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Fans return in droves to boost GP
By Zha Minjie and Ni Yinbin |
April 15, 2012, Sunday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
MORE than 100,000 fans will watch the Formula One Chinese Grand Prix at the Shanghai Audi International Circuit today, a volume that has gradually risen year by year after enduring relative poor attendances four years ago, the local organizer said.
Jiang Lan, general manager of Juss Event, told a forum yesterday at the circuit in suburban Jiading District that ticket prices had been lowered this year and that seems to have done the trick. "We're happy to see that," Jiang gushed.
Since the first Chinese GP in 2004, the event has seen more than 1 million audiences over the past years. The peak was at the very first competition when up to 150,000 people crowded the circuit to witness the first F1 motor race in China.
The volume, however, dropped in the following years and hit the bottom in 2008 during the global economic recession, the organizer said.
For this year's grand prix, the organizer slashed ticket prices by about 20 percent. But the prices are still on the higher side for locals of between 380 yuan (US$60) to 3,280 yuan.
Meanwhile, two ticket holders were yesterday selected as VVIPs to witness today's race from the pitlane in a draw made by F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone.
Besides, eight other ticket holders were earlier selected to be invited to the VIP arena, which is just above the pit lane, to watch the race.
For the first time Chinese fans can experience Formula One at "close quarters".
The campaign, dubbed "Bernie's Invitation," was suggested by Ecclestone to thank local fans for their support, the 81-year-old Briton said yesterday.
Jiang Lan, general manager of Juss Event, told a forum yesterday at the circuit in suburban Jiading District that ticket prices had been lowered this year and that seems to have done the trick. "We're happy to see that," Jiang gushed.
Since the first Chinese GP in 2004, the event has seen more than 1 million audiences over the past years. The peak was at the very first competition when up to 150,000 people crowded the circuit to witness the first F1 motor race in China.
The volume, however, dropped in the following years and hit the bottom in 2008 during the global economic recession, the organizer said.
For this year's grand prix, the organizer slashed ticket prices by about 20 percent. But the prices are still on the higher side for locals of between 380 yuan (US$60) to 3,280 yuan.
Meanwhile, two ticket holders were yesterday selected as VVIPs to witness today's race from the pitlane in a draw made by F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone.
Besides, eight other ticket holders were earlier selected to be invited to the VIP arena, which is just above the pit lane, to watch the race.
For the first time Chinese fans can experience Formula One at "close quarters".
The campaign, dubbed "Bernie's Invitation," was suggested by Ecclestone to thank local fans for their support, the 81-year-old Briton said yesterday.
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