Change Coming to Bristol Again?

Matthew2470 said:
Football - doing great Not all teams are doing great. Also, the stadiums are in cities where the vast majority of fans live which saves them money on hotels, gas, camping etc. They also have a larger, wealthier fan base.
Baseball - doing great Not all teams are doing great. Also, the stadiums are in cities where the vast majority of fans live. Bad comparison.
NBA - steady Not all teams are doing great. Also, the 15-20k seat arenas are in cities where the vast majority of fans live. Bad comparison.
NHL - improving Not all teams are improvingt. Also, the 15-20k seats arenas are in cities where the vast majority of fans live. Bad comparison.
Golf - doing worse Tiger's resurgence along with the presence of Rory McElroy will help this.
NASCAR - doing worse But still drawing very large crowds. 100k people driving to the mountains of Tennessee on a day that began with rain is fairly impressive.
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Talk about missing the point. You have to look at how things have changed for each league since the economic downturn started.
 
Matthew2470 said:
The hotel is one of our favorite things about traveling to races. We always stay at an Embassy Suites. Great complementary breakfast, nice 2 room suites and a pool. Also I'll have enough bonus points for a free weekend stay for Chicagoland in the fall. :)
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We stay at the Embassy Suites a lot and I love staying there. I used to stay there so much that I used to say my address was the Embassy Suites. lol
 
Greg said:
Maybe NASCAR has just found the limits.

There is a solution

1-Spring night race
2 -Trophy queens and heels.
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BAM you hit it there.

For me, and just for me, I work in the baking hot sun all week to make my money. Once I have made that money, I do not want to sit in the hot sun.

The Saturday night race is the race for the working man. No working man wants to have to nurse a hangover working in the hot hot sun, after a day of racing and drinking in the hot hot sun. Make's no sense.

For the cubical dwellers Im sure that the SUNDAY heat is just some fun part of the challenge. For me, my plasma TV with DVR is great, my fridge and toilet are 30 feet away, and I can still get into the race. Oh but Im at 70 degrees, with all the ball room I want. But with the recent BMS ticket sales, ball room is something that is there for no extra charge!
 
Nitro Dude said:
We stay at the Embassy Suites a lot and I love staying there. I used to stay there so much that I used to say my address was the Embassy Suites. lol
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Part of my decision to go to RIR was based on it's proximity to Embassy Suites. That killer breakfast is such a great convenience in that it saves the hassle of having to find a place nearby. My kid loves it there. He didn't really even mind when we got rained out at Chicagoland because he had so much fun at the hotel.
 
Matthew2470 said:
I think I totally nailed it.
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I would tend to agree!

But has been mentioned earlier, stick-and-ball franchises have a built-in home crowd, where the NA$$CAR Circus travels to a new destination every week. It is a difficult comparison to make.

For example: People make a big deal out of the fact that the Angels and Dodgers attract 3 Million-plus fans per year. That's quite impressive! But one has to consider that a large percentage of the crowd is there to root for their hometown team. Sometimes I feel like the last California Native in the State! lol
 
I went to two Races last year.

Spring Dega : sucked. Two car tango. Finish was good tho
Kentucky : another mile 1/2 same ol same ol.

Thinking about going to the fall race at Dega with the girlfriend, she's just been to one dirt track race with me. So thinking about going in.the fall and may camp out.
 
1961-36 there was 8 Cautions
1961-50 there was 3 Cautions
1962-17 there was 4 Cautions
1962-36 there was 4 Cautions
1963-13 there was 1 Cautions
1963-37 there was 7 Cautions
1964-10 there was 4 Cautions
1964-42 there was 1 Cautions
1965-14 there was 7 Cautions
1965-34 there was 8 Cautions
1966-07 there was 7 Cautions
1966-34 there was 2 Cautions
1967-07 there was 6 Cautions
1967-33 there was 6 Cautions
1968-05 there was 11 Cautions
1968-30 there was 13 Cautions
1969-09 there was 4 Cautions
1969-33 there was 8 Cautions
1970-09 there was 6 Cautions
1970-28 there was 8 Cautions
1971-09 there was 5 Cautions
1971-28 there was 0 Cautions
1972-07 there was 2 Cautions
1972-18 there was 5 Cautions
1973-05 there was 7 Cautions
1973-18 there was 5 Cautions
1974-05 there was 3 Cautions
1974-17 there was 9 Cautions
1975-05 there was 2 Cautions
1975-28 there was 5 Cautions
1976-05 there was 6 Cautions
1976-21 there was 2 Cautions
1977-08 there was 2 Cautions
1977-21 there was 6 Cautions
1978-06 there was 4 Cautions
1978-21 there was 10 Cautions
1979-07 there was 6 Cautions
1979-22 there was 6 Cautions
1980-06 there was 3 Cautions
1980-22 there was 10 Cautions
1981-06 there was 8 Cautions
1981-22 there was 7 Cautions
1982-03 there was 3 Cautions
1982-21 there was 3 Cautions
1983-11 there was 4 Cautions
1983-21 there was 5 Cautions
1984-05 there was 4 Cautions
1984-21 there was 12 Cautions
1985-05 there was 14 Cautions
1985-19 there was 11 Cautions
1986-05 there was 7 Cautions
1986-20 there was 6 Cautions
1987-07 there was 13 Cautions
1987-20 there was 8 Cautions
1988-06 there was 12 Cautions
1988-20 there was 14 Cautions
1989-06 there was 20 Cautions
1989-20 there was 11 Cautions
1990-06 there was 13 Cautions
1990-20 there was 10 Cautions
1991-06 there was 19 Cautions
1991-20 there was 11 Cautions
1992-06 there was 10 Cautions
1992-20 there was 10 Cautions
1993-06 there was 17 Cautions
1993-21 there was 11 Cautions
1994-06 there was 10 Cautions
1994-22 there was 12 Cautions
1995-06 there was 7 Cautions
1995-22 there was 15 Cautions
1996-06 there was 5 Cautions
1996-22 there was 8 Cautions
1997-07 there was 20 Cautions
1997-22 there was 12 Cautions
1998-06 there was 14 Cautions
1998-22 there was 13 Cautions
1999-07 there was 7 Cautions
1999-23 there was 10 Cautions
2000-06 there was 11 Cautions
2000-23 there was 13 Cautions
2001-06 there was 13 Cautions
2001-24 there was 16 Cautions
2002-06 there was 14 Cautions
2002-24 there was 15 Cautions
2003-06 there was 17 Cautions
2003-24 there was 20 Cautions
2004-06 there was 11 Cautions
2004-24 there was 9 Cautions
2005-05 there was 14 Cautions
2005-24 there was 16 Cautions
2006-05 there was 18 Cautions
2006-24 there was 10 Cautions
2007-05 there was 15 Cautions
2007-24 there was 9 Cautions
2008-05 there was 10 Cautions
2008-24 there was 8 Cautions
2009-05 there was 9 Cautions
2009-24 there was 11 Cautions
2010-05 there was 10 Cautions
2010-24 there was 7 Cautions
2011-04 there was 10 Cautions
2011-24 there was 6 Cautions
2012-04 there was 5 Cautions


Maybe insane or to much time on my hands, but if any body is interested in cautions and reconfiguaration..... well here is a crap load of data.


What does it prove? I duno, you tell me. All the talk about Bristol just made me want to do some research, that's all.
 
We've all been watching the attendance go down at venues across NASCAR's venues. I think the biggest factor is economics. NASCAR can't be compared to other sports when it comes to attending, period. It's an investment to attend a NASCAR race. We just got back last night from our week in Bristol. Yes, a week. We picked up and moved to Bristol for almost an entire week. That is not done for the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, etc...... but it is typical for a camping NASCAR fan.

This past weeks family of four NASCAR trip breakdown. While there are four of us only two attend the Sunday race.

2 Tickets - $270 Cup - $180 Nationwide
Camping - $198
Generator fuel - $56
Diesel - $399
Food/Beverages - $300 - includes prepared food as well as dining out.
Merch- $100

Total - $1503

I don't even like looking at that number at all. Don't bother telling me how I can cut back. I've been doing this for a long, long time. Cutting back is already part of the above equation. About the only thing from the above to cut back on is food/merch. We typically go out to a restaurant one or two nights during the week that we attend a NASCAR race. The rest of the food we prepare @ our campsite. As far as merchandise goes, $100 doesn't take you to far. It purchased one item for my wife, son & daughter. I've got enough hats, shirts and the like throughout my years of going to these things. Heck, I'm still wearing my Earnhardt shirt.

We arrived in Bristol Wednesday morning. The trip to our campground takes us on Rt. 11 past the speedway and many surrounding campgrounds. For years now at Bristol, we've seen less and less rv's as we've arrived 4 days before the event. In the past the place is typically @ 50% capacity on the day that we arrive. Not even close anymore. The campground that I stay at opens at 9am the Wednesday before the spring event. Normally it fills up well before Friday. Again, not anymore. It never filled up. I had four adjacent spots directly across from mine that never were used. I'd guesstimate that our campground was @ about 75% capacity by race day. Very unusual given that we are in one of the lowest priced campgrounds on Bristol Motor Speedway's property.

In talking to our campground friends and neighbors the conversation almost always turned to the cost of attending. Stories of how John or Jane couldn't attend this year because of the cost were the norm. People can blame it on the tracks configuration, and while I'm sure that affects some peoples decision on attending, I think it absolutely has more to do with the cost of attending these events.

Side note..... To put it in a little perspective. Just purchased 4 tickets to the Pitsburgh Pirates - Mother's Day game. Projected cost for attending.....

4 Tickets - $60
Camping - $198
Generator fuel - $56
Diesel - $399
Gas - $10
Food/Beverages - $60 - includes prepared food as well as dining out.
Merch- $100
Parking $10

Total - $140
 
robbybee said:
I would tend to agree!

But has been mentioned earlier, stick-and-ball franchises have a built-in home crowd, where the NA$$CAR Circus travels to a new destination every week. It is a difficult comparison to make.

For example: People make a big deal out of the fact that the Angels and Dodgers attract 3 Million-plus fans per year. That's quite impressive! But one has to consider that a large percentage of the crowd is there to root for their hometown team. Sometimes I feel like the last California Native in the State! lol
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I live close enough to Angel Stadium that I can hear the fireworks when the Angels win and I can hear the Supercross bikes when they race, but I have never been inside the Stadium. I have been wanting to go to a Supercross race but I seem to always have something else going on when they come to town.
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
We've all been watching the attendance go down at venues across NASCAR's venues. I think the biggest factor is economics. NASCAR can't be compared to other sports when it comes to attending, period. It's an investment to attend a NASCAR race. We just got back last night from our week in Bristol. Yes, a week. We picked up and moved to Bristol for almost an entire week. That is not done for the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, etc...... but it is typical for a camping NASCAR fan.

This past weeks family of four NASCAR trip breakdown. While there are four of us only two attend the Sunday race.

2 Tickets - $270 Cup - $180 Nationwide
Camping - $198
Generator fuel - $56
Diesel - $399
Food/Beverages - $300 - includes prepared food as well as dining out.
Merch- $100

Total - $1503

I don't even like looking at that number at all. Don't bother telling me how I can cut back. I've been doing this for a long, long time. Cutting back is already part of the above equation. About the only thing from the above to cut back on is food/merch. We typically go out to a restaurant one or two nights during the week that we attend a NASCAR race. The rest of the food we prepare @ our campsite. As far as merchandise goes, $100 doesn't take you to far. It purchased one item for my wife, son & daughter. I've got enough hats, shirts and the like throughout my years of going to these things. Heck, I'm still wearing my Earnhardt shirt.

We arrived in Bristol Wednesday morning. The trip to our campground takes us on Rt. 11 past the speedway and many surrounding campgrounds. For years now at Bristol, we've seen less and less rv's as we've arrived 4 days before the event. In the past the place is typically @ 50% capacity on the day that we arrive. Not even close anymore. The campground that I stay at opens at 9am the Wednesday before the spring event. Normally it fills up well before Friday. Again, not anymore. It never filled up. I had four adjacent spots directly across from mine that never were used. I'd guesstimate that our campground was @ about 75% capacity by race day. Very unusual given that we are in one of the lowest priced campgrounds on Bristol Motor Speedway's property.

In talking to our campground friends and neighbors the conversation almost always turned to the cost of attending. Stories of how John or Jane couldn't attend this year because of the cost were the norm. People can blame it on the tracks configuration, and while I'm sure that affects some peoples decision on attending, I think it absolutely has more to do with the cost of attending these events.

Side note..... To put it in a little perspective. Just purchased 4 tickets to the Pitsburgh Pirates - Mother's Day game. Projected cost for attending.....

4 Tickets - $60
Camping - $198
Generator fuel - $56
Diesel - $399
Gas - $10
Food/Beverages - $60 - includes prepared food as well as dining out.
Merch- $100
Parking $10

Total - $140
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This is the type of info that SMI and NASCAR need to hear about when it comes to costs. They simply need to find a way to cut prices. The most exciting non-stop action packed racing possible won't make people suddenly able to afford the cost of attendance.
 
I wonder what percentage of people that site the reconfiguration as their reason for not attending would have attended had the changes nor been made.
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
We've all been watching the attendance go down at venues across NASCAR's venues. I think the biggest factor is economics. NASCAR can't be compared to other sports when it comes to attending, period. It's an investment to attend a NASCAR race. We just got back last night from our week in Bristol. Yes, a week. We picked up and moved to Bristol for almost an entire week. That is not done for the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, etc...... but it is typical for a camping NASCAR fan.

This past weeks family of four NASCAR trip breakdown. While there are four of us only two attend the Sunday race.

2 Tickets - $270 Cup - $180 Nationwide
Camping - $198
Generator fuel - $56
Diesel - $399
Food/Beverages - $300 - includes prepared food as well as dining out.
Merch- $100

Total - $1503
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That pretty much says it all. Some people keep saying that the economy is getting better, and it is. But this last recession was epic, and it put a major hurting on a lot of people. It's going to take some time for people to have extra cash for this kind of thing.
 
Dp, don't forget to add in the cost of keeping your RV on the road even if you use it for other trips.

Look at the cost of a hotel/motel room today in Daytona, then compare it to the Speedweeks rate.:eek: That's the killer for most.
Used to be able to park the RV in a shopping plaza and spend the night,,no more.
 
SST55 said:
Dp, don't forget to add in the cost of keeping your RV on the road even if you use it for other trips.

Look at the cost of a hotel/motel room today in Daytona, then compare it to the Speedweeks rate.:eek: That's the killer for most.
Used to be able to park the RV in a shopping plaza and spend the night,,no more.
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Yup. We are getting priced out of market.
 
SST55 said:
Dp, don't forget to add in the cost of keeping your RV on the road even if you use it for other trips.

Look at the cost of a hotel/motel room today in Daytona, then compare it to the Speedweeks rate.:eek: That's the killer for most.
Used to be able to park the RV in a shopping plaza and spend the night,,no more.
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Yes, I hear ya. We use the RV almost every weekend from here on out during the summer. We put it away right after the fall Martinsville race.

There are many that still camp in the Wal-Mart parking lots. I don't think I'd feel real comfortable doing that.
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
There are many that still camp in the Wal-Mart parking lots. I don't think I'd feel real comfortable doing that.
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Police bounced us out 2 years in a row. Then Rusty and his wife moved to Stewart, but the home owners didn't like the RV parked on the street.
Ernies sis-in-law was a writer for a travel magazine so she got us time share places during Speedweeks. Right on the beach, $90-$110 a week. Sweeeet. $300 and up a night is nutz.
 
kkfan91 said:
They have the computer data from the old layout? Its like they knew it wouldn't work and saved it.
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Bruton said in 2007 that if this didn't work, he'd put the track back to the way it was. So they made sure to get the exact measurements of the track just in case.

I've talked to a few people that work at Bristol. Each one of them told me they have tried to work with the area hotels and motels about their prices. They got some indications prices wouldn't be as high, but they never stuck to it.

I also agree on the ticket prices - too high.
 
MRM said:
Bruton said in 2007 that if this didn't work, he'd put the track back to the way it was. So they made sure to get the exact measurements of the track just in case.

I've talked to a few people that work at Bristol. Each one of them told me they have tried to work with the area hotels and motels about their prices. They got some indications prices wouldn't be as high, but they never stuck to it.

I also agree on the ticket prices - too high.
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The track itself, along with nascar, could provide lodging in the form of towable campers and expanded campsite accommodations. I hear that the government has about 10,000 left over from Katrina. Then they could rent them for other events in the area and put the hurt on the hotels.
 
FenderBumper said:
The track itself, along with nascar, could provide lodging in the form of towable campers and expanded campsite accommodations. I hear that the government has about 10,000 left over from Katrina. Then they could rent them for other events in the area and put the hurt on the hotels.
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There are no other events in Bristol. That's why there's a lack of hotels for the race to begin with.

I'd also be willing to guess that the locals wouldn't take to kindly of the 10,000 abandoned rv's during the off months. Just a guess.
 
FenderBumper said:
He's in a tough spot for sure.
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True enough. I don't really care what he does to the track. It's Bristol Baby! I'm there regardless.

Bruton did exactly what he wanted to do when he changed that track. He made the racing better. To argue that would be foolish. The racing is better, by far. Problem is many seem to prefer the bumping & banging and caution fest that it produced. If that's the case, he'll change it back. It will cost him too much not to.
 
SST55 said:
IMHO the racing is better, the wrecking isn't. Unfortunately there are many "fans" who go only for the wrecks. Sad but true.
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I am outnumbered in my own family on this issue. While they won't come out and admit it, my wife and son both prefer the old over the new track configuration.
 
I have a feeling that this will end the same way the tandem racing did. I'm going to have to start enjoying wrecks again.

Lets change the track back and move Bristol's summer race into the chase, then the championship can be a total cluster fluck.
 
Matthew2470 said:
Why do you think so many drivers are now afraid to bump and run on the new configuration? Fear of retaliation?
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Tony wasn't. They showed him just plowing everyone out of the way, but we all know what his reaction is to someone doing the same to him.
 
Matthew2470 said:
Michigan slashed ticket prices and the crowds there are usually pretty good. They allow kids for free for Truck and NW races and half off for the Cup race. The family section is $30 for an adult and kids are free. You'll notice that there are sections in turns 3 and 4 that are always completely sold out because of this.
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This is a good illustration for what I was trying to say, family secion at Michigan is $30...family section at Bristol is $109...
 
Bristol is the reason I cringe when I hear the words "progressive banking". One good race at a track does not mean the new configuration's made the racing better. Every race at Bristol going back to the 2007 Night Race has been a horrible bore, with the exception of Sunday's race.
 
AndyMarquisLive said:
My tickets for Richmond were $145 for both races, best seats in the stadium.
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I used to have tickets for the Commonwealth Tower too. The price that you are quoting is a single seat for both the Cup and Nationwide. Take three other family members and go camping, stay in a hotel, whatever and you are now talking some real money. There aren't too many people out there that are going alone and driving in on the day of a race.
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
I used to have tickets for the Commonwealth Tower too. The price that you are quoting is a single seat for both the Cup and Nationwide. Take three other family members and go camping, stay in a hotel, whatever and you are now talking some real money. There aren't too many people out there that are going alone and driving in on the day of a race.
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The hotels aren't too pricey around RIR, but it's probably cheaper for me to drive home each night living in Maryland and all.
 
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