What if you held a MotoGP and nobody came?

[RetroSeattle_imp]

I'm watching the Indy MotoGP and I'm amazed at how empty the grandstands are. How can they make any money with so few spectators?

[Capo]

US motor sports, other than NASCAR and a few outliers like the INDY 500, is abysmal when it comes to attendance, and for the most part, TV viewership and the resultant ad and sponsorship revenue (TV is where the money is). Motorcycle racing in particular...nobody goes. Few watch. Bummer, but we've gotta keep hope alive!

[4 Paws_imp]

VIR is not too far from where I live so I attend frequently. Fantastic facility that is very fan friendly. Clean, food and beverages reasonably priced, plenty of shade and free parking. Lots of motorcycle and car events with low to moderate ($10 to $15) tickets.
Quite low turnout for most events. Can't figure out why.
Guess people wold rather talk about it than actually watch it.
Typed on a pretty day while my motorcycle sits in the garage.

[gossman_imp]

I was on the radio this afternoon and made a contact with their special event station. Seemed to have plenty of interest on the air waves

[Pterodactyl_imp]

That is a question that puzzles me. Two MotoGP events at what seem to be two superbly appointed venues, but as you say, they are hardly packed to the rafters. But 68,000 at Indy is not small beer. However, Europe and Asia are the Meccas of motorcycle racing so pushing one off to either would seem to make, superficially, sense. However money talks I guess. Tha US is still the worlds most powerful economy and to grow the sport there would reap dividends. Perhaps I have used the wrong word in "grow". Reinvigorate may be more appropriate. The sponsors and factory teams have an interest in selling so that is a major consideration. You could run a dozen GPs in OZ and it wouldn't make an iota of difference to motorcycle sales on a worldwide basis - not a significant market. If it was we might have '13 and '14 CB on offer.

Cheers, and I'm off to watch all three races that I recorded last night.
Just to add a little. The MotoGPs are well attended at PI, the WSBKs a little less so. I ride to both from Sydney every year, with a bit of messing around on the way, about 2500kms. PI is a fairly basic facility but has a great small town aura. Friendly and a lot of fun, especially in the camping area which overlooks a good portion of the track. If the Jackass can get his act together with a competitive factory bike then that would ensure a full house at PI. Casey's swan song in '12 was a sell out.
Attendances 2014

COUNTRY – Circuit Total

QATAR- Losail 17,890

USA – Austin 118,918

ARGENTINA – Termas de Rio Hondo 125,961

SPAIN – Jerez 229,416

FRANCE – LeMans 178,073

ITALY – Mugello 111,309

SPAIN – Barcelona-Catalunya 163,045

NETHERLANDS - TT Circuit Assen 131,000

GERMANY - Sachsenring 209,408

USA – Indianapolis 132,817

CZECH REPUBLIC – Brno 240,695

UK – Silverstone 138,000

SAN MARINO - Misano 88,665

SPAIN - MotorLand Aragon 112,331

JAPAN – Twin Ring Motegi 70,271

AUSTRALIA – Phillip Island 77,900

MALAYSIA – Sepang 130,925

SPAIN - Valencia 197,000

Total 2,473,624

[DAC]

I'm a total newb when it comes to these types of events. But having been there last weekend, I guess I'll weigh in.

First of all, IMS is a gigantic facility - almost 300k in the stands and almost 500k if you include the infield bleachers and mounds. So, it sems 70,000 people kind of get lost in the sea of bleachers and grass.

Also, the front straight is not where the action is for MotoGP. So, that long expanse of grandstand looks pretty empty. Much different than the 500. We were in the E "Penthouse" looking down on the end of the front straight and turns 1 - 4. Most of the passing happened in turns 1 and 2.

With no competitive American riders in the field at the moment (Nicky Hayden is getting long in the tooth and on a satellite team), there isn't a big fan draw. If it doesn't come back next year (and that's a distinct possibility as I write this) hopefully the MotoAmerica series will develop some competitive U.S. talent for future years and it'll draw better.

One final thought, this event happened coincident with Sturgis. The 75th anniversary, to be exact. A scheduling conflict in the midwest U.S. that someone should have seen coming maybe?

[the Ferret]

They were trying to drum up business.. We got a call while we were in California from the venue to see if we would be coming back this year. Of course we couldn't.

To tell the truth I enjoyed the experience last year, but much prefer watching it on TV.