Kinda attendance, kinda how/where

[OW fan in OK]

When INDY comes on tv that beautiful Sunday morning in May, the cameras show grandstand upon grandstand, **** large and deep grandstands, full of people. Almost solid both sides of the track most of the way around. Everyone is instantly amazed at the number of people that fill the huge stands.

When a street circuit or road course comes on, the stands that are miniature compared to an oval track, are spread out thinly around the course. Count the 2 deep people around the fence. Take into account all the space along the fence that is blocked off for pits and etc. Also take into account the people that stroll around from place to place at roads.

What puzzles me is where are the 100,000 people at?? I dont see where they fit, when compared to a vast filled up place like INDY.

Compare - 2.5 mile INDY vs 2.8 mile Surfers.
INDY - HUGE grandstands inside and outside the track and packed fence area's.
Surfers - Small spaced apart high school gym looking bleechers and 2 deep around some of the fence, with a lot of fence blocked off.

Where are the people? Is it possible to hide so many people?
(honest question, I dont see that many people)

[FCYTravis]

There's more there out along the course than you think.

"Two deep" doesn't account for it.

Remember, road courses are HUGE. Spread WAY the heck out. 50,000 at Road America looks wimpy because there's so much space to fill.

Also take into account the throngs roaming the paddock - paddock passes are good all day long, and during a lull in the race it's nice to take a stroll through the trailers.

[tbyars]

Originally posted by FCYTravis
There's more there out along the course than you think.

Also take into account the throngs roaming the paddock - paddock passes are good all day long, and during a lull in the race it's nice to take a stroll through the trailers.

In other words, even people who PAY to go to CART events are looking for something interesting to do in between pit stops.....

(Sorry, Yellow....I couldn't resist I just don't get many straight lines that good.....)

[hikari]

Originally posted by indycool
Page 42, CART proxy statement, regarding the company's problems: "Reduced race attendance" since 2001.

That one is getting a little old Indycool!

"Reduced race attendance" inside the US. True.
"Increasing race attendance" outside the US. True.

[Jim Wilke]

You tell me. At Texas, there are 65 rows of seats all along the front stretch with luxury boxes above.

[hikari]

Originally posted by Jim Wilke
One would think that maybe the folks came to watch a different series. Of course, it is possible all those fans came to watch the cars go through inspection.....

Perhaps it's more along the lines of that Australian fans are not caught up in all the BS politics and just want to have a little fun watching some cars out on the track while enjoying the 'event'. Oh and BTW, the Champ Car Fan Forum and autograph sessions were great.

[hikari]

If you choose to dispute the official attendance figures of;

53,287 (Thursday), 60,874 (Friday), 83,913 (Saturday), 108,110 (Sunday) for a combined record total of 306,184.

stated by the Gold Coast Motor Events Organisers, then I suggest that you lodge your complaints to

Gold Coast Motor Events Co.
Level 5, 64 Marine Blvd.
Southport,
Queensland,
Australia 4215

Also due to the part ownership of the GCMEC by the Queensland Government, you might want direct your accusations of fraudulent crowd numbers to Mr Terry Mackenroth, Deputy Premier of Queensland, Treasurer and Minister for Sport. [email protected]

I'm sure that they will take your claims of 'lies' very seriously.

I do understand your anger though and I guess that it must really get to some of you that here in Australia, we can draw a larger crowd on Thursday, than the IRL can draw for most of it's race day events.

[Defender]

Is it my imagination or did a huge chunk of this thread simply get whacked?

[Eagle104]

no kidding, 'fender.

i hope YOU know i really wasn't planning to have your fingers broken, don't you? lol

[Defender]

Originally posted by hikari
...I'm sure that they will take your claims of 'lies' very seriously.

While I am taking them to task about abnormal inflations of attendance, should I also discuss, speaking of lies, their disingenuous use of the word 'Indy' to describe the 'race' they held? Or their repeated reference to the c^rt vehicles as 'Indy' cars?

Or would I take up THAT lie with someone else?

Just curious.

[SamC]

Re: Kinda attendance, kinda how/where

Originally posted by OW fan in OK

What puzzles me is where are the 100,000 people at?? I dont see where they fit, when compared to a vast filled up place like INDY.

They are not there. That simple. As wise posters and honest reporters have pointed out from BEFORE "the" split, CART attendance numbers on road courses (convienently places that NASCAR doesn't run, thus places that don't have a fixed and known capacity) are lies. As are CART claims of tremendous popularity in this or that foreign country, (always conviently places that do not have a TV ratings system like Neilsen). This, BTW, does not include Australia, where CART TV ratings are and always have be miniscule, but less than first world places like Brazil and Argentina, are likewise lies.

Autoweek, in year one, exposed CART's foreign country popularity lies, and, as you so wisely point out, the live gate claims are so incrediable that no thinking person can believe them, in the US or elsewhere.

[hikari]

Originally posted by Defender
their disingenuous use of the word 'Indy' to describe the 'race' they held? Or their repeated reference to the c^rt vehicles as 'Indy' cars?

Why don't you check out who owns the names and trademarks to the word Indy here in Australia. http://www.ipaustralia.gov.au/

TM 518143 Word: INDY
TM 518144 Word: INDY 500
TM 549990 Word: FORMULA INDY
TM 594393 Word: INDY CAR IndyCar

All owned in Australia by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation.

Seems that TG picks up a few extra dollars by leasing the use of the word "Indy" over here. If you don't like it then why not take it up with IMS - as they continue to allow the Australian event to call it's self "Indy" it would appear that they seem quite happy with the arrangement.

Originally posted by SamC
They are not there. That simple....

the live gate claims are so incrediable that no thinking person can believe them, in the US or elsewhere

The crowd figures from the Gold Coast race do not come from CART, they are issued by the Gold Coast Motor Events Company on behalf of the Queensland government. Also as the event has the involvement of the government the ticket sales are fully audited. Yes CARTS crowd numbers for places like Portland, Miami and Cleveland etc seem 'highly suspect' - but the figure that comes from the Gold Coast race is 100% legit.

OW fan in OK, if you ever visit Australia on holiday, stop by the Gold Coast when the race is run. (and if you timed it right you could visit Bathurst 2 weeks before) It's the only way to answer your question. Remember most of the tickets sold for this race (and for Bathurst, the Melbourne F1 race, and the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide) are for GA and not the stands. It's how Australians watch racing.

[vegasduo]

Originally posted by hikari
Why don't you check out who owns the names and trademarks to the word Indy here in Australia. http://www.ipaustralia.gov.au/

TM 518143 Word: INDY
TM 518144 Word: INDY 500
TM 549990 Word: FORMULA INDY
TM 594393 Word: INDY CAR IndyCar

All owned in Australia by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation.

Seems that TG picks up a few extra dollars by leasing the use of the word "Indy" over here. If you don't like it then why not take it up with IMS - as they continue to allow the Australian event to call it's self "Indy" it would appear that they seem quite happy with the arrangement.

The rest of the story.

Tony has no choice but to "lease" the Indy name in both Austrailia and Canada. IMS, prior to Tony and the split, allowed the Indy name to be used to many years before TG took legal action to regain control the Indy name. The name was very close to becoming public domain in the same manner as "Grand Prix" or "Champagne" has in the U.S.

[The Fry Sauce King]

Originally posted by hikari
Why don't you check out who owns the names and trademarks to the word Indy here in Australia. http://www.ipaustralia.gov.au/

TM 518143 Word: INDY
TM 518144 Word: INDY 500
TM 549990 Word: FORMULA INDY
TM 594393 Word: INDY CAR IndyCar

All owned in Australia by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation.

Seems that TG picks up a few extra dollars by leasing the use of the word "Indy" over here. If you don't like it then why not take it up with IMS - as they continue to allow the Australian event to call it's self "Indy" it would appear that they seem quite happy with the arrangement.

that's interesting.....thanks for all the great info on the Austalian Indy race Hikari....

[The Fry Sauce King]

Originally posted by vegasduo
The rest of the story.

Tony has no choice but to "lease" the Indy name in both Austrailia and Canada. IMS, prior to Tony and the split, allowed the Indy name to be used to many years before TG took legal action to regain control the Indy name. The name was very close to becoming public domain in the same manner as "Grand Prix" or "Champagne" has in the U.S.

if Tg and IMS own the name in Australia why do they have no choice if it's used by the promoter?