Why offer free ticket to females? Maybe also offer free ticket for homosexuals, or people with dark skin or a disability, or any other perceived minority.
Skill should be the only pre-requisite.
What if a free ticket to a female team sees them come in last place in the qualifiers, that would be great marketing, wouldn't it? Would manufacturers make sure the female team is of high-enough quality to not embarrass? The female OCers we have now... why are they not at chamionships?