The only way the Melbourne F1 event can contiue successfully (IMO) is to allow the V8 Supercars a championship event there. Indy on the Gold Coast was flailing before the V8's started racing there in championship events.
Before that, the teams would pull their very old spare cars out to race for fear of crashing their #1 race car. The racing was still exciting and pulled a reasonably large crowd but since running championship events there, numbers have definately improved.
The Albert Park circuit provides much more entertaining racing than Surfers, with a great deal more passing opportunities and greater run-off areas preventing drivers from shying away on passing manoeuvres. Provide the right entertainment, and the people will come.
Melbourne is a fantastic event and so is Surfers. Adelaide is better than both and V8s headline the event! Motorsport (thanks to the V8s) is ranked 3rd of the most popular sports attended in Australia. Shouldn't this also play a part in the solution to Albert Park's losses?
ATTENDANCE AT MAIN SPORTS, By sex
Source: http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/[email protected]/mf/4174.0