Clipsal success story: bigger than Bathurst?
23/3/2002 23:14 (V8 Wire - Jason Whittaker) -
Just when you think it can’t get any bigger and better, it does.
Mount Panorama will forever remain the spiritual home of Australian motorsport, but Adelaide’s magnificent Clipsal 500 is now, undisputedly, the biggest event of the V8 Supercar season.
The figures for Clipsal 500 IV speak for themselves: a record 171,200 fans flocked to last weekend’s three-day carnival, more than 4000 up on last year, with 1.3 million tuning in to the Ten Network’s two-day coverage – a ratings winner in every market.
Race organisers were this week revelling in their continued success.
“This event goes from strength to strength,” Clipsal 500 CEO, Andrew Daniels, said.
“The total attendance figure was magnificent as was the fact that in excess of 8,000 corporate guests attended each day. It is a great tribute to all involved.”
Mr Daniels said the event’s every aspect experienced growth this year, including significant increases in food sales, bar trade, corporate interest and sponsorship.
Naming-rights partner Gerard Industries, parent company of Clipsal, immediately reaffirmed their support after last weekend’s event, announcing a six-year extension of the lucrative sponsorship arrangement.
And the new South Australian Labor government had little choice but to graciously support one of the Liberals' biggest successes, announcing the state’s continued support until at least the current contract to host the event expires in 2008.
Last year’s Clipsal 500 injected more than $44 million into the state’s economy (media coverage had an estimated worth of $87.6 million) and created 290 full-time job equivalents. Mr Daniels said he expected that to have increased this year.
Accommodation figures are also predicted to rise this year. So much so, the Australian Football League cited a lack of available beds in Adelaide when denying pre-season front-runners Port Adelaide the right to host last Saturday night’s Grand Final.
Football driven out of Adelaide by the V8 Supercars? I’d like to see that...
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