N8TS - The ROC has been moved to Bl**dy China!!!!!
Discussion
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/74486
Utterly Stupid - they have a huge fan base of informed Motorsport fans (yes they have a huge population. But FFS!
The 2009 Race of Champions will be held at Beijing, immediately after Formula 1's inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, organisers announced today.
The event, which was held in Wembley Stadium in London, England, in the last couple of years, will be the first international sporting event to be held in the Bird's Nest stadium since the Olympic Games last summer.
Additionally, the event will be held for the first time in the middle of the week, rather than on a weekend, and just two days after the F1 season comes to a close at Abu Dhabi.
The 2009 event will run over two days, the first day on Tuesday, November 3rd, staging the Nations Cup, which was won by Germany last year. The Race of Champions will be held on the following day. World Rally champion Sebastien Loeb took the title in the 2008 event.
Speaking about the move, Fredrik Johnsson, President of Event Organisers IMP, stated: "we received exciting proposals from five world-class stadia, but after the incredible Olympics last year, Beijing's candidacy was difficult to ignore.
"The Bird's Nest venue is awesome, and having spent the last five years at two of Europe's biggest stadiums, we were thrilled about the opportunity to take the Race of Champions to Asia for the first time, to another of the world's most iconic sporting arenas."
Mr Li Jianyi, General Manager of Beijing CITIC Consortium Stadium Management, the managing company of the Bird's Nest, said of the agreement: "Following last year's Olympics, we now possess one of the world's best sporting stadia and will continue to stage elite international sporting competition in Beijing.
"We are very excited about The Race of Champions coming. The stadium has already hosted the world's fastest athletes; now it will host the world's fastest racers."
The Race of Champions was first held in 1988 as a competition between rally drivers, but in 2004 was relaunched as a battle between motorsport drivers from leading series, including Formula 1, WRC, NASCAR, endurance racing, and karting.
The event was held at the Stade de France in Paris between 2004 and 2006, then moving to Wembley Stadium for the past couple of years. And despite leaving Europe for the first time, Johnsson has promised the Race of Champions will return to its origins in the future.
"I would like to say thank you to Wembley for the past two years," Johnsson said. "The people there were great to work with and helped us put on two fantastic events. This year will be the Race of Champions' first year outside of Europe, but we will definitely be back soon."
Utterly Stupid - they have a huge fan base of informed Motorsport fans (yes they have a huge population. But FFS!
The 2009 Race of Champions will be held at Beijing, immediately after Formula 1's inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, organisers announced today.
The event, which was held in Wembley Stadium in London, England, in the last couple of years, will be the first international sporting event to be held in the Bird's Nest stadium since the Olympic Games last summer.
Additionally, the event will be held for the first time in the middle of the week, rather than on a weekend, and just two days after the F1 season comes to a close at Abu Dhabi.
The 2009 event will run over two days, the first day on Tuesday, November 3rd, staging the Nations Cup, which was won by Germany last year. The Race of Champions will be held on the following day. World Rally champion Sebastien Loeb took the title in the 2008 event.
Speaking about the move, Fredrik Johnsson, President of Event Organisers IMP, stated: "we received exciting proposals from five world-class stadia, but after the incredible Olympics last year, Beijing's candidacy was difficult to ignore.
"The Bird's Nest venue is awesome, and having spent the last five years at two of Europe's biggest stadiums, we were thrilled about the opportunity to take the Race of Champions to Asia for the first time, to another of the world's most iconic sporting arenas."
Mr Li Jianyi, General Manager of Beijing CITIC Consortium Stadium Management, the managing company of the Bird's Nest, said of the agreement: "Following last year's Olympics, we now possess one of the world's best sporting stadia and will continue to stage elite international sporting competition in Beijing.
"We are very excited about The Race of Champions coming. The stadium has already hosted the world's fastest athletes; now it will host the world's fastest racers."
The Race of Champions was first held in 1988 as a competition between rally drivers, but in 2004 was relaunched as a battle between motorsport drivers from leading series, including Formula 1, WRC, NASCAR, endurance racing, and karting.
The event was held at the Stade de France in Paris between 2004 and 2006, then moving to Wembley Stadium for the past couple of years. And despite leaving Europe for the first time, Johnsson has promised the Race of Champions will return to its origins in the future.
"I would like to say thank you to Wembley for the past two years," Johnsson said. "The people there were great to work with and helped us put on two fantastic events. This year will be the Race of Champions' first year outside of Europe, but we will definitely be back soon."
TonyHetherington said:
Having said that, with the attendance at Wembley being what it was, can you really blame them for at least moving it out of the UK?
It's not rocket science though is it ?First year was over-priced and poorly served in terms of facilities like food and drink.
Second year was better, but still not very well promoted IMO.
Wembley also comes across as being a somewhat soul-less place for anything where it's not filled to capacity. I seem to recall they had no problem filling the Stade de France when it was run there, so what's the difference ?
If they could get over the fact that this isn't a football match and price the event accordingly, and not try and charge a fortune for the food concessions, then maybe it would have been a bigger success. That said Wembley can be tedious to get to and parking is a pain, so I expect that put a lot of people off too.
I wanted to go last year, but it ended up looking like being an expensive day out to sit in the cold. My sofa and Sky were a much more pleasant option
At the end of the day, moving it to China is probably the best solution for an event which seemed increasingly made for TV rather than a live audience.
(assuming you happen to be in the area...)Nick M said:
TonyHetherington said:
Having said that, with the attendance at Wembley being what it was, can you really blame them for at least moving it out of the UK?
It's not rocket science though is it ?First year was over-priced and poorly served in terms of facilities like food and drink.
The view was good, and the entertainment pretty good, but so overpriced it was a joke. If the stadium was 25% full I'd be amazed.
Nick M said:
TonyHetherington said:
Having said that, with the attendance at Wembley being what it was, can you really blame them for at least moving it out of the UK?
It's not rocket science though is it ?First year was over-priced and poorly served in terms of facilities like food and drink.
Second year was better, but still not very well promoted IMO.
Wembley also comes across as being a somewhat soul-less place for anything where it's not filled to capacity. I seem to recall they had no problem filling the Stade de France when it was run there, so what's the difference ?
If they could get over the fact that this isn't a football match and price the event accordingly, and not try and charge a fortune for the food concessions, then maybe it would have been a bigger success. That said Wembley can be tedious to get to and parking is a pain, so I expect that put a lot of people off too.
I wanted to go last year, but it ended up looking like being an expensive day out to sit in the cold. My sofa and Sky were a much more pleasant option
At the end of the day, moving it to China is probably the best solution for an event which seemed increasingly made for TV rather than a live audience.
Still, a shame its gone to Beijing. They'll get a full grandstand, but I cant see many people knowing whats going on.
Nick M said:
TonyHetherington said:
Having said that, with the attendance at Wembley being what it was, can you really blame them for at least moving it out of the UK?
It's not rocket science though is it ?First year was over-priced and poorly served in terms of facilities like food and drink.
It was barely advertised at all though - which I think was their downfall.
Nick M said:
I seem to recall they had no problem filling the Stade de France when it was run there, so what's the difference ?
Ticket prices. I never got around to going when it was in Paris, but I could have bought a ticket plus eurostar travel for less than some of the better seats at Wembley. From what I remember seats were in the 15-30 euro range.sjg said:
Nick M said:
I seem to recall they had no problem filling the Stade de France when it was run there, so what's the difference ?
Ticket prices. I never got around to going when it was in Paris, but I could have bought a ticket plus eurostar travel for less than some of the better seats at Wembley. From what I remember seats were in the 15-30 euro range.Ben
The view from almost everywhere at Wembley is excellent - anyone who paid over 35 quid for a ticket needs their head read.
Yep every bloody thing is going to ASIA - Money talks and teh UK has none now - have you not heard we are almost back to being a third worl nation (it is the chavs' I blame).
Yep every bloody thing is going to ASIA - Money talks and teh UK has none now - have you not heard we are almost back to being a third worl nation (it is the chavs' I blame).
kevin ritson said:
£40 isn't cheap when I can go to a BTCC, WTCC or DTM meet at Brands for around £25, which is 8 hours of entertainment. Heck, even A1GP is only £30.
These are some of the best drivers in the world and the event was all afternoon and then some. Less than a fill up. And next to nothing compared to a track day or a race entry Does not really matter now.......
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