Just finished watching the press conference given by the delegates of the Montreal Grand Prix. These guys tried to bring Bernie Ecclestone to reason and negotiate a feasible monetary plan to help save our race venue. To no avail. Bernie's demands are absolutely unreasonable and especially, uncompromising. 175 million dollars for five years and with a bank guaranty to boot! Why does he need so much money? He already rakes in the revenues generated by ALL on-site sponsors and advertising. The private paddock box seats also belong to him! He's completely delirious and out of touch with reality. Hey Bernie, quick question; what more will it take to make you feel alive and whole?
Max Mosley and the FIA have asked every team on the circuit to cut cost but Uncle Ecclestone just wants more. Hell, even China might not survive because of the prohibitive costs! Frankly, even though it's a death blow for F1 fans in Montreal, I applaud the decision that the Comittee (for lack of a better description) took in the face of Ebeneezer Ecclestone's demands. They offered a solution which could've been beneficial to everyone but I suspect Bernie had to refuse because other venues who "are in trouble" would've tried the same negotiating tactics. We've given him money, power and prestige for the last thirty years and yet, he just brushed us off like you would a pesky fly. When you can't reason or find a compromise with someone, walk away.
Montreal has lost a valuable gem in its triple-crown. We have the Just for Laugh and Jazz Festival to keep us busy during the summer. The opening event to the season was the Grand Prix and depending on the success of the patronage, Montreal could figure out what kind of money would load its coffers before the fall. Now, we start with a "loss" of between 75 to 80 million dollars...ouch! Also lost are jobs connected with the Grand Prix: sponsors, advertisers, suppliers, technical crews, hotels and restaurants. Gone is the prestige and International flair that came with F1 crowd. That won't change how we are seen by the world but those three days in June gave Montreal a little more oomph and bragging rights.
Montreal will go on living and maybe one day, the F1 circus will come back to town. Should it return, it won't be because Bernie came to his senses but because he was forced to change his ways. Montreal could become a turning point, when all the other actors in Formula One come together and say "Hey Bernie, that's enough!"
I hope that day was today.
Max Mosley and the FIA have asked every team on the circuit to cut cost but Uncle Ecclestone just wants more. Hell, even China might not survive because of the prohibitive costs! Frankly, even though it's a death blow for F1 fans in Montreal, I applaud the decision that the Comittee (for lack of a better description) took in the face of Ebeneezer Ecclestone's demands. They offered a solution which could've been beneficial to everyone but I suspect Bernie had to refuse because other venues who "are in trouble" would've tried the same negotiating tactics. We've given him money, power and prestige for the last thirty years and yet, he just brushed us off like you would a pesky fly. When you can't reason or find a compromise with someone, walk away.
Montreal has lost a valuable gem in its triple-crown. We have the Just for Laugh and Jazz Festival to keep us busy during the summer. The opening event to the season was the Grand Prix and depending on the success of the patronage, Montreal could figure out what kind of money would load its coffers before the fall. Now, we start with a "loss" of between 75 to 80 million dollars...ouch! Also lost are jobs connected with the Grand Prix: sponsors, advertisers, suppliers, technical crews, hotels and restaurants. Gone is the prestige and International flair that came with F1 crowd. That won't change how we are seen by the world but those three days in June gave Montreal a little more oomph and bragging rights.
Montreal will go on living and maybe one day, the F1 circus will come back to town. Should it return, it won't be because Bernie came to his senses but because he was forced to change his ways. Montreal could become a turning point, when all the other actors in Formula One come together and say "Hey Bernie, that's enough!"
I hope that day was today.
