NASCAR race may fail to sell out

[underpants]

Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch

Economic downturn, added capacity may be responsible for excess

Friday, May 02, 2008 - 12:09 AM Updated: 08:18 AM
Richmond-area NASCAR fans might have a chance to do something that many have been unable to do for 16 years: buy tickets on race day at Richmond International Raceway.

With less than 24 hours before the start of the Nationwide Series Lipton Tea 250 today and 48 hours before tomorrow's Sprint Cup Dan Lowry 400, tickets are still available.

Selling out could be more difficult because the track has added 11,497 seats since 2000. The total, 112,029, includes 4,932 seats built for 2007.

If it doesn't sell out, this will be the first time the raceway hasn't done so in 32 Cup events. The track hosts two NASCAR race weekends and an Indy League race each year.

But a drop-off in ticket sales could be attributed to the price of gas and other expenses, which could cut down on traveling, NASCAR officials say.


Read more: http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/sports/autoracing.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-05-02-0181.html

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This is a bit of a shocker around here. The second the NEXT YEAR'S tickets go on sale, from my NASCAR friends tales, life stops and phone calls and clicks to buy tickets start. The "sell out a week in advance" must mean loose solo tickets or something because everyone I know who is a NASCAR fan finish "race week" by buying and then comparing their tickets for the race a year away.

There are two races here every year. I went to one a few years ago-good time (you can bring your own beer) but my wife and I agreed we would rather spend the money on a nice dinner AND a round of golf (for me :-) )

[Virginia Dare]

1. I like the Friday night race...

it's less crowded and pretty much the same drivers. It is a good time though...

Caught "The Boss" in Charlottesville the other night, it was a typically awesome Springsteen show!


:hi:

[underpants]

2. That's what I heard

The T-D raved about it and at least on DJ on WNRN (103.1-if you can pick it up) was just going on and on about the Bruce show.

I've never been much of a fan-great guy it seems I just didn't listen to him growing up. :shrug:

[Virginia Dare]

4. Like Buffett, his music translates better live than recorded..

it's more about his personality and his stage presence. I've been a big fan since the late-70's though.

He had some excellent commentary on wire-tapping and all of the affronts to the Constitution in the last 8 years, and dedicated his song "Magic" to the clown in chief, though not by name. He also plugged the Blue Ridge Food Bank quite a bit before and during the show.

You're right, he's a great guy.

[pattmarty]

20. Like his politics, not a big fan of his music. Don't like.........

.....Buffett at all. After hearing he did the "private" show for that fat ass hole and his trophy wife and he fucked Norml out of some money a few years back. Big phony, in my opinion.

[Virginia Dare]

29. I certainly won't defend any big name entertainers..

90% of them are phonies some more than others. But I don't look to the entertainment industry for sincerity and moral purity anyway.

[pattmarty]

30. Yeah, I'll second that. Of course Fox "news" says their all liberal loons.

:sarcasm:

[DAGDA56]

3. Just out of curiosity, what are the ticket prices?

Here in Orlando, Springsteen tickets went from $65 to $95...are major race tickets comparable? I really don't know.

[underpants]

5. The article says $35 and up but when we went the lowest ticket was $75

and those were the ones down low.

:shrug:

I always heard that the tickets went from $75 to several hundred bucks but I don't really know

[DAGDA56]

8. Thanks, that's around what I figured...for a family of four, that's a pretty big chunk

when you count parking and other expenses.

[underpants]

10. True

Huge cookouts. Good stuff but a really really long walk to the track (especially if you are the one carrying the cooler)

[SteveM]

23. Went to my first Daytona 500 in '64, cost under $10!...

I've gone to 400s and 500s there and one in Texas. But the tickets and now the transportation costs are biting into the budget. Looks like dirt track round 'n' rounds down the road in Kyle, Texas from now on!

[Kevin Cloyd]

24. Racing has sure changed over the years.

I used to live in the shadow of the turn one stands of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and have followed racing since the 60’s.

There are lots of changes in racing this year, CART has gone bankrupt and most of the CART trams have joined the Indy Racing League. Formula One has dropped the United States off their schedule, and there have been lots of empty seats in most of the NASCAR & IRL races I’ve seen on TV.

The Indy 500, which back in the 60's, 70's, 80’s and 90’s sold out and street prices were usually double the face value of a ticket hasn’t sold out for several years.

If unemployment was calculated like it was back in the 70's today's unemployment rate would be around 13%. Race fans (at least here in the Mid West) were middle class primarily.

Back in the 60’s and 70’s the infield at the Indy 500 was a huge party with open reefer smoking, and “show your tits” was chanted when ever a good looking girl walked by. Many complied with the request. Admission to the infield was $10.00 back then and seats in the stands ran from $20.00 for infield stands to $75.00 for the Vistas.

Back then the first day of qualifications would draw a crowd almost as large as race day (capacity was around 175,000 back then), last year it looked like the stands were at about 10% of capacity on Pole Day.

I sat in turn four in a race in the late 80’s and a big piece of carbon fiber came off the bottom of a side pod of a car and came to rest in the groove of turn four, everybody expected the yellow light to come on so it could be picked up. When the yellow didn’t come out the fans near the object all stood up and started pointing to the debris and waving their arms toward the TV cameras. Since the piece was the same color as the track it was nearly impossible to see unless a car running over it made it move, the fans became nearly hysterical attempting to draw the attention of the officials to the hazard. Finally the yellow came out and the debris was removed.

Last year Jeff Gordon broke one of Dale Ernhardt’s records. When Jeff took the checkered flag Ernhardt fans threw thousands of bottles onto the track.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

6. Just out of curiosity, what is nascar?

every time I get polled, I get asked if I am a fan.

[bpj62]

11. Nascar

National Association Stock Car Auto Racing.

[pattmarty]

14. B-O-R-I-N-G

[ChairmanAgnostic]

15. L-O-L !

[lonestarnot]

22. A waste of gas, ears, cleanliness, time and money.

[MadinMo]

25. An OBSCENE waste of gas

[ckramer]

28. Nonsensical Automobile Sadomasochistic Craziness Abusing Resources

(N)onsensical (A)utomobile (S)adomasochistic (C)raziness (A)busing (R)esources

NASCAR is sick.

[zbdent]

7. look for a bailout by the Government ...

[MikeNearMcChord]

9. I think sporting events will be hit even more.

If you got season tickets, it is one thing, but the Joe Fans are cutting back. Stadium prices are crazy. I suspect theaters also.

[hatrack]

27. Not just sporting events, either - been to a concert lately?

A friend called yesterday with a ticket to The Police/Elvis Costello. Great seats, eighth row floor, but $210. For one ticket.

In case you hadn't guessed, I'm not going, though it would be fun.

[smiley_glad_hands]

12. I went once a few years with my wife and some family that are regulars.

I've been banned by my wife from ever going to another race. I'll leave it at that.

[Billy Burnett]

13. Time for another tax cut to track and team owners.

Y'know the deal. Public risk --> private profit.

[sasquatch]

16. NASCAR has hit saturation point

NASCAR was really popular in the late 90's because:
-they had no labor problems, because almost anyone can drive a car.
-teams began hiring WASPY looking 20 something drivers because of the first reason.
-white only participants and American national orientation started stealing fans away from hockey, baseball, bowling or golf.
-the intense rivalry between Dale Earnhardt(Southerner) and Jeff Gordon(Yankee).
-a lot of desposible income nationwide cause of the Clinton economy, this also made it economicly more viable in newer non-traditional NASCAR regions of the country like Delaware and California.

These reasons led NASCAR to stop holding all of its races primarily in the South and started moving races away from tradiotional hard-core fan bases to much more affluent but less enthusiastic fans. So when the economy went into the latrine areas of the country where fans aren't necessarily as enthusiastic as those in the South stopped seeing it as a necessity to go to a race, but NASCAR is stuck with their lineup for now. A good lesson for NASCAR: a bird in the hand is worth more than two in the bush.

[underpants]

19. Two points

a few years ago I was picking up my car from the shop and while I was standing there I saw a banner for Goodyear or something. There were 5 guys in baseball caps pictured. Swear to God I thought "My do they have all those second basemen...oh they are NASCAR drivers" I looked close and recognized Jeff Gordon

You may be right about over expansion. That is partly what did in the NHL too-getting away from lifelong generations-old fans.


ONe more thing-I know some people who suddenly "became" NASCAR fans...it was the trendy thing to do.

[NashVegas]

31. More

Tobacco advertisers could plaster their logo on cars and track banners and be seen on TV.

I strongly suspect the networks were given sweetheart deals to carry the races early in. There was a point where you could turn on your TV on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon and two or more of the major networks had a race on. There was not enough of a market to justify that kind of coverage.

[sasquatch]

32. Hell the premier racing league was named "Winston" after "Winston-Salem Tobacco"

[L0oniX]

17. Good ...it's time to stop the love affair with cars which is all advertising psych anyway.

[Blue_Tires]

18. this is the part where i go into my "nascar isn't real racing" -schtick

but i will try to come out and see the Indycars....Maybe i can crash at your place, underpants?B-)

[underpants]

21. Don't say CRASH

:bounce:

[One_Life_To_Give]

26. But can I get Bristol tickets?

I think you will find people will be more selective in which races they attend. Perhaps only go to one or two of the close races and settle for watching the rest on TV.

I suspect Chrissy Wallace and perhaps Marc Davis will bring alot of new fans to the sport next year.
Chrissy has already signed to run for Rookie of the Year in the Trucks. And Marc I believe is waiting for his 18th birthday. And of course Randy Moss may or may not have some impact in encouraging non-traditional fans to take an interest in the sport.