Singapore release Tentative ticket prices

$275
That's what the cheapest 3-day grandstand pass at the S'pore grand prix is likely to cost



Wondering if you can afford a trackside view of the first Formula 1 race in Singapore? Today has the latest on the ticket prices: A three-day grandstand pass could start from about $275.
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Don't fancy paying that much for a seat? Organiser Singapore GP has revealed exclusively to this newspaper that the price of a three-day general admission package for the standing area along the downtown street circuit could cost less than $200. The other good news is that the colour-coded tickets can be used to admit a different person on each day.
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Singapore GP was, however, tight-lipped about the price of the most sought-after seats for the public � along the Start-Finish straight, near the Singapore Flyer and opposite the pit lanes.
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Today understands that these tickets to the first F1 night race in the world are likely to be in the region of $1,100 to $1,300 each � similar to what fans will pay at the F1 races in Britain and Germany this year.
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Access to the corporate suites will start from $3,500 per person and those prepared to pay $7,500 can use the exclusive Paddock Club, which boasts VIP access to the areas where the teams are. Pricing details for the SingTel Singapore Grand Prix from Sept 26 to 28 were to have been released last month, but organisers are still exploring how to increase ticketed viewing areas. For now, the race has an 80,000-spectator capacity.
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"The number of tickets currently available for the public is 65,000, which we are working hard to increase. Another 11,000 are reserved for Corporate Hospitality Suites and a further 4,000 for the Paddock Club," said Mr Jonathan Hallett, Singapore GP's media and communications director.
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But creating more standing area, involves not only Singapore GP's own engineers but also the owners of the land along the circuit and several Government agencies.
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"This process inevitably takes time," said Mr Hallett. "But it will ensure that spectators get the best choice of tickets and locations. We do not want a situation where a spectator had already bought a ticket and we subsequently release additional inventory they would have preferred."
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Mr Hallett also revealed that when tickets go on sale, they would be released in phases, with the three-day passes going on sale first. And only if there were still seats available after that, then would two-day tickets and eventually single-day tickets be made available.
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"We want to encourage people coming together and pooling their resources to buy tickets," he added. "You may have a situation where three guys won't be able to attend all three days. It will make more sense for them to buy the three-day pass and split the tickets among themselves."
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Also, the tickets will buy spectators a full day of racing on each of the three days -� not just the Formula 1 race at night. At most European races, the GP2 championship is held before the F1 race; in Australia it is the V8 Supercar race.
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"So far, the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia is confirmed and there are two more support races still to be announced. This should happen in the next few weeks," said Mr Hallett.

Ian De Cotta
ian@mediacorp.com.sg