The day was just fine. Glorious sunshine, excited crowds, more than 112,000 paid admissions, a brand-new track, and the dream came true. The waiting was over. There had been so much preparation and anxiety that it would be completed on time, but that was all in the past.
The idea was the brainchild of the president of the Valencia Community, Frances Camps, and the long-time mayoress of Valencia, Rita Barberá. Valencia has always been considered the poor cousin behind Madrid and Barcelona, but the dynamic duo have determined to change all that.
First they have set about doing what they can on a local level to encourage participation in the annual fiestas, and they have promoted Valencia for its exports and its sports, particularly football. Then, taking a huge gamble they bid for America’s Cup, and got it. That meant a massive investment in the port area that had been ignored for so many years. It was said that Valencia was a city that turned its back on the sea and its port.
So America’s Cup came to Valencia, and the average resident could not have cared less. It was an event that was held way out there on the water, and it brought higher prices on land as the teams sought the best accommodation, and drove up real estate and staple goods prices. Were it not for those things we could have ignored America’s Cup altogether, however, Formula One racing in the city was something else again.
This was an event that was loud and brash and in everybody’s face. City Hall was faced with major protests from city residents who were not amused by the prospect of so much noise. In her typical brilliant fashion, Mayor Barbará suggested that it be held in August, the traditional month when most residents head out of town on vacation. That was an instant hit. Because not only could many residents leave town, they could also rent out their balconies and rooftops for insane amounts of money, so Formula One was off to a fine start in first gear.
To accommodate the new track a swing bridge had to be built and new asphalt put down that would be of racing standard. Much of the track consists of existing roadways that take in a loop around the City of Arts and Sciences, the signature image for Valencia.
The reason I call this an elite event is that you had to be able to find at least two hundred euros to watch the action live. Tickets prices originally were between two hundred and five hundred euros, but when they sold out scalpers made a fortune. Obscene amounts of money were charged for balconies and rooftops for the three-day event. Missing was any accommodation for the general public of a standing-only area for spectators who could only afford more modest prices.
Organisers did set up a screen along the Malvarrosa beach for the public to follow the race on television. Apparently about 600 million people watched around the world, but the local television stations, Canal 9 and Punto 2 were free to show anything they wanted, just as long as it was not live action from the track. Such was the cost of broadcast rights. Understandably, this is one very expensive sport to fund, but by providing a section for cheap viewing, and by upgrading the public toilets from the portaloos to something more dignified, there would not have been any criticism at all.
I acknowledge that one-month before the real race there had been Formula Three racing to test the track at a cost of only 10 euros a day. I took full advantage of that
I also note that the City laid on free concerts for the general public, including Gloria Estafan. Shame about the rain!
I must not leave this thread without mentioning that Valencia has a first-class racing track at Cheste that led many of us to question why the race had to be held in the streets. The owners of the track at Cheste must have taken their snub very hard, but they have decided to strike back in a very positive way by bringing The Madonna Travelling Road Show to town. I’m almost tempted to go see the show, even though Madonna is not even on my list of admired artists, just to see what they do with 88 trailer loads of equipment.
The idea was the brainchild of the president of the Valencia Community, Frances Camps, and the long-time mayoress of Valencia, Rita Barberá. Valencia has always been considered the poor cousin behind Madrid and Barcelona, but the dynamic duo have determined to change all that.
First they have set about doing what they can on a local level to encourage participation in the annual fiestas, and they have promoted Valencia for its exports and its sports, particularly football. Then, taking a huge gamble they bid for America’s Cup, and got it. That meant a massive investment in the port area that had been ignored for so many years. It was said that Valencia was a city that turned its back on the sea and its port.
So America’s Cup came to Valencia, and the average resident could not have cared less. It was an event that was held way out there on the water, and it brought higher prices on land as the teams sought the best accommodation, and drove up real estate and staple goods prices. Were it not for those things we could have ignored America’s Cup altogether, however, Formula One racing in the city was something else again.
This was an event that was loud and brash and in everybody’s face. City Hall was faced with major protests from city residents who were not amused by the prospect of so much noise. In her typical brilliant fashion, Mayor Barbará suggested that it be held in August, the traditional month when most residents head out of town on vacation. That was an instant hit. Because not only could many residents leave town, they could also rent out their balconies and rooftops for insane amounts of money, so Formula One was off to a fine start in first gear.
To accommodate the new track a swing bridge had to be built and new asphalt put down that would be of racing standard. Much of the track consists of existing roadways that take in a loop around the City of Arts and Sciences, the signature image for Valencia.
The reason I call this an elite event is that you had to be able to find at least two hundred euros to watch the action live. Tickets prices originally were between two hundred and five hundred euros, but when they sold out scalpers made a fortune. Obscene amounts of money were charged for balconies and rooftops for the three-day event. Missing was any accommodation for the general public of a standing-only area for spectators who could only afford more modest prices.
Organisers did set up a screen along the Malvarrosa beach for the public to follow the race on television. Apparently about 600 million people watched around the world, but the local television stations, Canal 9 and Punto 2 were free to show anything they wanted, just as long as it was not live action from the track. Such was the cost of broadcast rights. Understandably, this is one very expensive sport to fund, but by providing a section for cheap viewing, and by upgrading the public toilets from the portaloos to something more dignified, there would not have been any criticism at all.
I acknowledge that one-month before the real race there had been Formula Three racing to test the track at a cost of only 10 euros a day. I took full advantage of that
I also note that the City laid on free concerts for the general public, including Gloria Estafan. Shame about the rain!
I must not leave this thread without mentioning that Valencia has a first-class racing track at Cheste that led many of us to question why the race had to be held in the streets. The owners of the track at Cheste must have taken their snub very hard, but they have decided to strike back in a very positive way by bringing The Madonna Travelling Road Show to town. I’m almost tempted to go see the show, even though Madonna is not even on my list of admired artists, just to see what they do with 88 trailer loads of equipment.
For the future we can almost be sure that Valencia will become a centre for tennis.
Copyright © 2008 Eugene Carmichael
Copyright © 2008 Eugene Carmichael
