Money Behind MotoGP
The MotoGP is one of the oldest motorsports. Started in 1949, this sport has sixty years under its belt. It is also one of the most popular motorsports aired on television. Over time, people have always wondered where the money to sustain such a massive
sporting event comes from. How do they bring in the money? Well, this article will shed some light on the answer to that question. MotoGP is a cash cow in terms of money. The amount of cash brought in by this event is unparalleled by any other.
MotoGP is broadcasted to over 200 countries and territories. It is viewed by 337 million fans and attended by at least 10000 diehard fans each weekend. The high speed maneuvers and the breath taking neck to neck battles of racers not only draw in fans,
but sponsors as well.
Advertisement and sponsors are the major income source for MotoGP. This sport, just like any other sport, is aired on television. The broadcasting rights for this epic event are currently held by Dorna Sports. Dorna Sports was started in 1988 as an international
sports management and marketing firm. MotoGP is their pinnacle event. This company pretty much has its hand in any type of advertisement or sponsorship deals regarding MotoGP. Dorna Sports offers its clients attractive and affordable sponsor packages and sells
Ad times to its clients.
These ads are played during MotoGP, so they are guaranteed to get the attention of the millions of people viewing this event. With fourteen different countries involved with this sport, Dorna Sports forecasted a turnover of 210 million Euros, with a profit
of 5-8 million Euros. There are over 30 sponsors who pay Dorna Sports, or supply them with their services. These include companies such as BMW, who are the official car of MotoGP, as well as Oakley’s who supply eye wear, Capcom who make the video games and
AMG who provide MotoGP with tent services. These are just the major sponsors. We still have to factor in the countless other sponsors who have their badges on the bikes and the leather jackets of the riders.
Another source of income for the motoGP sport is the actual ticket sales for their races, with the cheapest ticket priced at around 80 Euros per person and the most expensive package for around 684 Euros (this depends on where the race takes place, in this
case we can look at the Australian Grand Prix). And that’s just for ONE race! There are eighteen races in total, so if you do the math, the total amount of money from just ticket sales is A LOT! Other than the ticket sales, there are the gift shops and souvenirs
that people buy from each stadium to commemorate their visit.
MotoGP also rakes in cash from the sales of their merchandise through their website, MotoGP.com. One can buy anything from bed covers to watches and even Yamaha Scooters (the prices for these items were not listed on their website). Although one can assume
that they will not be cheap. And most of the profits go to Dorna Sports.
Although it’s not just the corporations that can take advantage of this sport. The riders themselves get a hefty amount of money. Famous motorcycle racer, Valentino Rossi, makes around 15.5 to 19.5 million dollars annually, where as Colin Edwards earns around
320000 dollars annually.
A lot of people scrutinize these racers for making so much money, and blame MotoGP of selling itself out to the major corporations who sponsor them. But honestly, as a racing fan myself, I could not care where that money comes from, as long as it keeps MotoGP
running on high octane forever in the future.
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