Formula E attendance figures grossly inflated by freebies, organizer admits

Denis Coderre has repeatedly described this summer's Formula E electric car race as a success, but figures released Wednesday by the organizerindicate at least20,000 tickets more than 40 per cent were given away for free.

Of the45,000 people who attended the publicly financed race, only25,000 tickets were "sold to the public and under agreements with partners and sponsors," organizerMontreal it's electricsaid in a statement.

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The balancewas "distributed to different groups, such as area residents, numerous suppliers and current and potential partners in transportation electrifcation."

Montrealit'selectric did not offer further details about the 25,000 tickets that were sold, such as a breakdown between how many were sold directly to the public and how many went to sponsors and partners.

The non-profit organization refused interview requests on Wednesday.

Hydro-Qubec says itreceivedtwelve tickets, which were redistributed through promotions, as well as a 55-seat private box.

A spokesperson forCAA-Quebec said,as far as she knows, it didn't give away anyfree tickets, although its members were offered a discount price.

'It was a disaster'

TheFormulaE race has been a majorissue in the municipal election campaign, in which Coderreis trying to win a second term as mayor.

His administration has, so far, committed to spending$30 million in order to host the event for three years. Montreal is believed to be the only city on the Formula E circuit that has spent public money on hosting a race.

Coderre, who in spring said he expected 60,000 people to attend,insisted on creating a race track through the eastern edgeof downtown.Montrealerswho liveand workin the neighbourhood gripedabout street closures, lost business and otherinconveniences, which lasted forweeksas the race site was set up and then torn down.

A poll conducted by CROP, and released this week by CBCNews, suggested that 63 per cent ofMontrealers had an unfavourable view of the Coderreadministration's investment in Formula E.

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Heidi Miller, who organized a group of citizens angry at theFormula E, said the numbers released Wednesday demonstrate the event was a failure and criticized Coderrefor continuing to say otherwise.

"You keep on insisting it's a success?Why can't you just be honest and say it was a disaster.It's not a success," said Miller, who speaks for a group called Formula Euh?

"Go back to the drawing board.Work.Do your homework.It's pretty obvious that this event was improvised."

For months,Coderrehas dodged questions about how manypeople actually paid to attend the race, saying the final figures would only be released by the organizerafter the Nov.5thelection.

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But as questions mountedduring the campaign,Coderrerecently began saying he had "no problem" with organizers making them public before election day.

Montrealit'selectric has, until now, refused to offer details about the event. In itsstatement, it saidthe numbers "meet the standard for the first edition of an event whose tickets went on sale just six months before the event."

It also notedthat Montreal's turnout wasmore than doublethe 18,000 people who attendedthe Formula Eevent in New York City.

More questions for Coderre

The failure by Montrealit'selectricto provide further details about the salesfigures appears to have only prompted further questions about the event, questions that are again being directed at Coderre.

The candidate held a Facebook Live Wednesday afternoon to announce the composition of his executive committee, should he win a second mandate.

In the comments section, however,dozens of people (including some journalists) posted questions about Formula E.

Later Wednesday afternoon, in a radio interview on 98.5 FM, Coderre commented on the Formula E figures, saying that "there are things to improve, but it was a good first edition."

Coderrewent on to say that a portion of the $24-million price tag went towards infrastructure repairs that were necessary regardless of the race.

He also said he's listening to Montrealers' feedback.

"We will form a citizens' committee to improve the situation forfuture editions," he said.

The incumbent'smain rival for the mayoralty, Projet Montral leader Valrie Plante, said Wednesday afternoon that 20,000 tickets givenaway was an "enormous"number.

Plante said she too still has questions about the event.

"What were the economic benefits?Was it worth it for the citizens who felt trapped and the businesses thatlost money?" Plante said.

She also wondered how many of the 25,000 tickets listed as soldwere actually given away to corporate partners.

Marvin Rotrand, running for city council for Coalition Montreal, said the numbers will affect the future of the event.

"What most people don't know is this wasn't a one-time thing.We're on the hook for years two and three, and even ifsome of the costs are not recurring, there are inconveniences and there are additional costs I think we should avoid,"Rotrand said.

"We should throw the ball back in the court of the promoter and say 'Hey, you want this race, you're gonna have to pay.'"

Plante said, as mayor, she wouldmove the event to the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, as opposed to having it downtown, or cancel it altogether, if contractually possible.

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