Nurburgring Sees Sharp Attendence Decline

The goose that has been laying golden eggs from Formula One in Germany is not in good health any more.

The Nurburgring bonanza that long spread wealth and ever-rising revenues to Germany's poor rural Eifel region has suffered an abrupt decline this year that has worried the circuit's organisers and local businesses.

Nurburgring GmbH managing director Walter Kafitz said attendance on Sunday was 123,000, 17,000 fewer than last year's sell-out crowd of 140,000. The three-day total attendance of 239,000 was far below last year's combined total of 353,000.

"Everyone can see that the golden years are behind us at least for now," said Kafitz. "We're being squeezed between a slight fall in demand and rising costs."

While the European Grand Prix is still the country's biggest sporting event, there are far fewer fans than last year spending less money in restaurants, pubs and shops. Some 70 million euros ($79.88 million) are pumped into the local economy during the Formula One week.

Waning Interest

Organisers blame Germany's weak economy and rising unemployment for the slump while fans trace the waning interest to steep annual increases in ticket prices -- which have roughly doubled since 1997.

"The prices are getting completely out of line," said Hubert Schulte, 50, a car parts salesman from Wuerzburg, who paid 440 euros for a weekend ticket.

"That's double the amount I paid a few years ago. If the prices keep going up I won't be back. I could spend a week's holiday on the beach in Spain for the same price. It's insane."

Joseph Isersloh, a 30-year-old engineering industry worker, was standing outside the track struggling to unload three tickets. His price was down from 600 euros to 500 euros but there were still no takers.

"There's just not as much interest any more," he said. "People aren't willing to pay that much."

The number of television viewers on Germany's RTL network has also been down an average of two million viewers each week.

"They're ruining this event with the price gouging," said Lambert Gross, a clerk from Nuerburg, 37. "They're going to kill the golden goose. Every year they raise the prices by 10 percent or more. It's completely over the top now."

Local restaurant owners and private pension operators said patrons had nothing but complaints about exorbitant prices and said their businesses were suffering as a result.

"It's getting out of hand," said Gary Seahnan, a 55-year-old car salesman from France. "It cost $100 to park my car on a field across the street filled with stones and potholes. It's scandalous. We love Formula One, but this is ridiculous."

Michaele Kortt, a 27-year-old office worker, drove 200 kilometres (120 miles) from Kassel, but decided even the cheaper ticket prices -- still over 200 euros -- were too dear.

"Money is tight and everything here is too expensive," she said. "But even outside the track it's a great atmosphere here."