Silverstone plans 25,000 British Grand Prix capacity increase
Silverstone plans to increase its seating capacity by a further 25,000 over the next three years to keep pace with rising Formula 1 costs
Circuit managing director Patrick Allen is confident for the second year in succession the British Grand Prix "will have made money", after recording a profit for the first time in 10 years in 2015 when it made £1.2million.
This year attracted a race-day crowd of 139,000, just 1000 shy of 2015's record, while the three-day attendance was 350,000.
Allen is already looking at ways to further increase capacity and to reduce the distance between the track and grandstands.
"Budget allowing I'd like to get the crowd closer to the track action, and this is where we are in discussions with the FIA and Charlie Whiting," Allen told Autosport.
"So for instance at Becketts, and down the National pit straight, I want to bring the grandstands in. I'm currently looking at that.
"If we could do that it would be more exciting for the fans and drivers. They would feel like they are driving through an arena all the way around the circuit, rather than seeing the crowd from a distance.
"We can also put more grandstands in, but it's not cheap to do that.
"Initially we can do more with our existing ones, and if we can get them closer to the track then that will allow for further capacity.
"We've currently around 65,000 seats, and I'd like to see that climb to nearer 90,000.
"That will probably be phased in over three years. If we get a slug of investment money, then who knows, we might be able to do it sooner."
Allen also aims to attract more casual fans by adding a major concert in the new arena area he plans on the Stowe infield.
"It would be the Rolling Stones or U2. That's who I want to go to, or Coldplay, Paul Weller - a really big name that attracts another audience," he said.
"Obviously those kind of names don't come cheap, and that's why we need the crowd to be able to sell it."
Another of Allen's ideas is to create a sport season ticket that could combine the British GP, a day at Wimbledon, the FA Cup final and The Open.
"For a lot of people who attend a grand prix, to also attend Wimbledon or The Open may be on their bucket list," said Allen, who wants to begin talks with his counterparts at the other major British sporting events.
Silverstone is also working on collaborations with other F1 venues.
In recent weeks Allen has met with Yas Marina CEO Al Tarek Al Ameri, Sheikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa, CEO of the Bahrain International Circuit, Singapore GP deputy chairman Colin Syn and Mexican GP marketing director Rodrigo Sanchez.
Allen concedes they are "all in the same boat with regard to escalating F1 costs, so we're all looking at ways of making our circuits profitable".
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