dpkimmel2001
Team Owner
This may not do anything to fill the seats but it may boost their ticket sales. I thought this was kind of an interesting story. It seems that many of the local business owners in the Richmond, VA area are being asked to purchase tickets for the two NASCAR races or risk losing one or even both dates. Maybe this is just a preventative measure or perhaps they know something the rest of us don't.....
From the Richmond Times Dispatch
Local business groups push for NASCAR ticket sales
Several local leaders are urging business owners to buy tickets to the two NASCAR races in Richmond or run the risk of losing one or both.
"As wonderful as it is to host this semiannual sporting spectacular, we must not become complacent or take this for granted," the letter said.
It asked that owners consider buying four tickets and keep buying them year after year.
The letter is signed by the heads of four local organizations: the Richmond Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau, Richmond Sports Backers, the Greater Richmond Chamber and Retail Merchants Association. Henrico County Manager Virgil R. Hazelett also signed the letter.
The letter writers use Baltimore, St. Louis and Montreal as examples of cities that lost pro franchises in part because of a lack of local fan support.
"We are not in crisis mode," the letter says, "but we are declaring a call to action."
Doug Fritz, president of Richmond International Raceway, credited the business leaders for reaching out to their constituents to build support.
"They realize how important Richmond International Raceway and NASCAR are to our community and they recognize the widespread economic impact that is generated each and every year — not only in our region, but in Virginia as a whole," he said.
Attendance dropped at both races held this year from 2009. September's race had 95,000 people attending, compared with 108,000 in 2009. May's race drew 93,000, compared with 100,000 in 2009.
Each of the two NASCAR race weekends generates about $168.5 million in economic impact, according to a study released in May 2009 by The Washington Economics Group.
The 1,000-acre Richmond Raceway Complex in Henrico County includes a three-quarter-mile racetrack surrounded by grandstands with more than 112,000 seats. The complex, formerly home to the State Fair of Virginia, also has six buildings with more than 300,000 square feet of space for meetings and exhibitions.
With all of the events held at the Raceway Complex, the study shows the complex generates about $467 million in local economic activity annually, creates $85 million in tax revenue and supports 7,700 jobs.
The letter was e-mailed Monday by at least two of the groups. The Retail Merchants Association said it e-mailed the letter to nearly 2,000 addresses on its mailing list.
"We felt it was important to get it out to as many people as possible because of RIR's impact on businesses," said Patricia A. Vitsky, director of member communications for the merchants group.
From the Richmond Times Dispatch
Local business groups push for NASCAR ticket sales
Several local leaders are urging business owners to buy tickets to the two NASCAR races in Richmond or run the risk of losing one or both.
"As wonderful as it is to host this semiannual sporting spectacular, we must not become complacent or take this for granted," the letter said.
It asked that owners consider buying four tickets and keep buying them year after year.
The letter is signed by the heads of four local organizations: the Richmond Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau, Richmond Sports Backers, the Greater Richmond Chamber and Retail Merchants Association. Henrico County Manager Virgil R. Hazelett also signed the letter.
The letter writers use Baltimore, St. Louis and Montreal as examples of cities that lost pro franchises in part because of a lack of local fan support.
"We are not in crisis mode," the letter says, "but we are declaring a call to action."
Doug Fritz, president of Richmond International Raceway, credited the business leaders for reaching out to their constituents to build support.
"They realize how important Richmond International Raceway and NASCAR are to our community and they recognize the widespread economic impact that is generated each and every year — not only in our region, but in Virginia as a whole," he said.
Attendance dropped at both races held this year from 2009. September's race had 95,000 people attending, compared with 108,000 in 2009. May's race drew 93,000, compared with 100,000 in 2009.
Each of the two NASCAR race weekends generates about $168.5 million in economic impact, according to a study released in May 2009 by The Washington Economics Group.
The 1,000-acre Richmond Raceway Complex in Henrico County includes a three-quarter-mile racetrack surrounded by grandstands with more than 112,000 seats. The complex, formerly home to the State Fair of Virginia, also has six buildings with more than 300,000 square feet of space for meetings and exhibitions.
With all of the events held at the Raceway Complex, the study shows the complex generates about $467 million in local economic activity annually, creates $85 million in tax revenue and supports 7,700 jobs.
The letter was e-mailed Monday by at least two of the groups. The Retail Merchants Association said it e-mailed the letter to nearly 2,000 addresses on its mailing list.
"We felt it was important to get it out to as many people as possible because of RIR's impact on businesses," said Patricia A. Vitsky, director of member communications for the merchants group.
