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Auto racing circuit in KENYA.....a possibility
BGL
#1 Posted : Sunday, March 14, 2010 6:30:42 PM
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Joined: 10/11/2009
Posts: 1,223
There is this fascination about football and particular the premier league in Kenya among Kenyan men of all ages and to some extend *their girlfriends* who are in pursuit of different agenda not football. But, there is also much liking for two other sports (Formula one and Rugby)among the growing populace of Nairobi's middle class. This got me me thinking as F1 and ManUtd vs Fulham game was screened live simultaneously of different channels on DSTV........ What if as part of vision 2030 we have a world class auto-racing circuit somewhere in the vicinity on Nairobi perhaps on this stretch of land along Mombasa road between JKIA and Daystar University.
I think it will be the first in the continent and will be dominated by foreign drivers but this will be good for the economy. It may be a wild dream but thinking out of the box is what will propel us to a developed country status.
History will not remember you for your IQ. It will remember you for what you did. “Genius is 1 percent inspiration, 99 percent perspiration.” Thomas Edison
Magigi
#2 Posted : Sunday, March 14, 2010 7:02:05 PM
Rank: Elder

Joined: 3/31/2008
Posts: 7,081
Location: Kenya
...A good idea...but are you sure that land has not been grabbed?
gk
#3 Posted : Monday, March 15, 2010 6:57:30 AM
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Joined: 5/17/2008
Posts: 489
BGL wrote:

I think it will be the first in the continent .


...just wondering; dont they have this in SA? but yes we can.
Gordon Gekko
#4 Posted : Monday, March 15, 2010 7:27:45 AM
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Joined: 5/27/2008
Posts: 3,760
@BGL, we once had a circuit in Nakuru, hence the name Langa langa. @gk, there is the Kyalami circuit in J'Burg
kingfisher
#5 Posted : Monday, March 15, 2010 7:33:42 AM
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@BGL....the land where MISC sits was donated by the kenyatta family. To the east of that stadium lies a stretch of huge land that was once grabbed but later reclaimed after mama ngina threatened to take it back. My sources had it that the initial plans for MISC included having an F1 circuit on that tract of land.

What we should be asking is "where did that money go to?" if that were the case??

Or can the land be availed for the same original purpose and funds be availed??
When I have money, I get rid of it quickly, lest it find a way into my heart.
Intelligentsia
#6 Posted : Monday, March 15, 2010 8:46:18 AM
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Joined: 10/1/2009
Posts: 2,436
@BGL, thanks for bringing this up I too have wondered about:

1)a racing circuit in Kenya,
2)fun grounds with a roller coaster, siyo za Luna(tic) park,
3)a giant oceanarium in Nbi where we can actually see live sharks,
dolphins, giant rays/squid and other huge marine life.

At least we would then kossip less in pars.

FundamentAli
#7 Posted : Monday, March 15, 2010 9:38:26 AM
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Joined: 11/4/2008
Posts: 1,289
Location: Nairobi
It will cost a minimum Shs. 20 b to put up such a circuit. Is this our priority? How do you recover such money from the poor kenyans? Do you have an idea of the price of watching one formula1 race?
Ric dees
#8 Posted : Monday, March 15, 2010 10:23:11 AM
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Joined: 3/6/2008
Posts: 632

@FundemantAli
3 day ticket is roughly GBP 80.

This aside i believe this would be a massive opportunity both economically and for the upcoming drivers.However that said i don't think we have the capacity to manage the huge logistics involved.
Point in case Both Hokkenheim (Germany) and Silvesrtone (U have 20 garages for all the teams.
Mark you this teams arrive around 2 weeks before the race and acclimatise and get prepared, also to note this teams don't share hotels it's a hugely tactical, strategical race and this counts.

I can imagine the mess in JKIA...
Which local company will handle the advertising, banners et al..
Will the mobile companies, ISP's support the communications demands of this monster teams?
Which hotels will host this teams with 50+ personnell with crazy demands?

I have attended both Hokkenheim and Silverstne, sight to behold i must say but that ends there..

The greatest danger in times of turbulence is not the turbulence; it is to act with yesterday's logic.
Intelligentsia
#9 Posted : Monday, March 15, 2010 10:35:58 AM
Rank: Elder

Joined: 10/1/2009
Posts: 2,436
FundamentAli wrote:
It will cost a minimum Shs. 20 b to put up such a circuit. Is this our priority? How do you recover such money from the poor kenyans? Do you have an idea of the price of watching one formula1 race?


20b at 75/= is USD 266m which is not an earth-stopping amount in the international sporting circuits. Na ulitoa wapi hii figure BTW?

Even in Kenya it is possible to finance such a facility - for instance seek the sponsorship of high profile companies with international stature in return for exclusive advertising rights at the track for a negotiated period of say like 2 yrs. So, once the business case built shows such a facility is viable,approach both onshore and offshore corporate sponsors - kina Safcom, Emirates, EABL, Virgin Atlantic, PHB Bank Group,etc for sponsorship and you should be in business. Of course the all impt. clincher would be in getting your races to count towards FIA Formula World Championship. Traditionally Europe was the epicentre of Grand Prix but now events are being held world over including the Far East na pia Asia, so there's a chance....
Can Kenyans afford - yes they can, a good number at least given the emergence of a strong middle class who are starved of real events (hence kossiping in pars!)and such a sport would be expected to attract fans from not just Ug & Tz but the wider Great Lakes region and even Africa if well marketed.



FundamentAli
#10 Posted : Monday, March 15, 2010 10:45:01 AM
Rank: Veteran

Joined: 11/4/2008
Posts: 1,289
Location: Nairobi
Donnington which is already existing was looking for £120m to upgrade it to an existing standard. Shanghai cost $450m to put up and Dubai $360m for phaseI alone.
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