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<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=452><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width=452 colSpan=2>Published September 18, 2009
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=452 colSpan=2>No sell-out F1 crowd despite reduced capacity
By NISHA RAMCHANDANI
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THIS year's Formula One Singapore Grand Prix is unlikely to take place in front of a sell-out crowd despite the reduced capacity.
<TABLE class=picBoxL cellSpacing=2 width=100 align=left><TBODY><TR><TD>
</TD></TR><TR class=caption><TD>Revving up: In a tie-up with retailers, F&B establishments and tourist attractions, flashing your F1 ticket this year will gain you free access or promotional prices at selected locations </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>'To be honest, I don't think we will. It's difficult to do,' said race promoter Singapore GP's (SGP) executive director Michael Roche at a press conference yesterday evening, adding that he hopes that ticket sales will hit at least 95 per cent.
Leftover single seats in grandstands are harder to sell when people want to buy in groups, Mr Roche explained.
Collectively, ticket sales have breached the 90 per cent mark and momentum continues to build, but total inventory for this year stands at 83,000 tickets per day which is lower than the 100,000 or so which SGP ended up selling last year. Thirty-five per cent of all tickets sold so far have been retailed to overseas fans, versus 40 per cent last year.
One of the biggest dampeners on ticket sales this year has been a lacklustre economy, and the Singapore Grand Prix is not the only one that has had to work hard to fill seats. The Turkish Grand Prix for instance was reportedly hit by poor ticket sales.
In addition, the novelty of the inaugural night race in 2008 resulted in tremendous demand, which prompted the race promoter to keep adding extra seats last year.
On the corporate front, the 10,000 corporate hospitality tickets - also down from 13,000 last year - have not completely sold out, but response has been good, said Mr Roche.
Meanwhile, SGP and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) have also been tweaking the circuit to highlight Singapore - literally. A 300 m long, 11 m high 'Singapore' will be lit in LED lights on the pit building rooftop.
There will also be enhanced lighting at City Hall and the Esplanade, while new areas such as the Benjamin Sheares Bridge have been identified for lighting to profile Singapore's cityscape.
Transportation will also be ramped up during race period. SMRT will increase the number of train trips and will extend the last train timings from City Hall MRT Station to 1.15 am on race days.
In addition, SMRT announced a temporary diversion of certain affected SMRT bus services, while SMRT taxis will levy a $5 location surcharge for passengers who board in the race vicinity. Full details are available on its website.
Plus, STB has beefed up what was previously shaping up to be a rather anaemic looking Singapore GP Season (Sept 18-27).
Latest additions to the line-up include The Official Formula 1 Lounge at Pan Pacific - hosted by F1 Supremo Bernie Ecclestone's daughter Tamara - Johnny Walker's purpose-built Black Lounge at Clark Quay, Fast & Furious@Screening Room, Jazz@South Bridge and Asian festival KinestAsia at Timbre@Arts House.
And in a tie-up with retailers, F&B establishments and tourist attractions, flashing your F1 ticket this year will gain you free access or promotional prices at selected locations.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=452 colSpan=2>No sell-out F1 crowd despite reduced capacity
By NISHA RAMCHANDANI
<TABLE class=storyLinks border=0 cellSpacing=4 cellPadding=1 width=136 align=right><TBODY><TR class=font10><TD width=20 align=right>
</TD><TD>Email this article</TD></TR><TR class=font10><TD width=20 align=right></TD><TD>Print article </TD></TR><TR class=font10><TD width=20 align=right></TD><TD>Feedback</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>THIS year's Formula One Singapore Grand Prix is unlikely to take place in front of a sell-out crowd despite the reduced capacity.
<TABLE class=picBoxL cellSpacing=2 width=100 align=left><TBODY><TR><TD>
</TD></TR><TR class=caption><TD>Revving up: In a tie-up with retailers, F&B establishments and tourist attractions, flashing your F1 ticket this year will gain you free access or promotional prices at selected locations </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>'To be honest, I don't think we will. It's difficult to do,' said race promoter Singapore GP's (SGP) executive director Michael Roche at a press conference yesterday evening, adding that he hopes that ticket sales will hit at least 95 per cent.Leftover single seats in grandstands are harder to sell when people want to buy in groups, Mr Roche explained.
Collectively, ticket sales have breached the 90 per cent mark and momentum continues to build, but total inventory for this year stands at 83,000 tickets per day which is lower than the 100,000 or so which SGP ended up selling last year. Thirty-five per cent of all tickets sold so far have been retailed to overseas fans, versus 40 per cent last year.
One of the biggest dampeners on ticket sales this year has been a lacklustre economy, and the Singapore Grand Prix is not the only one that has had to work hard to fill seats. The Turkish Grand Prix for instance was reportedly hit by poor ticket sales.
In addition, the novelty of the inaugural night race in 2008 resulted in tremendous demand, which prompted the race promoter to keep adding extra seats last year.
On the corporate front, the 10,000 corporate hospitality tickets - also down from 13,000 last year - have not completely sold out, but response has been good, said Mr Roche.
Meanwhile, SGP and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) have also been tweaking the circuit to highlight Singapore - literally. A 300 m long, 11 m high 'Singapore' will be lit in LED lights on the pit building rooftop.
There will also be enhanced lighting at City Hall and the Esplanade, while new areas such as the Benjamin Sheares Bridge have been identified for lighting to profile Singapore's cityscape.
Transportation will also be ramped up during race period. SMRT will increase the number of train trips and will extend the last train timings from City Hall MRT Station to 1.15 am on race days.
In addition, SMRT announced a temporary diversion of certain affected SMRT bus services, while SMRT taxis will levy a $5 location surcharge for passengers who board in the race vicinity. Full details are available on its website.
Plus, STB has beefed up what was previously shaping up to be a rather anaemic looking Singapore GP Season (Sept 18-27).
Latest additions to the line-up include The Official Formula 1 Lounge at Pan Pacific - hosted by F1 Supremo Bernie Ecclestone's daughter Tamara - Johnny Walker's purpose-built Black Lounge at Clark Quay, Fast & Furious@Screening Room, Jazz@South Bridge and Asian festival KinestAsia at Timbre@Arts House.
And in a tie-up with retailers, F&B establishments and tourist attractions, flashing your F1 ticket this year will gain you free access or promotional prices at selected locations.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
