales of track days and other events so this is tolerated.
Ticket prices could come down if they could dramatically increase capacity, but that requires a lot more casual fans wanting to go, which requires a British driver directly challenging for the title and the circuit with its surrounding roads/parking being enlarged. Parking is better than the bad old days but its still not suitable for double the current capacity.
Lowering prices for anything other than seat fillers means operating at a loss, they cannot afford to do so for more than a handful of seasons.
This is all Max’s fault.