9.20.16 Adam News and Info
Sept 19, 2016 23:37:29 GMT -5
Post by Q3 on Sept 19, 2016 23:37:29 GMT -5
Q3 note: Here are a couple articles about the attendance at the Singapore Grand Prix. Overall attendence was down 15% - the primary issues appear to be the economy and global competition for F1 fans.
Attendance was down across the board and particularly down on September 19, 2016 for the final. There are many causes -- fear of the Zika virus, economic uncertainty which is generally affecting international tourism, lack of novelty of a F1 race, and appeal of the concert performers.
No need to panic yet over lower S’pore GP crowd figures
People don't go to the Grand Prix only for the race: If organisers are able to bring in big headliners such as U2, Beyonce or a popular Asian act, there can be record attendance numbers again.
By James Walton
sports@mediacorp.com.sg
Published: 9:05 PM, September 19, 2016
Updated: 10:24 PM, September 19, 2016
SINGAPORE — It has been reported that the weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix (SGP) saw a ticket take-up that was 15 per cent lower than the average attendance since the inaugural race.
While this is the lowest attendance in the nine-year history of the SGP, we should not necessarily rush to the conclusion that this drop indicates a declining interest in the sport and Singapore as venue. It is worth noting that the last three years are three of the four highest attendance years since the SGP began.
In fact, only in the inaugural year of 2008 when Formula One was something of a novelty in Singapore did it have a higher attendance than the 2013-2015 years. This suggests that there is still life in the SGP, and it is premature to say that this year is part of a downward trend.
Why did the numbers drop off this year?
A few weeks prior to the Sept 16 weekend, there were concerns that Zika would affect the spectator attendance.
However, similar to how the threat of haze did not affect spectator numbers last year, the threat of Zika this year did not seem to have been a big issue. While it may have affected local turnout, whereby the attendance decision could have been made in the last few weeks before the event, it probably did not greatly affect the overseas visitors who had their hotels and flights booked further in advance.
A more likely reason for this year’s drop in attendance is the entertainment choices on offer.
The trackside entertainment has become a big draw for visitors and spectators at the SGP. Over the years, the organisers have changed the activities and programming significantly, making it a point to provide a diversified range of entertainment that appeals to different demographics. This is especially important in boosting local attendance numbers.
Unless they are die-hard F1 fans (and very few are), the local crowds — both Singaporeans and expatriates — do not turn up for the race per se. This is because the ticket price is high for a non-fan, it is easier and possibly more enjoyable to watch the race on television, and many who have attended in previous years say that they have “already done F1” and do not feel the urge to attend again for the race. Their decision to be on the F1 grounds is heavily influenced by the entertainment acts happening track side.
This year, looking at the headline acts alone, the line-up of Kylie Minogue, Queen with Adam Lambert and Imagine Dragons did not have as big a pull as that of previous years.
For the Sunday evening finale act, the Imagine Dragons was not a major draw compared to predecessors Bon Jovi, Katy Perry, Mariah Carey and Linkin Park. One could argue that Maroon 5 as a Saturday act last year would be a bigger draw than the Imagine Dragons!
That being said, the Sunday attendance numbers are generally quite steady as the tickets for the race itself are always in great demand. However, Friday and Saturday racing (qualifying rounds) are events that many Singapore residents are not concerned with. Their attendance is often based on the acts performing those nights: So having Pharrell Williams and Maroon 5 on those nights last year was a big boon, compared to Kylie Minogue, and Queen with Adam Lambert this year.
A fringe highlight this year was tie-ups with different museums around the race track and also restaurants to provide art and culinary activities that can help draw a crowd.
While it is a good effort by the organisers, adding diversity and inclusivity, these activities typically draw a very niche crowd.
It does well to attract the high net-worth individuals, who may not be big fans of the sport but come for business and networking, but it does not significantly boost overall crowd numbers.
Absent this year (and also last year) were major Asian acts. A major Asian artiste (think Jay Chou in 2012, or a major K-Pop act like Big Bang) for the Friday or Saturday night would diversify the entertainment programme and greatly increase turnout.
If observations from previous years are anything to go by, it is important for the SGP to make good decisions concerning the trackside entertainment to maintain and increase its attractiveness to a larger audience.
However, getting big name acts is challenging. There is competition with other event organisers in Singapore who are also vying for the same names, and even if the acts are interested, there will be the added hurdle of fitting their tour schedule with that of the SGP’s.
In this regard, it will be interesting to see what bearing Liberty Media, F1’s new owners, can bring to this, given that they own Live Nation, one of the world’s largest tour promoters, who represent many of the biggest global music stars such as Beyonce and Kanye West.
The SGP, and F1 in general, can also look to leverage Liberty Media’s experience in marketing and promoting to different audience demographics and identifying the right media channels, such as social and digital media to attract new and younger spectators.
It is to Singapore’s advantage for F1 to continue having a presence here. When the race was first held in 2008, it was viewed as a way to put Singapore on the map.
Nine years on, while it is still a strong branding statement for the nation, there are other more tangible benefits.
The race has played a big part in boosting tourism. Official figures over the years have shown that the tourist dollars spent over the F1 weekend justify the cost of organisation alone. Away from the track, hotels, casinos, restaurants and shopping areas do well from the event.
Beyond that, studies show that the perception of Singapore in the eyes of high net-worth individuals watching the SGP has improved, and that those same individuals state that they are more likely to visit in future as a result.
Of equal importance is how the race contributes to the local economy — over 80 per cent of the organisation of the SGP is sourced out to local SMEs, in the areas of logistics, ticketing and security for example. This brings a financial boost too.
Also, as the SGP enjoys the attendance of the high net-worth population and leaders of big corporations, it has been said that many business deals have their origins in the networking that occurs in the suites around the track.
This year’s numbers should not be taken to mean that the Singapore Grand Prix is not still a big draw — 2013-2015 showed there is still plenty of interest in the event as a whole, so the 2016 numbers seem more like an exception than a new trend.
However, the key for the Singapore Grand Prix is to continue to build on the trackside entertainment and activities to enhance the Formula 1 experience.
For 2017, if the organisers are able to bring in big headliners such as U2, Beyonce or Coldplay and a popular Asian act among others, it can once again reach record attendance numbers, thereby strengthening its position as one of the most popular races in the calendar.
About the author: James Walton is Clients and Markets Partner and head of the Sports Business service line at Deloitte Singapore and Southeast Asia
Link: www.todayonline.com/sports/no-need-panic-yet-over-lower-spore-gp-crowd-figures
Singapore Grand Prix sees worst-ever ticket sales
Is there enough spark to the Singapore Grand Prix? The low attendance this year suggests that the race is losing its lustre.
Economic uncertainly the reason for drop in sales, says Trade and Industry Minister
By Low Lin Fhoong
linfhoong@mediacorp.com.sg
Published: 9:40 PM, September 19, 2016
Updated: 10:27 PM, September 19, 2016
SINGAPORE — While the Singapore Grand Prix posted its worst-ever spectator turnout this year — even lower than during the 2009 financial crisis — Trade and Industry Minister S Iswaran said on Monday (Sept 19) that it was too early to draw “any major conclusions”, as he attributed the dip in ticket sales to the economic uncertainty here and worldwide.
“In terms of the attendance this year, you would have heard from SGP it’s down about 15 per cent. That’s really more a reflection of the global environment in terms of economic uncertainty and so on,” said Mr Iswaran on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi–Singapore joint forum on Monday.
“It’s a little bit like in 2009, when you had the global financial crisis. There was a major correction and then it went up again quite strongly.
“Interestingly, the paddock clubs and suites have done well, they’ve held up. It’s more in broadbased areas. That again suggests that at the premium level, the race continues to have very good traction with interested consumers and fans.
“It’s more perhaps at the broader base level that we have some issues because of the economic cycle.”
Race promoter Singapore GP (SGP) had revealed on Sunday that the daily attendance this year was pegged at 73,000, with the three-day total at 219,000 people.
It also said that the overall ticket take-up was 15 per cent lower than the average attendance since 2008.
In comparison, the 2009 global financial crisis saw crowds of just under 80,000, with close to 240,000 tickets sold for the three-day event.
Amid the economic slowdown and dipping spectatorship, the future of the Singapore Grand Prix has yet to be decided even though its contract expires next year, as MTI said on Monday that talks with Formula One are still in the early stages.
Pointing to Liberty Media’s US$8 billion (S$10.89 billion) takeover of the sport which was only announced two weeks ago, Mr Iswaran said the new owners would need more time to settle down before a deal can be struck. He had met with the sport’s new chairman Chase Carey, F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone and a few team principals during the race weekend.
“It’s an early stage in the new configuration in F1 so we have to give them time to settle down, and then think it through in terms of what they would like to put forward,” he said.
“On our part, our process would be, as always, a very deliberate one because we want to make sure that as we look ahead to any new agreement ... that it’s one that is anchored on clear mutual benefits and also the terms that are mutually acceptable.
“I would be reluctant to put a timeframe on it simply because all parties involved would want to be sure that we have a good understanding of the overall situation, not just of next year and the year after, but really, some visibility of how the sport and the business are going to develop in the years ahead.”
Dubbed “the crown jewel in F1” by Ecclestone, the Singapore Grand Prix, the only night race on the calendar, has been a hit with motor racing fans worldwide since its inaugural race in 2008, drawing in over 350,000 international visitors and 640 million viewers over the last eight editions.
While F1’s new boss Carey was impressed with his first outing at the Singapore GP, it is not known if Liberty’s foray into the sport will translate into a better deal for Singapore.
Each edition of the race costs about S$150 million to organise, with the Government co-funding 60 per cent of approved costs. In turn, the race generates an average of nearly S$150 million in incremental tourism receipts each year.
Added Mr Iswaran: “My sense of it is, there is a clear appreciation of the value that Singapore brings to F1, not just as a venue but in terms of the larger position of the sport and also as a business, and given the potential for development in Asia, I think there are a lot more prospects.
“How that translates into an actual agreement is another matter altogether and we have to wait and see.
Link: www.todayonline.com/sports/singapore-grand-prix-sees-worst-ever-ticket-sales
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Queen + Adam Lambert Fall Asia Tour
September 17, 2016 Queen + Adam Lambert, Grand Prix, Singapore First Queen concert in Singapore. This concert is part of the 2016 Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix.
Sept. 19, 2016 Queen + Adam Lambert, Taipei at Nangang Exhibition Hall – first ever Queen concert in Taipei.
[/i]September 21, 22, and 23, 2016 Queen + Adam Lambert, Nippon Budokan, Tokyo, Japan This is the original site of Queen’s historic first concert in Japan in April 1975.
September 26, 2016 Queen + Adam Lambert, Mercedes Benz Arena, Shanghai, China This will be Queen’s first concert in mainland China.
September 28, 2016 Queen + Adam Lambert, AsiaWorld-Expo, Hong Kong First Queen concert in Hong Kong or China.
September 30, 2016 Queen + Adam Lambert, Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani, Bangkok, Thailand First Queen concert in Thailand.
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