Grand Prix’s success key in crafting of new deal

UPDATE A reader writes, The crowds have been large? Which St. Pete race was this? Everyone I have talked to (including certain officials from other Florida cities who have attended) said that the place was sparse at best. Nobody I know has ever paid for their tickets. That sleepy little town just can't compare with a larger market. Everyone seems to think that race is going to draw from Tampa. It just doesn’t. Lance Freespeed

Another writes, I found this little snippet very funny. Only the IRL would call cutting the number of grandstand seats, and having what I seem to recall to be 30,000 total attendance (unknown PAYING attendance) on race day, "success." George Orwell would be proud. Hate is Love, War is Peace, and a shrinking audience is success! Maybe my memory is faulty, but it seems to me that the "Long Beach of the East Coast" failed to get the same numbers over the whole weekend as Long Beach got for just Saturday (Qualifying day! Not race day!).

But it again raises the issue… when is Champ Car going to figure out that, to some extent, you can change people's perceptions by issuing positive press releases about next to nothing? And how much better when you can use actual truth? Dave L., Los Angeles, CA

04/26/07 Negotiations to renew Andretti Green Productions' recently expired contract to put on the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg are apparently taking longer than expected because of what company general manager Kevin Savoree considers the success of the event.

"It's obvious as the event has grown, which is a very positive thing, some of the items in the original contract need to be reconsidered," he said by telephone. "I think that goes for all the sides: the city, (sponsor) Honda, the IndyCar series, the American Le Mans series and us. As with any negotiation, that's something we have to work through."

The city received 200 tickets and the right to erect a hospitality area from AGP in the first three-year contract in exchange, basically, to serve as a backdrop for a two-hour nationally televised auto race. AGR was responsible for paying for uses of city resources in excess of $150,000.

Although AGP does not release ticket figures, crowds have been large. Savoree plans to be in town soon to meet with local politicians, he said. SPTimes.com