Should you pay to watch the Olympic RoadRace?

[TourOfSardinia]

Spectators at Box Hill, Hampton Court to be charged to watch Olympic road races

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/spe...urt-to-be-charged-to-watch-olympic-road-races

Shock horror?
Rip off Britain?
Or reasonable restriction?

 

[Ruudz0r]

I think its bull**** people have to pay, cycling is a people sport and should always be of no charge to the spectators (criteriums aside).

 

[Benedict XVI]

Want to enjoy the spirit of Olympics festival? Pay. This road is particularly enjoying, because the pro cyclists will be riding here - pay more. This is ridiculous!

In fact, pro cycling teams should just boycott the whole event for this!

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

In a long list of dumb polls, this ranks pretty high.

Turkeys - Christmas, yay or nay.

Lets vote on whether Ipads should be free.

 

[Andy99]

Whilst I don't necessarily agree with the charge, its no different to charges that have been in place at certain parts of the World Champs over the past few years.

Certainly, from the ones I remember, charges were in place in Mendrisio and also Verona.

There is already a precedent there.

 

[Catwhoorg]

Its obvious that at both locations numbers have to be limited (Box Hill, due to environmental concerns, Hampton Court due to space) and thus ticketed.

From ticketed to charging is but a very small step.

Most of both the Road race and TT course will still be free.

 

[DominicDecoco]

The tribune at the finish line has always been for VIP's and the ones who want to pay. Let's stay with that shall we - especially in UK where I think, even with Cav as favorite, the spectator show up will be weak.

 

[B_Ugli]

They have been gradually putting the most popular parts of the Road Race route on lock down for some time now and I very much doubt they will allow anyone anywhere near the Boxhill circuit come race day. Its a shame really as the majority of average cyclists wont be able to turn up and watch.

I only live 15 miles from the circuit and had hoped to ride over on my bike, find a grass verge and watch it from there. However the best seat will now be at home watching it on TV as I reckon unless you have "connections" you wont be allowed a vantage point.

Somebody I know on the south coast said that there will be a screen erected to prevent seafront property owners from getting a free view of the Sailing events............draw your own conclusions.

 

[Caruut]

Its obvious that at both locations numbers have to be limited (Box Hill, due to environmental concerns, Hampton Court due to space) and thus ticketed.

From ticketed to charging is but a very small step.

Most of both the Road race and TT course will still be free.

What exactly are these environmental concerns, then? It's all very well saying "most of it will be free", but that's a pretty stupid thing to say - it's like letting people watch the flat part of the day before Alpe d'Huez, and charging them to stand on the Alpe. Sure, watch the entire peloton fly past in a few seconds, that's free. If you want to see any attacks or decisive splits, it's gonna be on one of the 9 laps of Box Hill.

 

[Catwhoorg]

Its a site of special scientific interest, and a designated conservation area.

Personally, I wouldn't have had the race go anywhere near it due to environment concerns, but that ship has long sailed.

I would have done a set up something like:
Start in Bristol, then onto Bath, and pretty much follow the A4 to Hyde Park. Would visit several towns/cities enroute.

Sure the last 50 miles are fairly flat, but realistically its about as selective as the current course will be.

You would also limit the trafiic issues, as a "rolling closure" would be more than adequate.

But hey, thats just me.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

I would have done a set up something like:
Start in Bristol, then onto Bath, and pretty much follow the A4 to Hyde Park. Would visit several towns/cities enroute.

I'd vote for that.

 

[B_Ugli]

I'd vote for that.

Ah but you see that would have involved a degree of consultation and inviting of expertise from cycling groups and people that actually follow cycling. They dont need to listen to anybody as they know what they are doing

 

[Caruut]

I'd vote for that.

Would visit my training route!

 

[Caruut]

Its a site of special scientific interest, and a designated conservation area.

Personally, I wouldn't have had the race go anywhere near it due to environment concerns, but that ship has long sailed.

I would have done a set up something like:
Start in Bristol, then onto Bath, and pretty much follow the A4 to Hyde Park. Would visit several towns/cities enroute.

Sure the last 50 miles are fairly flat, but realistically its about as selective as the current course will be.

You would also limit the trafiic issues, as a "rolling closure" would be more than adequate.

But hey, thats just me.

Just about everywhere in the UK is a designated conservation area for something or other. With the amount of laws the Olympics have managed to get passed/flout completely, I feel that if they wanted to make the Box Hill a proper cycling experience, they could have done. I think they deliberately chose not to so that they could charge for tickets, and waited to make the announcement so that it was too late for anything to be done. It's just making it that bit more sh*t and commercial, but since it was such a commercial sh*tfest to begin with, I am neither surprised nor overly disappointed. Was looking forward to seeing the race on Box Hill, as it is, I'll probably stay at home.

I like your route by the way, as I said earlier.

 

[BroDeal]

If you have to pay then the least they could do is design a decent route that is not expressly made for a certain rider to win.

 

[Caruut]

If you have to pay then the least they could do is design a decent route that is not expressly made for a certain rider to win.

If anything, it should be the other way around..

 

[Don Johnson]

It is important to support the Olympics. If the promoters choose to charge it is their perogative. It does cost money to pay the police, officials, road closures, inconveniences to businesses, and infrastructure costs.
I think we should be grateful to be able to watch the Olympic Road Race in person. That is an honor to be at the Olympics in Person, once in a lifetime experience. Everyone I have met who has attended the Olympics has had positive things to say about the experience.
Look at the Chinese Olympic Road Race. I did not see (live) spectator one.
Same with the tour of china race or whatever it is called.
Also it is good to see what the (pro) riders themselves have to say. Everything I have read, they are making the Olympics a goal. Very Nice!!!

 

[BroDeal]

It is important to support the Olympics. If the promoters choose to charge it is their perogative. It does cost money to pay the police, officials, road closures, inconveniences to businesses, and infrastructure costs.

The Olympics makes billions of dollars. Why doesn't the Olympics pay for all that?

 

[Aristarchus]

The Olympics makes billions of dollars. Why doesn't the Olympics pay for all that?

Taxpayers foot the infrastructure bill. The IoC and private companies pocket the profits. That's how it seems to go with the Olympics...oh snap, maybe I just infringed on their trademark by mentioning them!

 

[Froome19]

The tribune at the finish line has always been for VIP's and the ones who want to pay. Let's stay with that shall we - especially in UK where I think, even with Cav as favorite, the spectator show up will be weak.

Definitely wrong, the Olypmpics here are so hyped that whatever the sport, there will be as many people as possible lining the roads.

 

[Froome19]

The Olympics makes billions of dollars. Why doesn't the Olympics pay for all that?

They make nothing compared to what they lose.
Already the Olympic budget has had to raised by some ridiculous fiugre (50 million or something) and of course that all comes from the tax payers.

 

[Froome19]

Would visit my training route!

They were originally supposed to be riding literally past my house before the UCI scrapped the route for being to flat.

 

[Swifty's Cakes]

Its a huge con.
As for the route, they could easily have sent a decent section of the race through the South Downs, plenty of nice sharp litle climbs around Goodwood/Midhurst then head into London via the Hog's Back.

 

[BroDeal]

They make nothing compared to what they lose.
Already the Olympic budget has had to raised by some ridiculous fiugre (50 million or something) and of course that all comes from the tax payers.

That is not the Olympics losing money. That is British suckers--I mean taxpayers--losing money.

 

[Swifty's Cakes]

That is not the Olympics losing money. That is British suckers--I mean taxpayers--losing money.

cockney suckers, not scousers.