After months of doubt, Germany was finally scrubbed from the calendar earlier this year when original host, the Nurbugring, couldn't muster the necessary funding, and Hockenheim, which hosts the race on an alternating basis, said it wasn't given enough notice.

Consequently, for the first time since 1960, Germany didn't host a round of the world championship.

No concerns for 2016 however, as Hockenheim forms part of a record 21-date calendar, and to ensure he event is a sell-out, tickets, which go on sale tomorrow, a year ahead of the event, have been priced to encourage the fans back to the stands.

For a limited period, a three-day weekend ticket will cost 99 euros (£70), the same price as a standard Sunday ticket, while children under six will be admitted for free. Under-16s can buy weekend tickets for 50 euros (£35).

"We are delighted to host another Formula One race in Germany after a year's break," said circuit managing director Georg Seiler. "The signs for German fans in particular so far are very good.

"We are excited to welcome F1 and its incredible fans back to Hockenheim and are looking forward to a packed Motodrom next July."

Last year's event, which saw Mercedes leading the championship, and Nico Rosberg in contention for the drivers' title, drew a race day attendance of just 55,000.

A similar pricing scheme is widely believed to be one of the reasons attendance at this year's British Grand Prix hit 140,000.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by The stogie, 20/08/2015 0:27

"Formula 1 has a problem attracting new (and younger) fans. Here's a thought starter - offer half priced tickets to children 13 to 18 and FREE admission for kids 12 and under. More people will attend the races and the promoters will be able to recoup some money through increased food and souvenir sales."

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2. Posted by scf1fan, 02/08/2015 19:02

"@Vinicius - I'll actually give you a positive, though I asked where you got yours from . . . (tried to anyway, not sure it stuck. lol) No, my primary degree is in engineering and my grad work is in BA, and I've ran a couple of businesses . . . Call it SoHK! Now, I'm not going to get into it with you about which strategy is most appropriate for Hockenheim. Apparently, lowering prices (a-la the Laffer curve) is not something your business strategy accepts; fair enough. But you also don't seem to realize that Hockenheim does have other features associated with the track, and I'm also pretty sure that they have their own advisors as far as marketing and sales go. So they've made their choices on how to improve their attractiveness to the racing fans, their customers, and I think they've made a good decision. With a little bit of research, you might find that, in fact, they ALREADY do many of the things you've suggested - in one form or another; ever hear of "Rock'N'Heim"? So it's your continuing position of calling them lazy where I have my contention with your remarks. And in that regards, it doesn't matter if you had a PHd. Lack of respect is lack of respect. So, have at it my friend, seemingly the rest of us must all be slackers. ;-)"

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3. Posted by Vinicius, 02/08/2015 17:10

"Well, I am graduated in marketing. But probably you're not. People don't have the best simulators in their houses because it costs too much with the motion system and big screens. That is the reason why big technology events exists and attracts thousands os people. Shows with famous artists attracts people independent on their taste in motorsports, which is vital to attract new fans. They've done that in Singapore with Katy Perry and it was successful to bring some new people to the track. Motorsports doesn't sell itself anymore, as people don't want just to see a race at the middle of nothing, as most of the tracks are made."

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4. Posted by scf1fan, 02/08/2015 4:37

"@Vinicius - And what school of marketing did you go to? (The School of free game rooms and concerts?) These days, people play games at home or online! And unless the performers are someone that the spectator is interested in seeing, they'll be listening to their iPods. ;-) Your extra attractions will cost someone; all you've done is raised either the price or decreased someone's profits. Do you think the race promoters don't advertise, or other wise try to make the events attractive? I think that you're sort of spinning your wheels by calling other people lazy when you have no skin in the game."

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5. Posted by Vinicius, 02/08/2015 1:53

"Yes it is. You can enhance the experience of be at a Grand Prix weekend with many other attractive events, like music shows, better space for children, game rooms and other stuff. Motorsport doesn't sell itself for a long time, as people today have so many options to do at a weekend."

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6. Posted by gturner38, 02/08/2015 0:26

"Lowering prices isn't a lazy marketing tool. It's supply and demand. Germany has shown there isn't enough demand for tickets at the price point they have been selling for in recent years. What's the point of spending lots of money trying to convince people to buy the high priced tickets when they can lower prices and still take in the same amount of money, if not more, from the larger crowd paying less? This plan also has the built in backup of only keeping prices low for a limited time so if it doesn't draw people early, they can still hope that last minute buyers will pay the higher rates for the remaining tickets. Montreal reduced prices for several grandstands and did a "Black Friday/Cyber Monday" sale on general admission tickets last fall and, as a result, they still have strong crowds. I can honestly say that I was considering going to Sebring instead until I faced a two day window to get half priced tickets and jumped on it.

The only value to high prices is if you want to claim exclusivity. That works for the Paddock Club, but it isn't getting people to the races."

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7. Posted by scf1fan, 31/07/2015 12:35

"@Vinicius Lazy? Perhaps, but I doubt it. Lowering prices has ALWAYS been a marketing tool . . . . Have you never purchased an item on sale? Besides, who pays for the "harder work" and more "entertainment and publicity"? (Like you know that these people aren't working theirs butts off already in this slack economy?) Those costs are going to come out of someone's pocket, (unless you believe in slave labor of course ;-) and in most cases, the rate of return on those can be pretty marginal. Plus most of those things have little or no interest to the spectators of the primary event. I've never watched a race to see the fly-over no matter how much the organizers feel it "enhances" the spectacle.

There are also the less overt and profitable benefits to "filling the stands" even if it means lowering the ticket prices. A half full stand will buy half as many hot dogs and souvenirs as a full stand will. And the incremental cost for each spectator that shows up is almost nil. So the event organizers might even see greater profits with a lower per spectator gate. Good marketing results in more profit, not higher prices.

The general belief that has been voiced most often as of late is that the basic cost for an "on the ground spectator" in F1 is too high! No matter how many whistles and bells you add, if the consumer doesn't see the value delivered for the price asked, they won't buy it!

Maybe you can work hard enough to sell ice cream to an Eskimo, but in F1 today, there is a lot more ice cream (seats) to sell than there are Eskimos (fans) willing to buy. And that doesn't even include the intangible that F1 just isn't perceived to be that entertaining right now.

Hockenheim did exactly the right thing."

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8. Posted by Vinicius, 31/07/2015 6:25

"In fact, that is the laziest option in marketing side. They should mantain the prices and work harder in every areas of entertainment and publicity to attract the public. But, if they will not work that hard, is better to fill the grandstands anyway."

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9. Posted by scf1fan, 30/07/2015 22:28

"No!! Who would have thought!! Lower prices, more spectators. (Someone must have taken a marketing class. ;-)"

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Hockenheim to entice fans with cheaper tickets

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