Interest builds around possible changes to NASCAR schedule


so it looks like the MLS Stadium won. Kinda bummed I had never seen a NASCAR race at Fairgrounds let alone any race. Thats on me for being a bad fan but I was looking forward to the possibility. I really hope NASCAR goes back to Wilkesboro or Rockingham because of the unique history and the skill it takes to win at those tracks. There is a window to start working on each track to get either or ready for the 2021 season, the opportunity is there to right a wrong for some fans. But.....Knowing its a pipe dream I guess I am hoping the powers that be come up with something innovative and that races good in a street course or inside an NFL Stadium. Bummed about Nashville, I was going to try to go to that race.
 
City officials? They are bought and paid for. Big under the table construction bid money to build those inner mall apt building and stick n ball field.
 
Honestly, if Nashville is refusing be accomodating for NASCAR, maybe NASCAR should look into moving Champions Weekend elsewhere.... Orlando sounds nice in December as does Miami..
 
Is NASCAR ditching an existing ISC cookie cutter multiple race facility such as Kansas or Michigan for a street race?

I really don't see them ditching races & shutting down Fontana, Homestead, as they have other means of income as well.

Also I might be onboard with a 2nd Atlanta race if it were at the expense of a Texas or Las Vegas race but both manage probably to get 45K-55K still though Texas is overbuilt.
 
AuzGrams said:
Is NASCAR ditching an existing ISC cookie cutter multiple race facility such as Kansas or Michigan for a street race?

I really don't see them ditching races & shutting down Fontana, Homestead, as they have other means of income as well.

Also I might be onboard with a 2nd Atlanta race if it were at the expense of a Texas or Las Vegas race but both manage probably to get 45K-55K still though Texas is overbuilt.
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I don't see SMI moving a Vegas race. When they negotiated to get the second date they got a seven-year sponsorship from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority that includes $1M per race weekend plus $500k per year for marketing. The LVCVA is really big on the economic impact of NASCAR and the track usually has good crowds.

What happens next month at Homestead is going to be crucial. If they can't break 30k (not unlikely, IMO) I'm not sure what the benefit is, despite it being a great track. Good place for track rentals but if it can't draw for NASCAR...I just don't know what other options there are realistically to cut on the NASCAR side for a stadium course. Michigan is important to the OEMs. Kansas has a good thing going on with the casino. Martinsville, Daytona, Richmond, Talladega, Watkins Glen, Phoenix, Darlington...all untouchable for one reason or another, I think. And the single dates at Fontana and Chicagoland are better off than Homestead from an attendance perspective.
 
Of those mentioned, I could most see Kansas then Michigan losing one date. There are different incentives in play now than when ISC was an independent public company, and some of these track specific developments could be eclipsed by NASCAR's overall vision.

It depends on how serious they are. They do a lot pointless hinting if they're not.
 
I would be absolutely shocked if they left Homestead off the Cup schedule in 21. I had an idea earlier of rotating the championship race between Homestead, Vegas, Atlanta, Charlotte, and Fontana each year. I think that scenario would be the only way some of these places survive, I just can’t imagine Homestead getting the chopping block
 
Snappy D said:
I would be absolutely shocked if they left Homestead off the Cup schedule in 21. I had an idea earlier of rotating the championship race between Homestead, Vegas, Atlanta, Charlotte, and Fontana each year. I think that scenario would be the only way some of these places survive, I just can’t imagine Homestead getting the chopping block
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I suppose if Homestead goes it will probably be to make room for a Miami street circuit
 
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a huge sorry once again to everyone that views this thread about the Harvick photos, I got overzealous that it was 4 Days until the Daytona 500.
 
Young Marcus Smith getting involved.
The part I don't understand is that the voters approved the speedway, it is in the Cities charter. They are trying to add the soccer stadium, but it seems the other way around in the press.

“One historical use is auto racing, which is mandated by our Metro Charter,” Cooper wrote. “I’m working to find a path for racing’s success, and in these negotiations, I’ve secured additional space to allow for necessary speedway improvements. Higher-level auto racing will attract more visitors and ensure the long-term sustainability of the fairgrounds.”

SMI pushes back on Nashville Fair commissioner’s comments


https://nascar.nbcsports.com/2020/02/11/marcus-smith-nashville-speedway-motorsports-nascar/
 
So do tracks just keep right-sizing? Because a number of venues are in trouble if this becomes policy. Phelps has already said before attendance will be a significant factor in determining the makeup of the schedule. I imagine there will be some sort of minimum capacity though.

 
gnomesayin said:
Is that the point? Is it optics based? Or are they approaching it as if certain track marketing and sales departments need some fire lit under them? I don't get this, and how it would work with NASCAR owning the majority of venues on the schedule.
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Because of the attendance watcher fans, whonare complaining about it even when they themselves are not there.
 
FLRacingFan said:
So do tracks just keep right-sizing? Because a number of venues are in trouble if this becomes policy. Phelps has already said before attendance will be a significant factor in determining the makeup of the schedule. I imagine there will be some sort of minimum capacity though.

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Excellent. This could lead to some good Social Media Finger-Pointing in the NASCAR Kingdom -- NASCAR vs Tracks vs Race Owners vs those in "the show", etc.

Probably eye poke runaway sponsors, runaway fans, and the manufacturers to complete this unproductive Stooge-fest.
 
gnomesayin said:
Is that the point? Is it optics based? Or are they approaching it as if certain track marketing and sales departments need some fire lit under them? I don't get this, and how it would work with NASCAR owning the majority of venues on the schedule.
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I don't fully understand either. Going off of strictly capacity would suggest that it's for optics; obviously, not all tracks are built alike and some tracks' 60% could be more than some other tracks' 90%. I'm not sure it's really conducive to anything; it does seem like some kind of bizarre ploy to get tracks' internal sales groups to do whatever they can to sell as much of their inventory as they can. Odd tactic if it comes to fruition.
 
FLRacingFan said:
So do tracks just keep right-sizing? Because a number of venues are in trouble if this becomes policy. Phelps has already said before attendance will be a significant factor in determining the makeup of the schedule. I imagine there will be some sort of minimum capacity though.

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Lets not get ahead of the curve, its purely speculation at this moment.

Yet, it makes no sense. So, this idea is to see what markets are desirable or not. It makes no sense, why try to ruin something that is working for now. I think NASCAR has done well with testing ideas such as the Roval and Super Pocono dates. Things have been received positively, but this is truly counter-intuitive and a great way to lose momentum going forward.

Don't try to recreate the wheel, but does anyone know what ISC and SMI tracks can do get to attract more people?

I feel as if this move, if put into motion would be a bad idea. Eddie Gossage is probably shaking right now if these changes came into play.
 
FLRacingFan said:
So do tracks just keep right-sizing? Because a number of venues are in trouble if this becomes policy. Phelps has already said before attendance will be a significant factor in determining the makeup of the schedule. I imagine there will be some sort of minimum capacity though.

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Reminds me of a boss I once had that insisted on a 7 AM meeting once a month. Normally about half of us would show up. So one day he asked our input about what could be done to improve the meeting and attendance, but insisted that we could not suggest a time change. Sometimes the big brass just know what is right and it is hard for us to see. <sarcasm>
 
FLRacingFan said:
I don't fully understand either. Going off of strictly capacity would suggest that it's for optics; obviously, not all tracks are built alike and some tracks' 60% could be more than some other tracks' 90%. I'm not sure it's really conducive to anything; it does seem like some kind of bizarre ploy to get tracks' internal sales groups to do whatever they can to sell as much of their inventory as they can. Odd tactic if it comes to fruition.
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Rightly or wrongly, the historical precedent is that track operators "own" their dates and "own" the associated TV revenue. I'm sure Nascar would like to break that mold and give themselves flexibility to implement changes without fear of lawsuits. I'm thinking of Dover, for example, which is fat and happy on the TV gravy train twice each year but not even close to viable without the TV dollars. Also thinking of SMI, which may need to lose the second dates at certain places... without filing lawsuits.

Frankly, I'm very surprised that Dover still exists as an independent company. They have sold off just about everything else, but still cling to those TV-subsidized Nascar dates.
 
StandOnIt said:
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Good news.

The Speedway is not going away, so that is good. Seems like the mayor is going to send NASCAR the blessings for the racing to brought back to Nashville. I'm not a fan of sticking the stadium there, but it could work in favor of both MLS and NASCAR. Hopefully, it works because this would be a great addition for the series. Another short track in a market that wants it.

Not to mention, hopefully some of that money spills over to the speedway... Fingers crossed, for sure.
 
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