Empty grandstands at Hockenheim?

[Just_a_fan]

I think the majority of German fans don't identify Nico and the Mercedes team as German. Nico is a "passport German" unlike, for example, Michael. And the team is German only in name.

I think that's also why the new circuits have struggled to fill the seats - the local population have no local interest. We have to remember that for many sports fans, it's the human connection that drives their interest. I bet most people who attend F1 races are there in support of a driver and that driver will usually share their nationality. Except in Italy where it's Ferrari that is supported of course.

[Thunder]

If winning the WDC four last seassons, winning the WCC this seasson, and fighting for the WDC this seasson too is not enough for the german media to attract audience, then they must me most incompetent media on planet earth

The Schumacher Problem is also Transferable to Vettel. All the Praisings were for Vettel, nobody actually tried to market the Sport. Now Vettel doesn't win in rows as before and actually states multiple times that he doesn't like the new F1.

So if the "Hero" many looked forward to see says he doesn't even like what he does, would you spend hundreds of Euros for your Family to watch it at the Track?

That's the Problem. They always Focus on one Person, if that Person breaks away as a selling Point you're doomed.

Also i didn't say that the German Media is the only Problem. But it's a rather big Part of it. This Year they try to put Rosberg in Place, but he just isn't that "German" (basically Passport only) as to be totally accepted by the masses. Plus the only thing German at the Merc team is the Money and the Badge on the Car.

On top of that come obvious Problems the F1 has.

[SectorOne]

We have to wait until next year when we get to Nurburgring to see how the situation is in Germany.

Last year Nurburgring pulled twice the amount of people as Hockenheim did this year.
And looking at Hockenheim 2 years ago and this year it wasn´t that much of a drop i think.

For me it´s clear Hockenheim is the problem, not german fans.

[Thunder]

Yes, the Motorsport Fans are out there, that's for sure.

[basti313]

And looking at Hockenheim 2 years ago and this year it wasn´t that much of a drop i think.
For me it´s clear Hockenheim is the problem, not german fans.

You are right. As far as I remember it Hockenenheim was never a popular race track. Some years Schumi pulled a lot of people there, but that was it so far...
Since the drastic raise of the ticket prices, which came with the shortening of the track, the number of spectators is dropping.
You just do not get what you want:
- Not much to see, no overtaking at the grandstands.
- Not enough screens, so impossible to see the race.
- No sound.
- You either freeze in the rain or burn in the sun.
- Excluded from the interesting parts.
- If you want to stay more than one day the hotels in the middle of nowhere ruin you.

Even if the tickets would bei like 50$ I do not see anything why I should go there....and now these incredible ticket prices...

[mertol]

This hockenheim is not exactly a classic or interesting circuit. I would rather go to monza or spa but with this crappy sound and racing it's not worth wasting an entire weekend and several hundred euros. I'd rather go rent a kart with friends or watch a movie or something. Hell even watching virtual racing is more fun.

[GitanesBlondes]

And looking at Hockenheim 2 years ago and this year it wasn´t that much of a drop i think.
For me it´s clear Hockenheim is the problem, not german fans.

You are right. As far as I remember it Hockenenheim was never a popular race track. Some years Schumi pulled a lot of people there, but that was it so far...

Incorrect.

They used to get a full house in the old days when it was the full blast through the forest.

[SiLo]

I prefer the Nurgburgring (new). Usually more overtaking there and the track seems to flow a bit better.

[mertol]

What are you talking about "more overtaking" do you count this DRS crap for overtaking?

[xpensive]

...
They used to get a full house in the old days when it was the full blast through the forest.

And the Nurburgring Nordschleife GP packed 200 000.

[basti313]

And looking at Hockenheim 2 years ago and this year it wasn´t that much of a drop i think.
For me it´s clear Hockenheim is the problem, not german fans.

You are right. As far as I remember it Hockenenheim was never a popular race track. Some years Schumi pulled a lot of people there, but that was it so far...

Incorrect.

They used to get a full house in the old days when it was the full blast through the forest.

You should look at the numbers before you say something is incorrect. Hockenheim was never full until the 90s. The best year was 1970 with ~125000, whereas the Nürburgring had ~350000 the year before. Most years Hockenheim was well below 100000...
Until the big attraction of F1 in the 90s together with Schumacher Hockenheim had never "full house".

I prefer the Nurgburgring (new). Usually more overtaking there and the track seems to flow a bit better.

Well, except 2010, a season with no overtaking at all, we had nice races with a lot of overtaking on both tracks...I do not see a problem there, many other tracks with less overtaking.

[GitanesBlondes]

You should look at the numbers before you say something is incorrect. Hockenheim was never full until the 90s. The best year was 1970 with ~125000, whereas the Nürburgring had ~350000 the year before. Most years Hockenheim was well below 100000...
Until the big attraction of F1 in the 90s together with Schumacher Hockenheim had never "full house".

Considering the old configuration Hockeinheim only had grandstand capacity for 83,000 I'd say anything over that number qualifies as a full house even if it was standing room tickets.

Given the overall size of the Nordschleife, having that kind of a turnout was to be expected. Hockenheim had a lot of areas of the circuit that were inaccessible due to the forests.

By the way, 1978 GP start...



Berger winning in 1994...



2014 GP start...



More grandstand seats, less people.

Sad times.

[Pierce89]

I prefer the Nurgburgring (new). Usually more overtaking there and the track seems to flow a bit better.

The new 'ring is completely mickey mouse, not a single cool corner.

[basti313]

You should look at the numbers before you say something is incorrect. Hockenheim was never full until the 90s. The best year was 1970 with ~125000, whereas the Nürburgring had ~350000 the year before. Most years Hockenheim was well below 100000...
Until the big attraction of F1 in the 90s together with Schumacher Hockenheim had never "full house".

Considering the old configuration Hockeinheim only had grandstand capacity for 83,000 I'd say anything over that number qualifies as a full house even if it was standing room tickets.

Ok.

Given the overall size of the Nordschleife, having that kind of a turnout was to be expected. Hockenheim had a lot of areas of the circuit that were inaccessible due to the forests.

Well, but there are also no grandstands. I would have expected at least some of the 100000-200000 people standing in the grass round the Nurburgring to go to the Hockenheimring (not far away) and stand also there. But they aren't and there is no regional/seasonal or whatever reason for that.

More grandstand seats, less people.

Sad times.

You are right. Nice pictures.
the last picture shows what I think: The new grandstands are just not good and too expensive. No good view, no action to see, far away. I would expect them to be completely empty...the empty blue seats are the most expensive seats on the grandstands.

[GitanesBlondes]

Well, but there are also no grandstands. I would have expected at least some of the 100000-200000 people standing in the grass round the Nurburgring to go to the Hockenheimring (not far away) and stand also there. But they aren't and there is no regional/seasonal or whatever reason for that.

Limited space at Hockenheim, factoring in both grandstands and standing room only, tickets were only available for around 100,000 or so. You were never going to get a 125,000 turnout because the facilities simply could not support it.

You are right. Nice pictures.
the last picture shows what I think: The new grandstands are just not good and too expensive. No good view, no action to see, far away. I would expect them to be completely empty...the empty blue seats are the most expensive seats on the grandstands.

Everyone knows redesigning the Hockenheimring was a colossal error in judgment, but you've still got people trying to rationalize the decision as being sound. It automatically assumed far too many things that did not turn out to be true. The new circuit while carrying plenty of the amenities that are desired, has little to differentiate it from any other modern grand prix circuit.

Silverstone may get a turnout, but one thing I've come to the conclusion of is that the BRDC and the fans that attend the British GP are idiots. They whine about the ticket prices every year yet still continue paying up which ensures the BDRC is on the hook to hemorrhage money every year. They were free and clear of the British GP when everyone thought it was going to Donington Park, then when that fell through, no one could imagine life without a British Grand Prix even if it meant bending over for Ecclestone's Viagra-fueled screwing. So they wind up going broke, begging for British pounds from the government, and all the meanwhile the fans keep showing up instead of making it clear that the BRDC is run by a collective group of idiots. I mean how could you take seriously a group headed up by a guy who thinks he would have had a chance in hell of running with Senna at Lotus anyhow?