Quote Originally Posted by GravelBen View Post
But you haven't made any logical connection to support your claim that focussing less on physical spectators and more on remote spectators would/should result in a smaller championship condensed to areas of higher population density...
I've made no claims whatsoever about physical vs remote spectators or population density. You have ...

Quote Originally Posted by GravelBen View Post
But does that even matter when most viewers are following it on tv or online? If it was funded by the number of spectators on the ground rallying would be long dead.
In fact the spectators on the ground might not even be the WRC promoter target market because they are probably not following it so much online / on tv while they're standing beside a stage. The tv/online market are the people who aren't there in person.
Incidentally, neither have I suggested that the "scale, drama or variety" of the championship be reduced.

About spectators though. They have their uses.
Someone earlier, quite incorrectly, suggested that television is not a good method of showcasing rallying. In fact rallying and television are made for each other. It's an excellent television sport. But like any sport shown on the screen, it loses appeal for the viewer if played in an empty stadium. Spectator numbers are important to create atmosphere (scale & drama) ... even on the screen.