Is NASCAR Really Losing Fans ????

[Whizzer]

An article in this mornings Raleigh N&O mentions a decrease in fans of NASCAR.
If this is true it would be easy to understand. I wonder how many others noticed a drop in the number of NASCAR fans.

The article goes on to say the reason for a decrease in fans are recent changes in rules.
Most of recent rule changes favor fans looking for instant gratification, such as the "lucky dog". A large part of enjoying racing in prior years was a car one lap down, or more, trying to stay on the lead lap.

In the last twenty years, NASCAR has made many changes, some for the good and some only for fan, sponsor and broadcast interest.
In another thread de7xwcc pointed out his slowly diminishing interest in the sport and de7xwcc has been around a looooooooooong time.

Why ?? I find people who have been long time fans are finding NASCAR racing less enjoyable for many reasons. Possibly the shift of NASCAR to a greater national scale and recent speculation to go international all added into the mix along with changing and making new rules designed more for spectators instant gratification than for the ability of one driver to out drive or out smart another.

It used to be, Sunday was the day to watch NASCAR and little got between me and the television. With so many changes, that interest is slowly dying and a Sunday in front of the television is no longer a priority.

 

[Betsy]

I see a change too.

What I have seen is a change from the older...diehard.. fans like most of us here... and the newer only slightly interested fans.
The new fan seems to have many other interests and does not make a point of watching EVERY race. They might have a favorite car and driver, but don't know much about the other drivers. Sort of a fan if basketball or bungee jumping is not on another station.
The silly part is the new format was put in place to make these fans as loyal as we are...and it ain't working!
Betsy

 

[TexasRaceLady]

Although I haven't lost interest, I find it more difficult to follow the races because there is no flow to the broadcasts ---- just as I get interested --- time for a commercial !

 

[bumpzter]

I suppose I fall into the same category. For years I never missed a broadcast. No way. Then I missed some, but always taped them. Then I stopped watching the tapes. Then I stopped taping. I still watch when I'm home, but miss many races. As long as I find out who won, I'm OK. Then lately I kind of noticed that I didn't really care who won. What's happening to me?

For years I attended one or two Cup races a year. That got to be just too much trouble. Cut that down to just one. Eventually stopped that too. Then this year I went to my first truck race. I liked it. Racing from start to finish. No hassle getting to the track. Race didn't drag on for hours and hours. Half the cost. Going again on 2007. Just one race a year. For now, anyway.

 

[Eagle1]

This really did put a smile on my face. I like Matt's engineering background and Toyota will for sure give him what he needs to do his job. I'd like to think that DJ will qualify a little better then he has in the past.

I think you posted this reply in the wrong thread.

Well, I've been around for a Loooooooong time and I haven't lost the slightest bit of interest of the races.
Now the BS hollywood style entertainment tonight shows SPEED and Fox shove at us I make no effort to watch.

 

[MultiMatic]

What I have seen is a change from the older...diehard.. fans like most of us here... and the newer only slightly interested fans.
The new fan seems to have many other interests and does not make a point of watching EVERY race. They might have a favorite car and driver, but don't know much about the other drivers. Sort of a fan if basketball or bungee jumping is not on another station.
The silly part is the new format was put in place to make these fans as loyal as we are...and it ain't working!
Betsy

I would say you have hit the nail on the head . I have not been around the sport as long as a 99 year old broad like you but I have been around it my whole life and I do see a big difference in the fan of 20 years ago and the fan of today .

 

[buckaroo]

Seems that this subject just won't go away, and for good reason too. While I'm still an avid fan and won't miss a race on TV, I have nonetheless changed my priorities on the sport. My observations about the waning fan support goes back probably when NASCAR signed the TV deal. It was then that I saw more griping about the sport than ever before. It also didn't help that the sports biggest figure, Dale Earnhardt, died in the first race of the new TV package. I can't condone NASCAR for trying to make the sport bigger and better, but in the wake of all that, they are leaving many of the fans that got them to the dance in the first place.

But in reality, the beginning of the end comes from two different ends...technology and sponsorship. Along with technology comes high dollar costs for everything from the most complex parts of the car, to even a study of the decals that cover the car. NASCAR tries to contain the cost by making rules that prohibit exotic parts, but today's engineers aren't college grads for nothing. In fact, I'd bet money that they love a challenge and thus, more money is needed.

When I became a fan of racing, and I'm talking about serious about the sport, all those driving the cars were a part of the team. I mean they were mostly part owners of the cars and if not, at least they were mechanically inclined to be able to take an engine apart and put it back together again. They mostly started their own teams at the local tracks and made a name for themselves before they got a chance in a crap car in the top series to show what they could do. In a way, the maverick driver, the late Alan Kulwicki might have started it all.

Today, NASCAR is looking at the numbers and their goal is to get as many fans as they can, world wide. They cannot be stagnant in their charge. Full speed ahead and don't look back. In the short term, that isn't a bad strategy, but over the long haul, it could mean the final death nell to the sport as we know it.

I don't know what the answer is. I just believe that it's on that old slippery slope to nowhere, and there will come a time when it all begins to snowball, just as the American open wheeled series did. Like many, I used to attend at least two races each year, then it was one, and now we forego any Cup races in favor of our local Saturday night races. The action is better, and the cost is oh so much cheaper. Still we see some of the best races in the country.

 

[Lap3Forever]

I started to turn away after Dale Earnhardt Sr. died.

 

[kat2220]

I'll admit that I'm still addicted, but I sure miss "The good old days" when TNN carried some races.
There are many "Johnny Come Lateleys" who do nothing but complain, but I kinda think they are the new fan base..........SIGH
I live near AMS, but can't affod to attend, so it's cheaper to put up with the commercials even tho I bitch about them.

 

[MultiMatic]

I'll admit that I'm still addicted, but I sure miss "The good old days" when TNN carried some races.
There are many "Johnny Come Lateleys" who do nothing but complain, but I kinda think they are the new fan base..........SIGH
I live near AMS, but can't affod to attend, so it's cheaper to put up with the commercials even tho I bitch about them.

Kat you do relize that tickets for Cup qualifying and the CTS race at Atlanta start at $30.00 each . The Busch race on Saturday has tickets that start at $ 7.50 each and for both the CTS and Busch race you can take your children or grand children 12 and under free .

The Cup tickets start at $ 60.00 in the family grandstand which I can see could be tough for some people but I think I might be hinting to the family it would be nice if Santa would bring me a pair or Christmas.

Coolers have been down sized but are still big enough that you should be able to get enough sustenance in them that you can skip the over priced concession stand .

Heres a little trick that an aquatints uses with a 100% success rate . If you are willing to miss the first few laps of the race as he is you will find the scalpers in the parking lot discount their tickets as much as 50 to 75 % from face value once the green flag flies . Thats a pretty big discount for missing 10 minutes of a 4 or 5 hour race.

 

[kat2220]

Multi, thanks and I do know about those prices. Our biggest problem right now is huge medical bills and trying to live on Social Security. Hubby is an amputee and is trying to learn to walk again using his $20,000 prosthesis. I have a very bad back and I need eye surgery so I don't drive too far away from home.
I'm reasonably content watching Happy Hour, Qualifying and all the racing I can on the tube.
Thanks for thinking of us and the next time you attend a race at AMS, you can crash at our house....with easye access to RT I-75.

 

[MRM]

I have followed NASCAR since 1975 when I saw my first race as a kid. That was a thrill, been hooked ever since. So I've seen NASCAR grow from a primarily regional sport to a national sport.

I think the popularity is dropping for several reasons. I'm listing them in no particular order from what I read, hear, and have other fans tell me.

1. Over saturation - For most fans, investing 36 weeks (plus non-point races), is quite a bit, even if just watching them on TV. I know my wife gets tired of me having a race on all the time.

2. Cookie cutter tracks

3. Trying to "pimp up" the sport - Southern roots has been replaced by Kid Rock and Ashlee Simpson. Most fans were drawn to the sport because of its "down home" appeal. That is now gone with the influx of pop stars.

4. Most drivers are bland - Most of today's drivers lack personality. Even when a few that do are willing to speak their mind, people label them a jerk.

5. Perception that rules are not being enforced with all teams - I hear this more and more every year. While I've heard this from the time I started watching, the conspiracy people are more vocal today. Seeing someone like Jimmie Johnson blatantly break a rule before the Daytona 500, get what seems like a slap on the wrist, and go on to win the race.

I also think the Car of Tomorrow, Lucky Dog, and other oddities that have been added in recent years are taking away from the sport.

I agree with some of the other comments about not blaming Brian France to further develop the fan base. But at some point, France needs to realize he's alienating a big part of his fan base that got him to this point and isn't getting many new fans in return. My opinion is Brian France needs to be replaced before no one is watching.

 

[barelypure]

But in reality, the beginning of the end comes from two different ends...technology and sponsorship.

Also, let's not forget that overexposure has cost the sport a few fans. Now that the Truck, Busch and Cup races, qualifying, practices and all are televised the sport has been watered down to where if you miss a race it doesn't really matter. Before this windfall of coverage the fans would hang on every word they could find.
The prices going up has priced some fans out of the market. They can't get the seats they sat in for years as some newbie with a bigger wallet snaps up their seats.
Years ago, when the NFL games were just a couple of games on the weekend I'd watch all I could. But, now with Monday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday games I can't tell you the last time I watched an entire game. NASCAR seems to be going down a similar path.

 

[kam]

I've been watching for only two seasons now and I fell in love with it pretty quickly. Honestly, I would never have watched any races if it were not for the NHL going on strike and canceling the season. But in my two years of being a fan, I can tell you what is wrong with NASCAR. I’m sure most will disagree and that’s fine.

1. The Chase is stupid. I hate the Chase. I may be 2 years new to the sport but I feel this is the #1 reason that the long time fans are losing interest. Last season would have been more exciting in the end just for the fact that Stewart went on a tear. Does anyone know how the season would have turned out without the Chase? I would love to see the outcome.

2. As posted earlier, The Car of Tomorrow. That thing is the exact opposite of what the sport is founded on. Now all the cars will be the same but with different logos. You take just a little of the Ford v Chevy rival, no matter how small, and you lose quite a bit of fans. To me they have no personality.

3. Freezing the field instead of racing to the start/finish during a yellow. Let the drivers battle it out. I have watched older races and to me that is exciting.

4. The "pimp up" as mentioned by MRM. He hit the nail on the head. Another reason I fell for NASCAR was because it was one of the last sports to not go along with that hip hop **** that is, for whatever damn reason, so popular. I'm starting to worry about seeing gold spinners on cars in the next few years.

 

[barelypure]

Forget the spinners, what I want to see are the scythes like the ancient chariots had on their wheels to cut an opponent's wheel. Now that would add some excitement...

 

[Betsy]

As a matter of fact the gold spinners are slated for the 2008 season. They will have GOODYEAR logos.. And for 2009 underbody lights are scheduled. The colors will be by lottery for each night race.
KAM the only way I could agree with you more would be if you said it was some kind of religious observence that mandated the changes..
Betsy

 

[MRM]

I forgot to mention The Chase. The two ideas behind it was to provide some excitement to the championship (see 2003 season) and to compete with the NFL in ratings. The ratings were down this year and NASCAR ratings will never match or better the NFL ratings. Since one of the two is failing, they should scrap it. But they won't because of that word "pride".

 

[This Buds For Me]

Also, let's not forget that overexposure has cost the sport a few fans. Now that the Truck, Busch and Cup races, qualifying, practices and all are televised the sport has been watered down to where if you miss a race it doesn't really matter. Before this windfall of coverage the fans would hang on every word they could find.
The prices going up has priced some fans out of the market. They can't get the seats they sat in for years as some newbie with a bigger wallet snaps up their seats.
Years ago, when the NFL games were just a couple of games on the weekend I'd watch all I could. But, now with Monday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday games I can't tell you the last time I watched an entire game. NASCAR seems to be going down a similar path.

i can only watch Sunday and Monday games Timewarner will not pick up the NFL Network.....i want more football!!