The Miami GP has been hailed as the greatest new FP event for decades. Tickets were restricted and many regular F1 fans could not attend the event. Sport’s marketing companies bought around 50% of the ticket allocation which the organisers admitted were restricted this year.
The A list celebrities and their friends were targeted for the ticket allocation which saw Michelle Obama, Michael Jordan, The Williams sisters and Tom Brady up front to name a mere fraction of the guest list.
Yet being a guest in the exclusive F1 paddock club is costly. $13,000 was the price this weekend. But surprisingly the Miami promoter negotiated with FOM to provide the Paddock Club hospitality and catering themselves rather than use the regular Paddock Club caterers.
YAS MARINA CIRCUIT, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – NOVEMBER 25: Guests in the F1 Paddock Club watch the grid proceedures during the Abu Dhabi GP at Yas Marina Circuit on November 25, 2018 in Yas Marina Circuit, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Sam Bloxham / LAT Images)
This proved to be a disaster. The Paddock Club is the prime location above the pit garages and with ever flowing food and drinks all day.
F1 Journo, know it all hack and forever race attendee Adam Cooper tweeted after the race, “A lot of good things about Miami but teams and sponsors not happy with the quality of service in the Paddock Club…. Run locally rather than by the usual F1 organisation. Tickets are $13,000 so people expect 5 stars…. First world problems I know, but lessons to be learned.’
Cooper clearly felt his message had not been heard and added today, “If anything I underplayed this [topic] yesterday. Some senior marketing people told me it was a “shit show” and wealthy F1 newcomers/potential sponsors won’t be coming back after a bad experience.”
Miami is all about the Bling, its all about the excess… almost, an experience way and beyond what could be considered possible.
Yet the race promoters were allowed an unusual deal to host the Paddock club gazillionaires themselves and Royally cocked it up.
I think this headline is misleading. I attended the race and was in the Paddock club for Friday and Saturday. The catering was a disaster, yes. There were several times I went to eat and there were no utensils or napkins. Additionally, the caterers left fish out for hours without being on ice and the smell was pungent.
However, this is more on the venue, Hard Rock Stadium, then F1. Nonetheless, the weekend was a major success with an exciting race and a great overall fan experience.
Think we said it was the promoter and their caterers and made it clear the usual Paffock Club company were not used.