by "tromoly" (tromoly)
Published 04/15/2017 at 12:24
by "tromoly" (tromoly)
Published 04/15/2017 at 12:24
Tags: Formula One
; Bernie Ecclestone
; Formula
; One
; Bernie
; Ecclestone
STARS: 2
Living definition of hypocrite Bernie Ecclestone is famous for charging massive fees to host Formula One race weekends (excluding Monaco). But now Bernie feels race promoters are paying too much for Formula One which, surprise to no one except himself, isn’t sustainable.
Having recently discovered this new technology called the Internet and realizing race fans and journalists alike have been blaming the ridiculous race fees for years, Ecclestone took these comments and reiterated them to Motorsport.com :
“The only thing that would be good for everyone, I think, would be if we could charge the promoters a lot less money. I did some good deals commercially. They are paying a lot of money, and most of them if not all of them are not making any money, quite the opposite. Sooner or later I’m frightened that the governments behind them will say enough is enough, and bye bye.
“If we could reduce the fee they pay they could then charge less for tickets and sell more tickets. So if you want to look after the fans, that’s the way to do it.”
The timing clearly isn’t a coincidence, as Ecclestone lost his role of Formula One Group CEO in January. New owners Liberty Media Group have started bringing Formula One to the masses in a different direction, namely their YouTube account with highlights of every session and other race-day activities , a massive change from the FOM’s previous attempts to delete every video related to F1 on the service.
His removal from power - and subsequent lining of his pockets with race promoter money - may be the reason for his view flip-flop, as his views while in power were much different:
Asked why he didn’t cut rates in the past, he said: “I know I could have done, but I was trying to make money for the company, that was my job.
“It appears that it’s not [Liberty’s] prime objective, to make money. Their objective is to please the fans, which is good.”
Classic Bernie. Do-as-I-say, not-as-I-did. If he can’t get his slice of money, why should anyone get the slice? High race fees aren’t good for the sport, you know. Just ask the guy who set them up, he said so himself.