SportBusiness.com

F1 mulls over further changes

Months after altering Formula One's rules to counter a slide in television ratings, the sport is considering more changes to boost attendances.

Races in Australia, Germany and Italy had lower crowds this year than last season and the stands at Sunday's French Grand Prix were only two-thirds full.
Much of the blame for these low crowds has been laid with the cost of entry to the races with the cheapest tickets as high as $150 at some races.
"If we hold prices at the same level, we're going to have to put on a bigger show," said Ron Dennis, manager of the McLaren-Mercedes team. "The teams and constructors feel a responsibility to do this."
The managers of the 10 teams plan to meet to discuss how to stop attendances falling. Proposals include holding a qualifying session on the morning of each Grand Prix, instead of the day before, and staging a race involving celebrities.
The biggest attendance decline after 10 races this season was at the San Marino Grand Prix in April in Imola, Italy. About 82,000 fans turned up, a decline of 23,000 on last year and almost 100,000 down on the 2000 race.
Formula One Management, the commercial rights-holder headed by Bernie Ecclestone, said there has been a 'slight' decline in ticket sales this year but emphasised that it 'was not overly concerned'.