NASCAR race at Richmond that sold 112,000 tickets a decade ago is now struggling to sell 30,000

Go to the track website. Look at who sponsors the various events, hospitality and other things happening at the track. Send emails to those companies/organizations and ask for unused tickets from their allotment. Be tactful, enthusiastic and creative. You may be pleasantly surprised by how eager these companies are to engage fans. It helps them justify their spending.
 
Skoalbandit33 said:
It seems to me that in most cases half a loaf is better than no loaf at all so tracks like Richmond would do well to heavily discount blocks of seats in order to put butts in the stands. As I have mentioned before have a good amount of free tickets for our service men and women and also distribute tickets to outfits like the Boys and Girls Club in order to cultivate tomorrow's fan.

When you look at any event with terrible attendance relative to seating capacity the perception for many people is that the whatever event is taking place must suck because "nobody" showed up to see it. Do you think tracks like Richmond could survive without the stupid money being thrown at them via the stupid TV contract? I think it is likely that some of the tracks will not be able to afford to hold cup races once the money spigot is shut off but we are still several years away from that happening.
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I don't think we are as far away as you may think, with the lack of sponsorship on the cars, low attendance, and tv viewers falling off the charts it is just a matter of a short time before the schedule is condensed and some tracks that do not garner much interest go bye bye.
 
Matthew2470 said:
Go to the track website. Look at who sponsors the various events, hospitality and other things happening at the track. Send emails to those companies/organizations and ask for unused tickets from their allotment. Be tactful, enthusiastic and creative. You may be pleasantly surprised by how eager these companies are to engage fans. It helps them justify their spending.
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Great idea!
 
Mopardh9 said:
I don't think we are as far away as you may think, with the lack of sponsorship on the cars, low attendance, and tv viewers falling off the charts it is just a matter of a short time before the schedule is condensed and some tracks that do not garner much interest go bye bye.
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I think it was Gateway in St. Louis that told Nascar to take a hike a few years ago over sanctioning fees. IDK if the current TV contract will run its course or if it will be modified to reflect its actual worth. In many ways Nascar's day of reckoning has already arrived but due to the TV contract things are being kept alive artificially.
 
Skoalbandit33 said:
I think it was Gateway in St. Louis that told Nascar to take a hike a few years ago over sanctioning fees. IDK if the current TV contract will run its course or if it will be modified to reflect its actual worth. In many ways Nascar's day of reckoning has already arrived but due to the TV contract things are being kept alive artificially.
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For sure the Tv contract is keeping many tracks alive, without it many would go under, when is the contract up?
 
They tried so hard the last 10 years to appeal to the younger generation but the younger generation dident want to watch nascar. In the process they drove away most of the fans 30+ with so much nonsense. A few examples are the gimmick chase, Danica being forced down our throats even though she only has a job because she is a women and can get sponsors. And all these young drivers that have not even had to prove themselves in the lowers ranks just being forced down our throats getting awesome rides was pretty annoying too. I dont really want to watch a bunch of jr. high kids race. That being said it is finally starting to become watchable again. The younger guys are proving now that they belong and it is fun watching Larson, Elliott, Blaney battle every week. I dident watch for probably a good 5 years stretch but have been getting back in to it again lately. Still not going to sit down and watch a 3 or 4 hour race anymore but I will have it on in the back round and watch the last 50 laps or so.
 
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AdoubleU24 said:
I've sat in blistering 100 degree Daytona weather - tailgated in it for 8+ hours actually - didn't care.

Sat in 37 degrees way up in the tower seating with wind to watch the duels two February's ago - didn't care

Tailgated in 45 degree with rain two years in ago in Atlanta - didn't care.

In each case, I was well aware of the weather forecast in advance, especially in Daytona's case. I dressed and prepared accordingly and it was a non-issue. You're watching an outdoor sport, therefore you should know you're at the mercy of whatever mother nature throws your way. You give up the right to be 100% comfortable.
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I became better prepared for the heat at the day race in July in Daytona, I stayed home and watched it in my easy chair with the air conditioning set at 75. :D
 
Matthew2470 said:
Go to the track website. Look at who sponsors the various events, hospitality and other things happening at the track. Send emails to those companies/organizations and ask for unused tickets from their allotment. Be tactful, enthusiastic and creative. You may be pleasantly surprised by how eager these companies are to engage fans. It helps them justify their spending.
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When I first got into NASCAR in the mid-90s, you didn't need to call. The sponsors advertised free tickets. I attended a couple of Busch races sponsored by Goodwrench with tickets I got free with an oil change.
 
Skoalbandit33 said:
I think it was Gateway in St. Louis that told Nascar to take a hike a few years ago over sanctioning fees. IDK if the current TV contract will run its course or if it will be modified to reflect its actual worth. In many ways Nascar's day of reckoning has already arrived but due to the TV contract things are being kept alive artificially.
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Myrtle Beach quit applying for a weekend when it became too expensive to upgrade the track to current standards.
 
Halbert said:
They tried so hard the last 10 years to appeal to the younger generation but the younger generation dident want to watch nascar. In the process they drove away most of the fans 30+ with so much nonsense. A few examples are the gimmick chase, Danica being forced down our throats even though she only has a job because she is a women and can get sponsors. And all these young drivers that have not even had to prove themselves in the lowers ranks just being forced down our throats getting awesome rides was pretty annoying too. I dont really want to watch a bunch of jr. high kids race. That being said it is finally starting to become watchable again. The younger guys are proving now that they belong and it is fun watching Larson, Elliott, Blaney battle every week. I dident watch for probably a good 5 years stretch but have been getting back in to it again lately. Still not going to sit down and watch a 3 or 4 hour race anymore but I will have it on in the back round and watch the last 50 laps or so.
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It must be awfully crowded in your throat. Do you need a Heimlich?
 
Matthew2470 said:
I've gotten free tickets MIS Tickets and pit passes for years from CP Federal Credit Union. The tickets are terrible so I just find a nice spot near row 30 and it's perfect.
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I get free tickets offered for both MIS races and the Brickyard but I haven't taken them up on it.
 
Charlie Spencer said:
Myrtle Beach quit applying for a weekend when it became too expensive to upgrade the track to current standards.
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I didn't realize that Myrtle Beach had done that and you have to wonder what the decreasing demand for Nascar racing will do to the landscape in the next 10 years. Can the goofy triangle in PA sustain races in consecutive months when they are already drawing less than 50K per race?
 
Charlie Spencer said:
When I first got into NASCAR in the mid-90s, you didn't need to call. The sponsors advertised free tickets. I attended a couple of Busch races sponsored by Goodwrench with tickets I got free with an oil change.
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Nobody advertises ANYTHING related to NASCAR anymore. Not TV networks, not sponsors, not car makers, nothing. You oldies post your favorite NASCAR product ads sometimes and debate which was better, but for those of us under 30 the reaction is more like "wow! there were actually NASCAR ads on TV??". The only things you see nowadays are just promo's for next weeks race on the affiliate networks. Nothing from Chevy or Ford, nothing from Monster, nothing from the long-time car sponsors of the sport except for Mobil 1. Even the incessant commercial breaks during the race are filled with dead advertising space showing Fox's promo for next week's race or repeating the same ads over and over.
 
Acs said:
Nobody advertises ANYTHING related to NASCAR anymore. Not TV networks, not sponsors, not car makers, nothing. You oldies post your favorite NASCAR product ads sometimes and debate which was better, but for those of us under 30 the reaction is more like "wow! there were actually NASCAR ads on TV??". The only things you see nowadays are just promo's for next weeks race on the affiliate networks. Nothing from Chevy or Ford, nothing from Monster, nothing from the long-time car sponsors of the sport except for Mobil 1. Even the incessant commercial breaks during the race are filled with dead advertising space showing Fox's promo for next week's race or repeating the same ads over and over.
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Sponsor used to feature the drivers prominently, often in several different ads per season. I feel sorry for newer fans that missed the entire UPS 'Race the Big Brown Truck' promotion when Dale Jarrett drove for them. That one ran for years.
 
Acs said:
Nobody advertises ANYTHING related to NASCAR anymore. Not TV networks, not sponsors, not car makers, nothing. You oldies post your favorite NASCAR product ads sometimes and debate which was better, but for those of us under 30 the reaction is more like "wow! there were actually NASCAR ads on TV??". The only things you see nowadays are just promo's for next weeks race on the affiliate networks. Nothing from Chevy or Ford, nothing from Monster, nothing from the long-time car sponsors of the sport except for Mobil 1. Even the incessant commercial breaks during the race are filled with dead advertising space showing Fox's promo for next week's race or repeating the same ads over and over.
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Nascar used to have an overall presence in my area. Miller, Coors and AB used to duke it out amongst themselves at bars and taverns with giveaways, signage and other promotions. There were Nascar themed stores where you could by all sorts of merchandise plus even the big box retailers carried a lot of 1/64 stuff. There were ticket promotions and contests on radio and TV plus even things like pop machines with Nascar drivers on them. Today all that is completely gone and I am not exaggerating as it is like someone came in with a magnet and wiped the landscape clean of anything Nascar.

It isn't just Nascar as in Indiana the entire month of May was filled with every detail of what was going on for the 500 until shortly after the split. Media outlets used to have several reporters at the track and some bit of info was always on the front page of the paper. Things like Carb day and Bump day were reasons to call in sick and go to the track but all that has changed. The Indy 500 gets spoken of in brief when the pole is awarded and when the results are known or if there are any big wrecks as they are always shown.
 
Charlie Spencer said:
Sponsor used to feature the drivers prominently, often in several different ads per season. I feel sorry for newer fans that missed the entire UPS 'Race the Big Brown Truck' promotion when Dale Jarrett drove for them. That one ran for years.
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I seem to remember Kasey Kahne in a lot of commercials plus Michael Waltrip and Dale Jr too. I think Mark Martin used to pitch the odd thing and I remember Ryan Newman being in some All-Tel spots and even Kenny Wallace was in some commercials. Seeing I do my best to avoid commercials (unless it is the Serta Sheep or something similar) IDK what drivers are in commercials now but it sounds like it has been curtailed.

Is Danica Patrick in anything?
 
Skoalbandit33 said:
I seem to remember Kasey Kahne in a lot of commercials plus Michael Waltrip and Dale Jr too. I think Mark Martin used to pitch the odd thing and I remember Ryan Newman being in some All-Tel spots and even Kenny Wallace was in some commercials. Seeing I do my best to avoid commercials (unless it is the Serta Sheep or something similar) IDK what drivers are in commercials now but it sounds like it has been curtailed.

Is Danica Patrick in anything?
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She just had another new one come out a few weeks ago but I don't remember what it was, and she still does a lot of Coke commercials.
 
Mikey is the last guy I remember being used heavily. He showed up in all the ads for the drivers on his team, and usually had more lines and camera time than they did. ("I'm at the wrong track!" Classic.)

Drivers I can remember from 2017 ads:
Junior
Harvick
The 'Coke Racing Dysfunctional Family'
 
Pocono was getting 30k for Qualifying 15 years ago. I didn't get to see any of the race but the pictures I've seen are pretty bleak. There's no reason Richmond shouldn't be drawing 70-80k with a no nonsense product.

What I don't get is NASCAR became mainstream on its own. Far more so than the UCF or something like that. It was everywhere by the mid to late 90's'; Jeff Gordon cutouts in grocery stores, show cars everywhere, driver appearances at places you wouldn't expect and branding on major products. I feel like Jeff Gordon and the 1994 Brickyard 400 took the sport to a whole different level. Yet NASCAR execs along with TV decided to screw with things less than 10 years later. As a result NASCAR has lost the generation of fans that grew up with the rise of the sport. If you were born between 1975-1990 you got a lot of the good NASCAR as a kid and as a young adult. We're the ones with families now but most of us can barely recognize the sport we grew up watching. What NASCAR doesn't get is the 30 year old (who grew up watching races with his dad) that still likes to drink beer, tailgate and is willing to spend $100 for a Sunday funday with buddies doesn't relate to the sport anymore. NASCAR has literally lost the "Jeff Gordon" generation. All those 6-13 year old kids in way too big Jeff Gordon (or any driver for that matter) T-shirts back in the day aren't there as adults. It's a shame...

I've said it a million times, NASCAR use to have bumper stickers that said "Greatest Spectator Sport In America". It truly was. NASCAR became great because the live experience was unlike anything else. But in 2001 they started to care almost exclusively about the TV viewer. This has been the end result...
 
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Once the Jeff Gordon vs Dale Earnhardt Jr rivaly failed to materialize the sport started to sink.
 
Nascar is so dependent on TV money,I believe decisions are no longer being made in Daytona.I am afraid to see what kind of dog and pony show the networks will turn Jr's last year in Nascar into.
 
Just curious how is the NHRA doing for attendance? Used to be 100k + at the national event in Brainerd back when I used to go, and that was considered one of their smaller events

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DWDawg said:
Just curious how is the NHRA doing for attendance? Used to be 100k + at the national event in Brainerd back when I used to go, and that was considered one of their smaller events

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Millenial attention span is closer to the 1000' ft mark than it is to 400 miles.
 
KodiakRusty89 said:
Pocono was getting 30k for Qualifying 15 years ago. I didn't get to see any of the race but the pictures I've seen are pretty bleak. There's no reason Richmond shouldn't be drawing 70-80k with a no nonsense product.

What I don't get is NASCAR became mainstream on its own. Far more so than the UCF or something like that. It was everywhere by the mid to late 90's'; Jeff Gordon cutouts in grocery stores, show cars everywhere, driver appearances at places you wouldn't expect and branding on major products. I feel like Jeff Gordon and the 1994 Brickyard 400 took the sport to a whole different level. Yet NASCAR execs along with TV decided to screw with things less than 10 years later. As a result NASCAR has lost the generation of fans that grew up with the rise of the sport. If you were born between 1975-1990 you got a lot of the good NASCAR as a kid and as a young adult. We're the ones with families now but most of us can barely recognize the sport we grew up watching. What NASCAR doesn't get is the 30 year old (who grew up watching races with his dad) that still likes to drink beer, tailgate and is willing to spend $100 for a Sunday funday with buddies doesn't relate to the sport anymore. NASCAR has literally lost the "Jeff Gordon" generation. All those 6-13 year old kids in way too big Jeff Gordon (or any driver for that matter) T-shirts back in the day aren't there as adults. It's a shame...

I've said it a million times, NASCAR use to have bumper stickers that said "Greatest Spectator Sport In America". It truly was. NASCAR became great because the live experience was unlike anything else. But in 2001 they started to care almost exclusively about the TV viewer. This has been the end result...
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Love all that is said right here...

I was die hard for this sport for 22 years... I have done insane road trips, even a few wild ones by myself just to get to a track several states away to witness a race that was "on my list of must see races"... I have a container of ticket stubs and other track stuff which I've proudly held onto. However now, I feel like I've completely lost touch with anything I once knew and loved... it's like a switch flipped and I don't recognize this stuff I see anymore when it comes on. It just feels different...

I have missed races and even results this year... don't care either. There is currently still one race I don't know the winner of, because I have no interest of ever looking up results... I just don't care to seek info out about this sport. Night a day from where I probably was a couple seasons ago...

I'm looking forward to football though.
 
JohnHill said:
Love all that is said right here...

I was die hard for this sport for 22 years... I have done insane road trips, even a few wild ones by myself just to get to a track several states away to witness a race that was "on my list of must see races"... I have a container of ticket stubs and other track stuff which I've proudly held onto. However now, I feel like I've completely lost touch with anything I once knew and loved... it's like a switch flipped and I don't recognize this stuff I see anymore when it comes on. It just feels different...

I have missed races and even results this year... don't care either. There is currently still one race I don't know the winner of, because I have no interest of ever looking up results... I just don't care to seek info out about this sport. Night a day from where I probably was a couple seasons ago...

I'm looking forward to football though.
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I've only been a die-hard since 2010, and to be completely honest, I'm losing interest. I don't have any answers to NASCAR'S problems but I sure as heck have many questions.
 
JohnHill said:
Love all that is said right here...

I was die hard for this sport for 22 years... I have done insane road trips, even a few wild ones by myself just to get to a track several states away to witness a race that was "on my list of must see races"... I have a container of ticket stubs and other track stuff which I've proudly held onto. However now, I feel like I've completely lost touch with anything I once knew and loved... it's like a switch flipped and I don't recognize this stuff I see anymore when it comes on. It just feels different...

I have missed races and even results this year... don't care either. There is currently still one race I don't know the winner of, because I have no interest of ever looking up results... I just don't care to seek info out about this sport. Night a day from where I probably was a couple seasons ago...

I'm looking forward to football though.
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Your story is similar to mine.

These are only some of my stubs. My pre-1996 ones are long gone. These pic is from 2014 so it is missing my '15 and '16 race stubs...

11709653_1006045406094557_5606002695217346683_n.jpg
 
Things go in cycles. France made some terrible decision in the 2000s but I like where the sport is now. The stage racing to me is exciting and definitely makes it a better experience watching the race at home or in the stands. Adds another layer of strategy and you don't have to wait till the last 50 laps for anyone to make moves.

Biggest thing for the sport now is they are finally getting some young drivers in that have personality and talent. Joey Logano and Kyle Busch are going to dominate the sport for the next decade but Kyle Larson, Ryan Blaney, and Chase Elliott are going to win a lot of races and be fun to watch.

Attendance sucks but makes it that much easier to get tickets.
 
Cholo said:
Things go in cycles. France made some terrible decision in the 2000s but I like where the sport is now. The stage racing to me is exciting and definitely makes it a better experience watching the race at home or in the stands. Adds another layer of strategy and you don't have to wait till the last 50 laps for anyone to make moves.

Biggest thing for the sport now is they are finally getting some young drivers in that have personality and talent. Joey Logano and Kyle Busch are going to dominate the sport for the next decade but Kyle Larson, Ryan Blaney, and Chase Elliott are going to win a lot of races and be fun to watch.

Attendance sucks but makes it that much easier to get tickets.
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I agree with most of your points. I wish I could see the glass as half full. Maybe I'm becoming a miserable bastard (or already am.) :D
 
The sport isn't going away. You could cut funding by 80% and you can still find 40 cars to race in circles.

I enjoy going to races as much as I ever have. Got tickets to Kansas and Darlington already and might try and make the Daytona and Charlotte races as well.
 
KodiakRusty89 said:
Your story is similar to mine.

These are only some of my stubs. My pre-1996 ones are long gone. These pic is from 2014 so it is missing my '15 and '16 race stubs...

11709653_1006045406094557_5606002695217346683_n.jpg
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I have a stack of stubs that must be 2 inches thick. Most of them are from before 2014, but that's not because of the product. I'm just not travelling as much, and every race within 5 hours is a night race.
 
DWDawg said:
Just curious how is the NHRA doing for attendance? Used to be 100k + at the national event in Brainerd back when I used to go, and that was considered one of their smaller events

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@Nitro Dude

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DWDawg said:
Just curious how is the NHRA doing for attendance? Used to be 100k + at the national event in Brainerd back when I used to go, and that was considered one of their smaller events

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I never really pay that much attention to the amount of seats they sell. When I'm on the starting line I might glance up at the stands from time to time just to see how full they are but I don't really concern myself with it that much. Last year we had a few sellout crowds, but we also had some light crowds at some of the races. I think a lot of fans get so wrapped up in the seat count that they can't even enjoy the race it's self. Some fans were worried about attendance 40 years ago and they are still worried about it today. The way I figure it is as long as there is a race then I will have a job, and if or when there isn't then I will either find something else to do or I will retire.
 
Nitro Dude said:
I think a lot of fans get so wrapped up in the seat count that they can't even enjoy the race it's self. Some fans were worried about attendance 40 years ago and they are still worried about it today. The way I figure it is as long as there is a race then I will have a job, and if or when there isn't then I will either find something else to do or I will retire.
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Unfortunately, software doesn't allow for more than 1 "like" per post.
 
Nitro Dude said:
I never really pay that much attention to the amount of seats they sell. When I'm on the starting line I might glance up at the stands from time to time just to see how full they are but I don't really concern myself with it that much. Last year we had a few sellout crowds, but we also had some light crowds at some of the races. I think a lot of fans get so wrapped up in the seat count that they can't even enjoy the race it's self. Some fans were worried about attendance 40 years ago and they are still worried about it today. The way I figure it is as long as there is a race then I will have a job, and if or when there isn't then I will either find something else to do or I will retire.
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I never concern myself personally with the number of fans in the stands or the number of people watching from home but I do use it as a barometer of overall interest. I didn't see the race from Richmond but understand there may have been 30,000 people in attendance which shows a terrible lack of interest in Nascar racing when not that long ago 3 times as many people were interested. In any case it is nothing for me or anyone else to worry about as there is nothing we can do about it.
 
Folks showin' up are dedicated Camero owners......................
 
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