Portuguese Grand Prix tickets sales going strong

Tickets for the Portuguese Grand Prix, to be held on the Algarve for the first time, have been selling fast, with 45,000 fans expected each day.

in News · 23 Sep 2020, 09:56 · 5 Comments

Portugal returns to the Formula 1 calendar for the first time since 1996 when Portimão hosts a race on October 25 at the Algarve International Circuit. The Algarve circuit has capacity for 90,000 grandstand seats, but following agreement with the government only half of these will be occupied. All spectators will be temperature-tested on their way into the circuit, will have to wear masks and must stick to their designated seat.

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Comments

If it was April 1st, I would say its the best April fool joke but its not....... We are in the middle of a world pandemic and Portugal have 85 cases per 100,000 and rising. (Figures from European Centre of Disease Control, ECDC)
All other Grand Prix's had no spectators, no spectators for football.....And they are expecting 45,000 people at Portimao. Absolutely crazy
God help us in November, better cancel Christmas.

By Brian from Algarve on 23 Sep 2020, 13:05

Tuscan GP had 2,800 spectators with lots of stands empty. The Portuguese GP is a bigger step forward but is low risk as it is outdoors, in low density seating and will be well managed with everyone wearing masks.... as the Portuguese always do. Furthermore it is taking place in the Algarve which has a relatively low case and death rates per million compared with other areas of Portugal. I for one hope the government give it the green light end September.

By Alastair Knight from Lisbon on 23 Sep 2020, 14:23

Outdoors aside 45,000 spectators isn't low risk. Providing some form of social distancing inside the circuit might be possible but outside the venue, it's highly unlikely. Seems crazy decision with a rising rate of infection and spectators coming from outside the algarve.

By Nigel Judd from Alentejo on 23 Sep 2020, 22:33

This is not the original SARS - temperature test is nearly useless. A pointless orgy of fossil-fuel consumption, pollution and noise. For WHAT? Some low-testosterone blokes watch cars zoom around, bonus for a fiery crash. Pathetic. Stay home and drink your Stella in your wifebeater. Presumably said wife left years ago.

By Walter from Lisbon on 24 Sep 2020, 08:57

The prospect of financial gain from a big sporting event was just too tempting to pass. Can only assume no other country wanted to take the risk of organizing this race in the current circumstances?
Even if the organizers somehow manage crowd control and all necessary safety precautions at the track, these tens of thousands of spectators add to the population in the Algarve and they circulate in the region for several days, possibly weeks. We've seen what travel does to the spreading of the virus.
Other sporting events seem to take place with no or very few spectators. Why would this need to be an exception?!

By Annie from Algarve on 24 Sep 2020, 10:01