Bernie: F1 won't be big in America

[Dare]

how to be a w**ker-stick foot in mouth,repeat if neccessary.




Bernie Ecclestone admits it won't be easy for F1 to crack in the American market despite having two races in the next two years.

Formula One is scheduled to stop off in Austin, Texas next season after issues surrounding the Circuit of the Americas race appear to have been resolved.

The following year, America will have a second race on the calendar as the streets of New Jersey make their debut.

But despite two grands prix, Ecclestone concedes Formula One will never be massive on the American market due to the relative lack of exposure.

He told Al Jazeera: "We've been there, years ago, and it's a little bit like the rest of America, they want to see a profit before they start something and it's not easy to do that.

"We've got maximum two races in America, and when you consider the country is as big as Europe and we've got (eight) races in Europe, it's difficult.

"If we had a lot more races there and a lot more television, it would be okay."

The F1 supremo also spoke about F1's return to Bahrain. This year's race was cancelled due to political unrest, however, F1 is determined to return to the island kingdom next season.

"We're happy to go there," Ecclestone said. "If we're invited, we'll go there.

"I couldn't find out exactly what appears to be the major problem. There obviously is a problem and I'm quite sure that eventually they'll get to the bottom of it and sort it out."

[John S]

Is he for real "they want to see a profit before they start something and it's not easy to do that." 
The reason promoters fail to see, let alone make, a profit is that Bernie not only demands exorbitant fees but then restricts the income streams of the race organisers, keeping the best for FOM. 



 

[Alianora La Canta]

Of course F1 will never be big in America. It keeps shooting itself in the foot every time it tries to go there!

[lkjohnson1950]

They had a great race in Long Beach. The track was interesting, the City embraced it, they attracted a lot of celebrities who gave great publicity. Bernie kept raising the fee until Pook and company turned to Indycar, who put on a great show for 1/10TH the cost. Now they have the #2 event on the calendar, make a nice profit and it's only idiots like me who wish it was still F1.

[cosworth151]

"I can't understand why they aren't flocking to a Texas cow pasture and a Jersey sewage plant. And the tickets and hotels (if any) will only be 4 to 5 times more expensive then when they were at a real track."

[Jericoke]

I agree with his sentiment that average American sports fans aren't going to be spending their Sunday mornings following F1.

However, given that the races in Canada and Brazil surpass the European races in terms of TV ratings, why not throw a few more races our way and build a fan base?

Make the 500 count towards the Championships again   The teams can easily get IRL spec cars off the shelf...

[Scott]

One thing for sure is that Bernie will never be big in America 

[markfarrell9572]

If he kows a year in advance tat F1 won't be big in America why go?  Why sign up two US races if he is sure they will fail.  Does Bernard think before he opens his mouth now days?

[John S]

If he kows a year in advance tat F1 won't be big in America why go?  Why sign up two US races if he is sure they will fail.  Does Bernard think before he opens his mouth now days?

He's under pressure from Ferrari, Mercedes and McLaren, they all need as much exposure in North America as they can get to try to up the sale of their road cars. Without US races on the calendar Bernie would find it much tougher in the new Concorde negotiations due next year. 

 

[lkjohnson1950]

Bernie has said somewhere that his ultimate goal is 6 races in Europe, 6 races in Asia, 6 races in the Americas.

[Jericoke]

Bernie has said somewhere that his ultimate goal is 6 races in Europe, 6 races in Asia, 6 races in the Americas.

The main reason why NFL football is so massive is that everyone knows that football is on TV Sunday afternoons, and Monday nights.  If you want football, you know where to get it.

The same thing exists in Canada for the NHL.  Saturday night means watching hockey.

Bernie is proposing that F1 encompass the world.  Great idea.  But having races scattered across the globe means that race starts are all over the time zones.  I used to be able to watch F1 Sunday mornings, but now I miss half the Asian races at 2 AM.  Also, Sunday afternoons don't work for me (hence no love for IRL).

If you have to go out of your way to watch an entire F1 season, how many casual fans will bother trying?  How can you grow a dedicated fan base if you can't attract a casual fan base?

[cosworth151]

We should just be grateful that there aren't any rich dictators in Antarctica. Grand Prix of the Ross Ice Shelf, anyone?