Photo: automotodrombrno.cz
Things are iffy regarding the Czech round of the MotoGP, scheduled for the 16th of August. The ticket sales have been stopped and the main reason behind this radical move is the lack of financial consensus between the local authorities and the organizers of the MotoGP round.
The Czech media reports that the Brno city council, the local government in South Moravia and the Ministry for Education have not agreed on the financial support they were expected to provide for the MotoGP round.
An announcement was posted on the ticketing website and it reads: "With an immediate effect, Automotodrom Brno suspends the sale of tickets for the Grand Prix of the Czech Republic 2015 due to insufficient funding for the event. The final decision on the Grand Prix of the Czech Republic 2015 will be published on 29 June. In case of cancellation of the event, all paid tickets will be refunded."
Even if the state authorities have adopted a resolution aimed ar putting these matters in order, it looks like not all the legal aspects have been taken care of. The money we are talking about is around 50 million Czech krona, and that makes for some 2 million euros or $2.24 million, and apparently, the parts involved in this have not agreed on the conditions for the financing.
Both the state and the organizers have the money and could cover the amount, but each part has certain conditions, and it looks like this is the main issue. Sources mention that Dorna's deadline to receive the due payment for the round has passed and most likely the Brno circuit will be asking for forbearance.
The date of 29th July was reportedly indicated as the new deadline, but whether Dorna Sports will bear with it is yet unclear. Nothing is mentioned on the official MotoGP website so we can believe that everybody is trying their best to come up with a positive solution.
Compare this to the under-18,000 crowds in Qatar and things become even funnier, so to speak. With so many attendants and tickets prices ranging from €68-90 ($76-100) to €500 ($560) for the VIP T1 pass, it's really a mystery why money is a problem for the Czech Republic Grand Prix in 2015.
Of course, the story would not be complete without those who say that Abraham Sr., the owner of the Brno circuit, AB Cardion MotoGP team, and father of Karel Abraham may have some financial troubles himself. The same rumors indicate that this is why he was not okay with covering the crash tab for Michael van der Mark...
Stay tuned for more info soon.
An announcement was posted on the ticketing website and it reads: "With an immediate effect, Automotodrom Brno suspends the sale of tickets for the Grand Prix of the Czech Republic 2015 due to insufficient funding for the event. The final decision on the Grand Prix of the Czech Republic 2015 will be published on 29 June. In case of cancellation of the event, all paid tickets will be refunded."
Even if the state authorities have adopted a resolution aimed ar putting these matters in order, it looks like not all the legal aspects have been taken care of. The money we are talking about is around 50 million Czech krona, and that makes for some 2 million euros or $2.24 million, and apparently, the parts involved in this have not agreed on the conditions for the financing.
Illegally helping a private organization?
Some voices claim that the state financing for the MotoGP round might be regarded as an illegal aid offered by the state to a private company (the organizers of the MotoGP round).Both the state and the organizers have the money and could cover the amount, but each part has certain conditions, and it looks like this is the main issue. Sources mention that Dorna's deadline to receive the due payment for the round has passed and most likely the Brno circuit will be asking for forbearance.
The date of 29th July was reportedly indicated as the new deadline, but whether Dorna Sports will bear with it is yet unclear. Nothing is mentioned on the official MotoGP website so we can believe that everybody is trying their best to come up with a positive solution.
Brno has the highest attendance in all MotoGP
Funny thing, the Brno round enjoys the highest attendance in the entire championship. Last year, the Czech Republic Grand Prix at Brno saw a crowd over 240,000, some 20% bigger than Jerez and Sachsenring, the next-biggest audiences, can muster.Compare this to the under-18,000 crowds in Qatar and things become even funnier, so to speak. With so many attendants and tickets prices ranging from €68-90 ($76-100) to €500 ($560) for the VIP T1 pass, it's really a mystery why money is a problem for the Czech Republic Grand Prix in 2015.
Of course, the story would not be complete without those who say that Abraham Sr., the owner of the Brno circuit, AB Cardion MotoGP team, and father of Karel Abraham may have some financial troubles himself. The same rumors indicate that this is why he was not okay with covering the crash tab for Michael van der Mark...
Stay tuned for more info soon.
Google News