NASCAR and the younger crowd

AndyMarquisLive said:
Young people can "endure" a 3-4 hour football game.
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Student section attendance in the SEC has been down for years now. And I don't mean at piss-poor programs like Mississippi State, but at powerhouses like Georgia and Alabama. In a region where college ball is about as important as God.

As it turns out, Georgia students left empty 39% of their designated sections of Sanford Stadium over the last four seasons, according to school records of student-ticket scans. Despite their allocation of about 18,000 seats, the number of students at games between 2009 and 2012 never exceeded 15,000.

Winning isn't even necessarily a solution. The average student crowd to see last year's Georgia team—which finished the season ranked No. 5—was almost 6,000 short of maximum capacity. Even at Alabama, 32% of student seats went unused by students between 2009 and 2012, when the Crimson Tide won three national championships. Alabama coach Nick Saban wrote a flattering letter last week in the student paper to recruit students back.

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304795804579097223907738780
 
BenzTech99 said:
There is a time and a place for political arguments, and its called Facebook. l
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:XXROFL:Aint it the truth. But going back to my post, if these cars got more stock n more short tracks were added & maybe some more advertising, I think viewership would rise.
 
FLRacingFan said:
Student section attendance in the SEC has been down for years now. And I don't mean at piss-poor programs like Mississippi State, but at powerhouses like Georgia and Alabama. In a region where college ball is about as important as God.

As it turns out, Georgia students left empty 39% of their designated sections of Sanford Stadium over the last four seasons, according to school records of student-ticket scans. Despite their allocation of about 18,000 seats, the number of students at games between 2009 and 2012 never exceeded 15,000.

Winning isn't even necessarily a solution. The average student crowd to see last year's Georgia team—which finished the season ranked No. 5—was almost 6,000 short of maximum capacity. Even at Alabama, 32% of student seats went unused by students between 2009 and 2012, when the Crimson Tide won three national championships. Alabama coach Nick Saban wrote a flattering letter last week in the student paper to recruit students back.

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304795804579097223907738780
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This is true. I attend a top 10 SEC school & Ive seen that first hand. The seats in the student section seem to fill 100% for big games. Alot of times students will leave a quarter ahead of time, and even halftime, to go back to tailgating & find parties if we are up by a substantial margin. Although our stadium sold out each home game last year :idunno:
 
ChexOrWrex said:
This is true. I attend a top 10 SEC school & Ive seen that first hand. The seats in the student section seem to fill 100% for big games. Alot of times students will leave a quarter ahead of time, and even halftime, to go back to tailgating & find parties if we are up by a substantial margin. Although our stadium sold out each home game last year :idunno:
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It's gotten just as bad at UF. The boosters and alumni who have to pay a contribution on top of the ticket price always dwarf the number of students in attendance. I know a good number of people who attend there and the majority of them just don't bother going to games. It used to be difficult to get student tickets there and now the school has to offer weekly prizes throughout the summer just to get students to sign up for the ticket lottery.
 
Whoa, talk about thread drift --- first politics and now college games. But in a strange way, it all has to do with the younger generation and why they aren't as
interested in NASCAR.

Maybe I'm weird today, but I understand where everyone is coming from.
 
FLRacingFan said:
It's gotten just as bad at UF. The boosters and alumni who have to pay a contribution on top of the ticket price always dwarf the number of students in attendance. I know a good number of people who attend there and the majority of them just don't bother going to games. It used to be difficult to get student tickets there and now the school has to offer weekly prizes throughout the summer just to get students to sign up for the ticket lottery.
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Oh geez thats horrible. My school has a weekly lottery with royalty points. Seniors get 4 points, sophomores get 3, etc... But even as a freshman I was able to attend all home games. Doesnt seem to be a ticket distribution issue here with students who want to go to the game. Its jam pack every game but only shoulder to shoulder in SEC & state rivalry games.
I know its much easier to get a CF ticket than a NASCAR ticket for my peers at home.
 
FLRacingFan said:
It's gotten just as bad at UF. The boosters and alumni who have to pay a contribution on top of the ticket price always dwarf the number of students in attendance. I know a good number of people who attend there and the majority of them just don't bother going to games. It used to be difficult to get student tickets there and now the school has to offer weekly prizes throughout the summer just to get students to sign up for the ticket lottery.
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Alumni have to pay a 'contribution' when they return for football games?
 
Again, I think the teams should have to go to the dealer and buy the cars the same way we do. The way it used to be. Thats real brand recognition, not 3 of the exact same cars, with the exact same suspension (prehistoric by the way), with bascially the same engine (also prehistoric), just different noses.
 
I could be wrong, but NASCAR has an old boys feel to it...like working on 68 Maro, under the hood getting the choke right, etc. Even in todays world. NASCAR needs to do something to change that,...maybe let VW, mazda in...Going Fuel injected was a start.....add traction control?
 
ChexOrWrex said:
Colleges will suck all the money they can out of anyone, any way possible.
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That's a ****** joke. Not only do they make tens of millions off their athletes who don't collect checks, or the huge corporate sponsorships and media packages, or high dollar tickets... But they charge you extra if you want to support your alma mater. LMAO.
 
FLRacingFan said:
Student section attendance in the SEC has been down for years now. And I don't mean at piss-poor programs like Mississippi State, but at powerhouses like Georgia and Alabama. In a region where college ball is about as important as God.

As it turns out, Georgia students left empty 39% of their designated sections of Sanford Stadium over the last four seasons, according to school records of student-ticket scans. Despite their allocation of about 18,000 seats, the number of students at games between 2009 and 2012 never exceeded 15,000.

Winning isn't even necessarily a solution. The average student crowd to see last year's Georgia team—which finished the season ranked No. 5—was almost 6,000 short of maximum capacity. Even at Alabama, 32% of student seats went unused by students between 2009 and 2012, when the Crimson Tide won three national championships. Alabama coach Nick Saban wrote a flattering letter last week in the student paper to recruit students back.

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304795804579097223907738780
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TV ratings for football are just fine though.
 
DanicaFreak said:
Going Fuel injected was a start.....add traction control?
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Small blocks with O/H cams. The 350 based motors today are producing more hp than the big blocks they replaced. I imagine the O/H cam small block would equal current hp and allow teams to dump the antiquated push rod technology.
Nix on traction control, driver has to provide the input.
 
Bobw said:
Small blocks with O/H cams. The 350 based motors today are producing more hp than the big blocks they replaced. I imagine the O/H cam small block would equal current hp and allow teams to dump the antiquated push rod technology.
Nix on traction control, driver has to provide the input.
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I like this. You know before everyone balks, but turbo or supercharger would be cool. It would give the teams something else to tweak and play with and if they had driver adjustable turbos we could see races the F1 of old...."Will he turn up the super charger to catch the leader and risk running out of fuel?"

I also want to see rain racing for nascar but know why it is not there now.
 
I also do not want traction control. But updates to the chassis such as IRS and bigger wheels (only for bigger brakes) would be welcome changes in my opinion. I see why they dont want to use spec production engines because they want everyone to have close to the same horsepower but it will cause the manufacturers to start another horsepower war. Which everyone wins in my opinion. I just hope they make changes in the right direction, not in the wrong direction like stupid F1 max fuel consumption rules.
 
ChexOrWrex said:
Oh geez thats horrible. My school has a weekly lottery with royalty points. Seniors get 4 points, sophomores get 3, etc... But even as a freshman I was able to attend all home games. Doesnt seem to be a ticket distribution issue here with students who want to go to the game. Its jam pack every game but only shoulder to shoulder in SEC & state rivalry games.
I know its much easier to get a CF ticket than a NASCAR ticket for my peers at home.
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Exactly. I go to a different school in FL where the student section almost never fills up unless an elite opponent is in town and that's with free student tickets and $10 guest tickets. Some tracks have good deals for students like Talladega and Richmond but other than that race track prices far exceed CFB prices.

I also think every track needs to have WiFi. I hate it but as mentioned in the article, young people won't go to events if they can't tweet and Instagram. Why, I have no idea. I don't care for it. But it's certainly a factor. They've mentioned adding networks in the upcoming years but they need to come through on it.

Making your product more exclusive doesn't help anything. TheLP2008.com was a great way for fans to watch races in a condensed amount of time before it got taken down. Plenty of young people don't have cable, and especially not the packages that include NBCSN which will be huge next year. Even less have DVR so if they can't make time for three hours every Saturday or Sunday they're pretty much screwed. Both FOX and NBC acquired live streaming rights starting next year but I imagine that it'll be just like WatchESPN/ESPN3 where you need a cable subscription to access it which is pretty useless.
 
Bobw said:
Small blocks with O/H cams. The 350 based motors today are producing more hp than the big blocks they replaced. I imagine the O/H cam small block would equal current hp and allow teams to dump the antiquated push rod technology.
Nix on traction control, driver has to provide the input.
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ShuBAM!


image.jpg
 
BenzTech99 said:
I also do not want traction control. But updates to the chassis such as IRS and bigger wheels (only for bigger brakes) would be welcome changes in my opinion. I see why they dont want to use spec production engines because they want everyone to have close to the same horsepower but it will cause the manufacturers to start another horsepower war. Which everyone wins in my opinion. I just hope they make changes in the right direction, not in the wrong direction like stupid F1 max fuel consumption rules.
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Turbocharged V6 direct injection engines could power the Sprint Cup cars of the future it has been revealed. NASCAR has already started to consider the design of the Generation 7 car despite only having just introduced the Generation 6 cars according to an article in Stockcar Engineering magazine.

http://www.racecar-engineering.com/news/nascar-could-abandon-v8-engines/


[URL='http://www.racecar-engineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/upsce.jpg']
“Now that we have launched the Gen-6 car we have some space to work on other things, whether it’s the dashboard or software or things that will take that Gen-7 car and move forward,” NASCAR Vice President for Competition Robin Pemberton revealed. “If you go back six, seven years … when we developed the COT, and before we were even done with that, we were already working on the new Nationwide car,” Pemberton said, “and when it was almost done, we were working on the Gen-6.”

“We’ve talked about it internally and with NASCAR about all sorts of different things to bring more brand identity to them,’’ Pat DiMarco of Ford whilst Pat Suhy of GM added. “The questions we are asking ourselves right now are what does the Generation 7 engine look like? is it a direct injection engine? is it a V8? is it a V6? is it turbocharged? all of that stuff. Whilst we are not talking in great detail at the moment, we will be starting to discuss it seriously soon and I don’t think anything is off the table.” Notably Ford already uses NASCAR to promote its Ecoboost engines despite having a normally aspirated V8 in the racecar.

The overall mass of the chassis may also be reduced and that could raise the prospect of a DTM/ GT500 style composite & steel hybrid chassis. “We could introduce both a new car and a new engine together and make it more relevant to the products we are selling today, smaller, lighter cars with lower displacement higher specific output engines. There are plenty of other ways we can reduce the mass of the cars, things like using composite materials, using other materials other than steel for body panels. It changes the demand on the car too, if you reduce the mass of the vehicle do you need as much roll cage? there are a whole bunch of knock on effects like that” Suhy continues.

The Generation 7 cars are unlikely to take to the track much before 2017 and it remains to be seen if NASCAR’s core fans would accept a car without an eight cylinder engine.

A full article revealing the direction of the Generation 7 cars can be read in the new issue of Stockcar Engineering, available for free download below

Simply register your details below and you’ll be taken to your FREE issu
[/URL]
 
DUN24 said:
Alumni have to pay a 'contribution' when they return for football games?
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At the bigger schools you pretty much have to. At UF it's anywhere from $50 to $2,550 per seat - on top of the actual ticket price.
 
Personally, I think many problems exist in many of NASCAR's "traditional" fans moreso than younger fans. They've resisted shorter races even though it's been proven to make the racing more exciting. They've resisted the new playoff system. They've resisted diversity.

NASCAR's stuck in the middle of a generational debate with older people stuck in their ways and younger people who want more entertainment than what NASCAR offers.

So, with that said, it's easier to just say that "millennials suck" and "young people have ADHD" or whatever.
 
DanicaFreak said:
Turbocharged V6 direct injection engines could power the Sprint Cup cars of the future it has been revealed. NASCAR has already started to consider the design of the Generation 7 car despite only having just introduced the Generation 6 cars according to an article in Stockcar Engineering magazine.

http://www.racecar-engineering.com/news/nascar-could-abandon-v8-engines/



“Now that we have launched the Gen-6 car we have some space to work on other things, whether it’s the dashboard or software or things that will take that Gen-7 car and move forward,” NASCAR Vice President for Competition Robin Pemberton revealed. “If you go back six, seven years … when we developed the COT, and before we were even done with that, we were already working on the new Nationwide car,” Pemberton said, “and when it was almost done, we were working on the Gen-6.”

“We’ve talked about it internally and with NASCAR about all sorts of different things to bring more brand identity to them,’’ Pat DiMarco of Ford whilst Pat Suhy of GM added. “The questions we are asking ourselves right now are what does the Generation 7 engine look like? is it a direct injection engine? is it a V8? is it a V6? is it turbocharged? all of that stuff. Whilst we are not talking in great detail at the moment, we will be starting to discuss it seriously soon and I don’t think anything is off the table.” Notably Ford already uses NASCAR to promote its Ecoboost engines despite having a normally aspirated V8 in the racecar.

The overall mass of the chassis may also be reduced and that could raise the prospect of a DTM/ GT500 style composite & steel hybrid chassis. “We could introduce both a new car and a new engine together and make it more relevant to the products we are selling today, smaller, lighter cars with lower displacement higher specific output engines. There are plenty of other ways we can reduce the mass of the cars, things like using composite materials, using other materials other than steel for body panels. It changes the demand on the car too, if you reduce the mass of the vehicle do you need as much roll cage? there are a whole bunch of knock on effects like that” Suhy continues.

The Generation 7 cars are unlikely to take to the track much before 2017 and it remains to be seen if NASCAR’s core fans would accept a car without an eight cylinder engine.

A full article revealing the direction of the Generation 7 cars can be read in the new issue of Stockcar Engineering, available for free download below

Simply register your details below and you’ll be taken to your FREE issu
Click to expand...

8 cylinders or bust.
 
I have a feeling we're just seeing an overall decline in interest in racing across the board. Ever since cars starting slowing down (in all series), interest waned. Now we're making up rules, changing rules, turning our cars into slow, quiet Prius-like machines.

The good ole days of noise and racing fuel are being replaced and to be fair... those of us who love racing fuel and loud engines are being replaced by a generation that prefers video games, constant excitement, etc...
 
jdbrew said:
I have a feeling we're just seeing an overall decline in interest in racing across the board. Ever since cars starting slowing down (in all series), interest waned. Now we're making up rules, changing rules, turning our cars into slow, quiet Prius-like machines.

The good ole days of noise and racing fuel are being replaced and to be fair... those of us who love racing fuel and loud engines are being replaced by a generation that prefers video games, constant excitement, etc...
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Racing fuel and loud engines produce constant excitement.
 
All the posts about digital media are right on target. NASCAR needs to offer some kind of plan where you can watch the races on your computer, smartphone or tablet for a monthly fee or something.

And WiFi in the stands needs to be a thing - especially when you get to tracks like Martinsville where, the second the fans file in to the stands, cell phone service is non-existent. I used to think that NASCAR and Sprint jammed cell signals but upon looking it up, it's actually a violation of federal law to do anything like that. Some kids can't go any damn place without posting a selfie on Instaface or whatever.
 
FLRacingFan said:
Very true, but something like 75% of bowl game viewers last season were 35 or older.
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Neilsen is implementing a new system to integrate internet/mobile streaming and social media in to television ratings. The current system Neilsen has is flawed and antiquated anyways.
 
FLRacingFan said:
Making your product more exclusive doesn't help anything. TheLP2008.com was a great way for fans to watch races in a condensed amount of time before it got taken down. Plenty of young people don't have cable, and especially not the packages that include NBCSN which will be huge next year. Even less have DVR so if they can't make time for three hours every Saturday or Sunday they're pretty much screwed. Both FOX and NBC acquired live streaming rights starting next year but I imagine that it'll be just like WatchESPN/ESPN3 where you need a cable subscription to access it which is pretty useless.
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Cable companies own the internet and Comcast and Sprint own the damn government so the outdated cable model will never die. Cable and internet pricing goes back to my thing about stagflation.
 
I would hate to see NASCAR of old go away but I want to see this sport continue on for 50 years too.
 
DanicaFreak said:
I would hate to see NASCAR of old go away but I want to see this sport continue on for 50 years too.
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Need the sport to be symbolic of the general population, not just the rich kids of Southern California. Danica Patrick and Bubba Wallace are the foundation for that. Kenzie Ruston will help that image as well when she gets to Nationwide.
 
DanicaFreak said:
Turbocharged V6 direct injection engines could power the Sprint Cup cars of the future it has been revealed. NASCAR has already started to consider the design of the Generation 7 car despite only having just introduced the Generation 6 cars according to an article in Stockcar Engineering magazine.

http://www.racecar-engineering.com/news/nascar-could-abandon-v8-engines/


[URL='http://www.racecar-engineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/upsce.jpg'][/URL]
“Now that we have launched the Gen-6 car we have some space to work on other things, whether it’s the dashboard or software or things that will take that Gen-7 car and move forward,” NASCAR Vice President for Competition Robin Pemberton revealed. “If you go back six, seven years … when we developed the COT, and before we were even done with that, we were already working on the new Nationwide car,” Pemberton said, “and when it was almost done, we were working on the Gen-6.”

“We’ve talked about it internally and with NASCAR about all sorts of different things to bring more brand identity to them,’’ Pat DiMarco of Ford whilst Pat Suhy of GM added. “The questions we are asking ourselves right now are what does the Generation 7 engine look like? is it a direct injection engine? is it a V8? is it a V6? is it turbocharged? all of that stuff. Whilst we are not talking in great detail at the moment, we will be starting to discuss it seriously soon and I don’t think anything is off the table.” Notably Ford already uses NASCAR to promote its Ecoboost engines despite having a normally aspirated V8 in the racecar.
[URL='http://www.racecar-engineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/updtmchass1.jpg'][/URL]
The overall mass of the chassis may also be reduced and that could raise the prospect of a DTM/ GT500 style composite & steel hybrid chassis. “We could introduce both a new car and a new engine together and make it more relevant to the products we are selling today, smaller, lighter cars with lower displacement higher specific output engines. There are plenty of other ways we can reduce the mass of the cars, things like using composite materials, using other materials other than steel for body panels. It changes the demand on the car too, if you reduce the mass of the vehicle do you need as much roll cage? there are a whole bunch of knock on effects like that” Suhy continues.

The Generation 7 cars are unlikely to take to the track much before 2017 and it remains to be seen if NASCAR’s core fans would accept a car without an eight cylinder engine.

A full article revealing the direction of the Generation 7 cars can be read in the new issue of Stockcar Engineering, available for free download below

Simply register your details below and you’ll be taken to your FREE issu
Click to expand...

Lots of good stuff here. As much as I would hate to see V8's go away, the Gen 7 car should be interesting.
 
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