How record F1 crowds are accelerating Shanghais bid to be a global sports hub
The Formula One (F1) Chinese Grand Prix drew record crowds over the weekend, another indication the wide-ranging efforts from host city Shanghai to raise its profile as a global sports and event destination are paying off. The three-day event, which concluded on Sunday, attracted more than 230,000 cumulative spectators, the highest attendance headcount reported by…
The three-day event, which concluded on Sunday, attracted more than 230,000 cumulative spectators, the highest attendance headcount reported by the Chinese financial centre in nearly two decades.
On the opening day, the number of foreign arrivals through Shanghai’s ports exceeded 27,000, a single-day record, according to a report by Communist Party news organ People’s Daily on Monday.
Post-race data cited by People’s Daily showed that ticket revenue for this year’s grand prix rose more than 30 per cent year on year, with overseas spectators accounting for about 16 per cent of attendees and visitors from elsewhere in China making up about 64 per cent. Most international visitors came from Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Britain, Germany and France.
Formula One, widely regarded as the world’s foremost championship in motorsport, boasts more than 800 million fans globally and one of the largest annual television audiences for a sporting event.
