The Cheap Seats Don't Keep the Lights On

08/10/2025 34 min Episodio 3
The Cheap Seats Don't Keep the Lights On

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Episode Synopsis


A single race hosting fee can hit $70 MILLION—and that's before they even sell a single ticket. The real challenge for any track promoter? It’s absorbing the massive fixed liability and turning a one-time race into a year-round, profitable business.The truth is, the profit isn't in the Grandstands, it's with the executives in the Suites. Premium hospitality is the only sustainable margin driver.We're putting the circuit business on the lift and exposing the financial engine behind every major racing series, from F1 to IndyCar, using leverage, real estate, and B2B cash flow to survive.🏁 On This Episode of Business of Speed:00:00 The $70M Fixed Cost: Your Entry Ticket to Global Racing04:44 The Ultimate Leverage: Why a Racetrack is an Infrastructure Asset10:40 The Profit Driver: Why Luxury Suites Fund Your Favorite Race18:13 Ghost Tracks of Europe: The Need for Year-Round B2B Income21:30 The Subsidy Factor: How Cities Use Tax Dollars for PR (Vegas vs. Monaco)27:39 The 3 Non-Negotiables for Track Sustainability Checklist29:00 Real Estate Leverage: Inside the T11 "Car Condos" at COTA