The Attendance Thread

AuzGrams said:
I'm usually optimistic and not a deathbed type of guy, but I was kinda disappointed at the attendance in Kansas.

Not sure what changes need to be made.
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Move one race to Iowa, since the spring race is no longer under the lights?
 
joe h said:
Move one race to Iowa, since the spring race is no longer under the lights?
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I've always said they should move one of Kansas's races to Iowa (owned by ISC/NASCAR) or Gateway (not owned by ISC or SMI). Those are new markets, but still not a huge loss for the fans in KC IMO.

They have something invested in Hollywood Casino though lol.
 
AuzGrams said:
I've always said they should move one of Kansas's races to Iowa (owned by ISC/NASCAR) or Gateway (not owned by ISC or SMI). Those are new markets, but still not a huge loss for the fans in KC IMO.

They have something invested in Hollywood Casino though lol.
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Better work on ingress and egress. It would be a nightmare.
 
Spotter22 said:
Gateway is ready to go
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It's just not owned by ISC or SMI (or whatever their private entities will be called). So who knows at this point.

Maybe the track can partner with ISC like Nashville is doing with SMI?

And with Kansas having good ratings this weekend, it's all a moot point compared to asses in seats. I just think it's bad optics when the attendance is down, but ratings are far up.
 
Spotter22 said:
Gateway is ready to go
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I'd like to see the Xfinities race there, because frankly it isn't one of the better tracks the trucks race on so far from my watching standpoint. It's a one lane track, but is so large it doesn't have the root out of the groove aspect a smaller track has so passing or side by side racing doesn't happen very much. I would try the Xfinity cars to see if it works better for them or get out the track bite. The crowd is strong for those who are into people counting.
 
Larsonfan1995 said:
From 135,000 to 54,000 in just a few years, that's crazy reduction. Has any other track taken out 60+% of its seats like Dover?
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Michigan is close.

I attended every race at Dover from the fall of 1990 through the spring 2010 event so I got to see the rather modest beginnings through the rapid increase to the beginning of the decline and now to basically where the track was in 1990.

I went to the August Michigan races in 2003 and 2004 and returned in 2016. It was like night and day. I think they went from 135k to about 55k now.
 
donthaveanickname said:
The clash with the U.S. GP at Austin has definitely hurt the NASCAR race at Texas.
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Yeah, Austin had a giant crowd. This looks like a 40%er here in the stands for Nascar. Like Atlanta is thinking about doing, might be
time to install a casino on the grounds. Of course all contingent on getting a gambling bill passed through the state.
 
Honestly if you're going to the track the last thing you want to see is sell out crowds. So I'll never lose any sleep over empty seats at the track. In fact I love it because we always book isle seats but sometimes they put you in a crowd and you look over and see a bunch of good seats that are empty... Time to move.
 
10-4 said:
Honestly if you're going to the track the last thing you want to see is sell out crowds. So I'll never lose any sleep over empty seats at the track. In fact I love it because we always book isle seats but sometimes they put you in a crowd and you look over and see a bunch of good seats that are empty... Time to move.
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As someone who has attended 3-4 races a year (and still do) for the last 30 I miss the sellouts. The vibe, energy back then was unmatched. It still bugs me that it likely will never be again.
 
AuzGrams said:
Texas has over 112,000 seats at least last I heard.
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This week Eddie Gossage said 135,000. He said the facility is 23 years old and needs an overhaul to modernize the fan experience. And he said capacity needs to be trimmed. Was in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. They're still turning a hefty profit on every racing weekend, but today's spare crowd was startling.
 
I notice they didn't bother showing the stands.
The one shot from high above was pathetic.
 
10-4 said:
Honestly if you're going to the track the last thing you want to see is sell out crowds. So I'll never lose any sleep over empty seats at the track. In fact I love it because we always book isle seats but sometimes they put you in a crowd and you look over and see a bunch of good seats that are empty... Time to move.
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I hear ya! I lived the days of being packed in the stands like sardines.
Getting a cooler to your seat with your backpack and other stuff was next to impossible.
By the time you got settled in your seat it was time to go drain a 6 pack worth of beer
at the closest restroom which sometimes you had to stand in line for. Then the 1 - 2 hour
traffic jams just get out of the parking lot after the race.

Today is the Golden Age of going to the races and being comfortable.
 
10-4 said:
Honestly if you're going to the track the last thing you want to see is sell out crowds. So I'll never lose any sleep over empty seats at the track. In fact I love it because we always book isle seats but sometimes they put you in a crowd and you look over and see a bunch of good seats that are empty... Time to move.
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I couldn't agree more. The last thing I'm going to do is go to a sporting event that is jam packed. The reward is not worth the hassle IMO. I never take the lack of sold seats personally even though I have been making my living in motorsports for over 20 years. I'm more concerned with how many eyes are watching on tv for the sponsors.
 
Nitro Dude said:
I couldn't agree more. The last thing I'm going to do is go to a sporting event that is jam packed. The reward is not worth the hassle IMO. I never take the lack of sold seats personally even though I have been making my living in motorsports for over 20 years. I'm more concerned with how many eyes are watching on tv for the sponsors.
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We just have to face the fact that the NASCAR along with other sports wont draw as many of the younger generation for whatever reasons ( they dont relate with it anymore, keeping up on social media etc...) but with an average of 4 million or so still turning on the tube the sport will remain profitable for most of the players involved even though track attendance is down.
 
Spotter22 said:
We just have to face the fact that the NASCAR along with other sports wont draw as many of the younger generation for whatever reasons ( they dont relate with it anymore, keeping up on social media etc...) but with an average of 4 million or so still turning on the tube the sport will remain profitable for most of the players involved even though track attendance is down.
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I agree 100%. I think one of the biggest problems in motorsports today is the cost of fielding a top notch team. I think more needs to be done to cut the high cost of racing. That being said, I think motorsports in general is still very strong... and Roger Penske must think so also or he wouldn't have just made the huge purchase he just made.
 
Get That 88 Up There !! said:
https://delawarestatenews.net/news/...eedway-reduces-seats-stresses-fan-experience/

Drove by on Wednesday and saw they were in the process on taking down the stand in 3. Can’t say I’m surprised
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Quote from the article which in my opinion is out of touch with reality.
“If you look around all sports venues in general, even outside of NASCAR facilities, the trend in building or renovating existing facilities is creating a more intimate, fan-friendly environment by removing unused, less-than-desirable seats.”
I do not go to any sporting event be because of an "intimate " environment. That is the polar opposite of why I would go.
 
Nitro Dude said:
I agree 100%. I think one of the biggest problems in motorsports today is the cost of fielding a top notch team. I think more needs to be done to cut the high cost of racing. That being said, I think motorsports in general is still very strong... and Roger Penske must think so also or he wouldn't have just made the huge purchase he just made.
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Exactly and thats why we are seeing a total restructure of the schedule, costs on equipment, travel expenses, wind tunnel time, etc... Everything will come together with the start of the next Gen car.
 
I'm interested what this supposed restructure of the schedule will look like.
 
KodiakRusty89 said:
As someone who has attended 3-4 races a year (and still do) for the last 30 I miss the sellouts. The vibe, energy back then was unmatched. It still bugs me that it likely will never be again.
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Go to Bristol night race.

I went to Texas for years. Definitely a different vibe when there is 100k fans on their feet compared to now when it feels like you're watching a truck race with 25k people.
 
In order for Nascar or any sport to remain relevant, I think they
need to improve the telly experience. I think for me to continue in this sport
I would like to see them get much more serious in their presentations. It certainly is not the commercials that bother me, it is the 3 hr commercial of squealing Burton trying to sell the race. I will say when Junior is on his own and NOT teamed with anyone else his presentation is much better and more informing.
 
Team Penske said:
In order for Nascar or any sport to remain relevant, I think they
need to improve the telly experience. I think for me to continue in this sport
I would like to see them get much more serious in their presentations. It certainly is not the commercials that bother me, it is the 3 hr commercial of squealing Burton trying to sell the race. I will say when Junior is on his own and NOT teamed with anyone else his presentation is much better and more informing.
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Liking the announcer's is subjective, no way to get everyone to agree on style and substance. I dont pay much attention to them
 
Spotter22 said:
Liking the announcer's is subjective, no way to get everyone to agree on style and substance. I dont pay much attention to them
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For me ( Canadian) the TV experience is a great part of what I am watching. I could just tape 5 laps and keep it playing all day if that is all I want. I have been watching Nascar since early 70's and to this day a good booth makes the race much more enjoyable.
The current platforms leave much to be desired and therefore missing a race today is not such a big deal.
 
Team Penske said:
For me ( Canadian) the TV experience is a great part of what I am watching. I could just tape 5 laps and keep it playing all day if that is all I want. I have been watching Nascar since early 70's and to this day a good booth makes the race much more enjoyable.
The current platforms leave much to be desired and therefore missing a race today is not such a big deal.
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So you are saying you care more for the booth announcer then whats going on in the race?
 
Spotter22 said:
So you are saying you care more for the booth announcer then whats going on in the race?
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No I am not. What I am saying is how the race is shown and the booth are the whole product. Take away from either degrades the show for me. Fake excitement is the biggest turn off.
Let me add this, when I tune into watching a race, having a clown like Rutledge
on my screen is an insult. I do understand that his performance is included to try and get fans to visit the tracks.
 
Team Penske said:
No I am not. What I am saying is how the race is shown and the booth are the whole product. Take away from either degrades the show for me. Fake excitement is the biggest turn off.
Let me add this, when I tune into watching a race, having a clown like Rutledge
on my screen is an insult. I do understand that his performance is included to try and get fans to visit the tracks.
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See this is what Im talking about, I like Rut, you dont. It will never be 100%. Grab a beverage and watch the race and pay attention to what you like, follow along on the leaderboard, listen to the driver in car channels.
 
Spotter22 said:
See this is what Im talking about, I like Rut, you dont. It will never be 100%. Grab a beverage and watch the race and pay attention to what you like, follow along on the leaderboard, listen to the driver in car channels.
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Good advice, so many look for the opposite. Turning down the sound has worked for me since the playoffs. Doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that Rutledge's job is focused for the younger more active crowd.
 
StandOnIt said:
Good advice, so many look for the opposite. Turning down the sound has worked for me since the playoffs. Doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that Rutledge's job is focused for the younger more active crowd.
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I like Rutledge he brings a comical twist to the program. I take things serious when I'm working so I like the chance to enjoy a racing program that I don't have to take so serious.
 
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