Indy stands.....damn

SeventyGTX said:
I gotta agree and mute the TV. Where did they get that buffoon? He used to be just the occasional guy with stupid clown antics, now he is on all the time. More dumbing down of the viewing audience.
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I was hoping he'd fall off that spotter roof yesterday, one wrong step and no more bearded hipster
 
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I can't criticize Wood as I have never heard him speak on a Nascar broadcast. I did see him yesterday a couple of times on a golf course which I assume was the infield links and in a couple of other places too. IDK if he knows anything about Nascar or what he adds to the broadcast but from looks alone he seems like some dude that wanders around bothering people.
 
Perhaps I have been to harsh about yesterdays crowd size.
I remember back in the day attending a Boots Randolph festival, when his Yakety Sax was the national fever. And I have to say that I believe the massive crowd at Indianapolis was even bigger than the crowd that Boots was able to draw, even when everybody had the fever and it was the rage.
 
Greg said:
Perhaps I have been to harsh about yesterdays crowd size.
I remember back in the day attending a Boots Randolph festival, when his Yakety Sax was the national fever. And I have to say that I believe the massive crowd at Indianapolis was even bigger than the crowd that Boots was able to draw, even when everybody had the fever and it was the rage.
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Greg said:
Perhaps I have been to harsh about yesterdays crowd size.
I remember back in the day attending a Boots Randolph festival, when his Yakety Sax was the national fever. And I have to say that I believe the massive crowd at Indianapolis was even bigger than the crowd that Boots was able to draw, even when everybody had the fever and it was the rage.
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My favorite post today
 
Skoalbandit33 said:
I can't criticize Wood as I have never heard him speak on a Nascar broadcast. I did see him yesterday a couple of times on a golf course which I assume was the infield links and in a couple of other places too. IDK if he knows anything about Nascar or what he adds to the broadcast but from looks alone he seems like some dude that wanders around bothering people.
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No....... that's Mikey Waltrip that walks around bothering people.....
 
Larsonfan1995 said:
You didn't miss a thing
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Yeah, my only regret was that we had out-of-town guests here to see their first Cup race. At least we made the X race the day before.

Snappy D said:
I was hoping he'd fall off that spotter roof yesterday, one wrong step and no more bearded hipster
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He could lose his hard card for that. :D

kymartin6 said:
No....... that's Mikey Waltrip that walks around bothering people.....
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He doesn't have exclusive rights to it.
 
Skoalbandit33 said:
I can't criticize Wood as I have never heard him speak on a Nascar broadcast. I did see him yesterday a couple of times on a golf course which I assume was the infield links and in a couple of other places too. IDK if he knows anything about Nascar or what he adds to the broadcast but from looks alone he seems like some dude that wanders around bothering people.
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Ive met him here at PIR the last race I went too, one the nicest and sincere human beings I have ever had the pleasure of meeting, I dont get the hate for him, I really dont, but its sad the way he is ripped apart on this forum.
 
jws926 said:
Ive met him here at PIR the last race I went too, one the nicest and sincere human beings I have ever had the pleasure of meeting, I dont get the hate for him, I really dont, but its sad the way he is ripped apart on this forum.
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There are cool people everywhere. They don't all interrupt race broadcasts with mundane tidbits.
 
DUN24 said:
There are cool people everywhere. They don't all interrupt race broadcasts with mundane tidbits.
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Yeah, I get that, and those are not needed, and its annoying , most of the stuff he covers I doubt anyone gives a rat's a** about, but that is on NBC, not him, he is just doing what he is being paid for, that is just my 1cents.
 
jws926 said:
Yeah, I get that, and those are not needed, and its annoying , most of the stuff he covers I doubt anyone gives a rat's a** about, but that is on NBC, not him, he is just doing what he is being paid for, that is just my 1cents.
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He is definitely playing a role. A super lame one but a role none-the-less
 
downnice said:
I remember the excuse Nascar made about leaving Rockingham was about attendance even though the races looked like this, yet they still go to Indy every year............... and they can barely get 50k people there..........
nascar-cup-rockingham-2003-the-start-dave-blaney-leads-mark-martin-johnny-benson-and-the-r.jpg
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Pass that race track everyday....

Not to beat the dead horse but there were more people at the truck races at the Rock than there were at Indy...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
ToyYoda said:
The Indy Star says the estimated crowd for Sunday's race was 35,000. In 2007, the race had an estimated 270,000 in attendance. That's an 87% decline in attendance in just 10 years.
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I was scared the decline was a high % like that... but I just don't understand that much of a drop off. That is truly insane for NASCAR.
 
JohnHill said:
I was scared the decline was a high % like that... but I just don't understand that much of a drop off. That is truly insane for NASCAR.
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Back when the Brickyard was announced they held a lottery for season ticket holders for the Indy 500 in order to purchase Brickyard tix demand was so high. IDK why there are people advocating for this race to be retained on the schedule as the reasons don't make sense to me.
 
Skoalbandit33 said:
Back when the Brickyard was announced they held a lottery for season ticket holders for the Indy 500 in order to purchase Brickyard tix demand was so high. IDK why there are people advocating for this race to be retained on the schedule as the reasons don't make sense to me.
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NASCAR needs to get out of there anyway... we all know the decline is real but Indy takes it up notch when only 12 %of the seats are filled. Don't know if they can do much now
 
Our friends that live outside Indianapolis attend the Indy 500 every year.The NASCAR race they went twice,follow the leader with the only passing was on the restarts.The Indy 500 is a total different experience for fans.I don't blame the fans for not attending,those are some boring races,except for the recent wreck fest.
 
JohnHill said:
NASCAR needs to get out of there anyway... we all know the decline is real but Indy takes it up notch when only 12 %of the seats are filled. Don't know if they can do much now
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I agree and seeing as there are so many better choices for tracks to race on it seems silly to try and make racing at IMS something it can't be and clearly something that is not well supported.
 
Skoalbandit33 said:
Back when the Brickyard was announced they held a lottery for season ticket holders for the Indy 500 in order to purchase Brickyard tix demand was so high. IDK why there are people advocating for this race to be retained on the schedule as the reasons don't make sense to me.
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I passed on free tickets to the inaugural Cup race @ IMS. My wife and I opted to go camping that weekend instead. I never felt NASCAR's need in running on that track. The powers that be @ NASCAR tout that race as one of NASCAR's premier events. The prestige that they feel never rubbed off on this fan. All that being said, it sure put on a show this past weekend.

There are tracks that NASCAR goes to that I'm not a fan of. This is just one in a handful of them. Until they let me create the Cup schedule, I'm stuck with it..... I think.
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
I passed on free tickets to the inaugural Cup race @ IMS. My wife and I opted to go camping that weekend instead. I never felt NASCAR's need in running on that track. The powers that be @ NASCAR tout that race as one of NASCAR's premier events. The prestige that they feel never rubbed off on this fan. All that being said, it sure put on a show this past weekend.

There are tracks that NASCAR goes to that I'm not a fan of. This is just one in a handful of them. Until they let me create the Cup schedule, I'm stuck with it..... I think.
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I hear you and it would be nice for me to see IMS replaced with a third Martinsville date or second Sonoma race but no one from Nascar asks me either!.
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
I'm sorry but I saw that you made a mistake there so I couldn't help but correct that for you.
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Oh yeah. I am a Sonoma buff and but you like the Glen better. Maybe there can be a compromise and each RC gets a second date.
 
ToyYoda said:
The Indy Star says the estimated crowd for Sunday's race was 35,000. In 2007, the race had an estimated 270,000 in attendance. That's an 87% decline in attendance in just 10 years.
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Let's not get all concerned about the attendance this year. They were holding the state finals for ballroom dancing in Anderson, IN last weekend. I have heard from a good source that NASCAR has spoken to the IBDA and they agreed to not schedule the finals next year in conflict with the race. The IBDA chair even publicly apologized for the scheduling conflict this year.
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
I passed on free tickets to the inaugural Cup race @ IMS. My wife and I opted to go camping that weekend instead. I never felt NASCAR's need in running on that track. The powers that be @ NASCAR tout that race as one of NASCAR's premier events. The prestige that they feel never rubbed off on this fan. All that being said, it sure put on a show this past weekend.

There are tracks that NASCAR goes to that I'm not a fan of. This is just one in a handful of them. Until they let me create the Cup schedule, I'm stuck with it..... I think.
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We went to the brickyard race in 2012 just to see what the hoopla was all about. It was still really crowded then and the race was okay but they need to do what ISC did with Daytona Rising. For us one trip was enough.
 
DIDIT said:
Let's not get all concerned about the attendance this year. They were holding the state finals for ballroom dancing in Anderson, IN last weekend. I have heard from a good source that NASCAR has spoken to the IBDA and they agreed to not schedule the finals next year in conflict with the race. The IBDA chair even publicly apologized for the scheduling conflict this year.
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Don't forget the Elkhart County fair in Goshen started and that is one of the biggest county fairs in the country. I think they are expecting about 300K through the turnstiles this year so between that, ballroom dancing and all the people at the sandbar on Lake Wawasee the Brickyard was bound to get killed.
 
I'll still take issue with the report that there were 35K at this race. From where I was sitting, I imagine only 10-15K. I was sitting in one of those sections like in the picture and there were maybe 75-100 people. My kids could run 10-12 rows up and not run into a soul..maybe more. But anyhow, that 87% decline with the number at 35K is just unbelievable to even see in print...unreal.

The easy explanation across the board (not just Indy) is that people just don't have the time to kill off a whole weekend at a track. Sure, when I retire I can, but i was squeezed yesterday in driving back to Dayton, OH and having to work at 6:30 am the next morning. I just don't have the time to take a weekend off for racing. The problem with my theory is that it doesn't explain why the tracks were so full 10-15 years ago. Admittedly, I didn't watch NASCAR back then but what has changed? Prices? The personalities, ect? I can't answer that. For me, the IMS race was terribly cheap to go to for my family so I can't imagine it being ticket prices.
 
jws926 said:
Ive met him here at PIR the last race I went too, one the nicest and sincere human beings I have ever had the pleasure of meeting, I dont get the hate for him, I really dont, but its sad the way he is ripped apart on this forum.
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I'll take your word he's a great guy. I do recall Wood being given one opportunity to do an in-depth, no-nonsense interview with a driver, and being favorably impressed.

I guess my problem isn't with Wood himself. My problem is with the content he's directed to present and the times during the broadcast he's directed to do so. When there are cars on the track making green flag laps, I don't care who's playing golf in the infield, or what the Jr. fans from East Bhumphuque are grilling, or what the view is like from the spotters' stand. I'm going ballistic every time that fluff is shown while there's racing taking place, regardless of who's doing it - Wood, Alan Bestwick, Bob Costas, or the ghost of Walter frickin' Cronkite.

I turn on a sport to watch the competition. I regard anything else as detrimental to the broadcast. Most of what Wood covers fails to meet my criteria. I'll try to do a better job of separating the message from the messenger.
 
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DIDIT said:
Let's not get all concerned about the attendance this year. They were holding the state finals for ballroom dancing in Anderson, IN last weekend. I have heard from a good source that NASCAR has spoken to the IBDA and they agreed to not schedule the finals next year in conflict with the race. The IBDA chair even publicly apologized for the scheduling conflict this year.
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Sounds like Castroneves might have had a hand in that scheduling. Or a foot. :D
 
Indianapolis Motor Speedway/Capacity

235,000 people


The largest sporting venue in the world, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, has a permanent seating capacity for more than 235,000 people and infield seating that raises capacity to an approximate400,000.

My estimate, 20 to 25k
 
rocket dawg said:
Indianapolis Motor Speedway/Capacity

235,000 people


The largest sporting venue in the world, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, has a permanent seating capacity for more than 235,000 people and infield seating that raises capacity to an approximate400,000.

My estimate, 20 to 25k
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The 500 has had crowds over 300k recently after dipping near the 200k mark 8-10 years ago. The 500 use to get close to 500k until the early 90's. When Foyt, Mears and Mario Andretti retired the crowds began to dip and then the split really hurt.

I get that you can't see much at IMS but attending a race there goes well beyond that. It's like going to a major music festival and not being able to make out the people on state because you're a 1/4 mile away. As I said earlier IMS needs to get be people back to the track to be a part of something. No one wants to be part of that depressing charade anymore. However, if you can get some energy back into being there (condensing the seating would be a great idea) then people will go regardless of what they can and can't see. The Kentucky Derby lasts 90 seconds and if you're in the infield you can maybe a jockey's head yet 150k people show up every year regardless of the weather. I went in 2010 and had a blast. 98% of the people there couldn't give a rat's ass about horse racing. They're attending because it's fun and it's historically significant. They just want to be a part of something. Appealing to that type of mindset is the only way to save the Brickyard. Get some of the people who've attended over the last 23 years back and market the hell out of the event with a lot of good will. Tarp the seats in turn 2 and 3 and the short chutes and try to pack the front straight and turns 1 and 4. If that's not possible because the best they can do is 50k then ax the race. I can use another open date.
 
It's been touched on many times in these topics but when dale jr steps out, I really think we will see a big difference again. It will be hard to see it at Indy since those stands may have been at most 13% occupied... I really don't know about that. They might be doing number fluffing with all that. It didn't look like that many were there...

But it seems other tracks during cup races have maybe 55-75% of their seats filled this year... I expect those numbers to drop. Sucks that fans give in just because of one guy on the race track... but I know it's what some insist to do.
 
JohnHill said:
It's been touched on many times in these topics but when dale jr steps out, I really think we will see a big difference again. It will be hard to see it at Indy since those stands may have been at most 13% occupied... I really don't know about that. They might be doing number fluffing with all that. It didn't look like that many were there...

But it seems other tracks during cup races have maybe 55-75% of their seats filled this year... I expect those numbers to drop. Sucks that fans give in just because of one guy on the race track... but I know it's what some insist to do.
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Jeff, Tony, and Dale Jr all retiring in a short period of time is a killer.
 
ToyYoda said:
Jeff, Tony, and Dale Jr all retiring in a short period of time is a killer.
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It's been declining anyway but take all those fans who cheered for Gordon and Stewart and now dont have "guy" to pull for and then add JR. NATION next season.
I figure next season I'll root for Chase Elliott and Ryan Blaney but it won't ever be the same. I'll always tune for the plate races, the southern 500, World 600, short tracks but I doubt I'll tune in to many races at say Chicagoland or Kentucky.
 
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