Oct 1st, 2010 by T.C.
I’m talking to all of you who have become so angry and frustrated with NASCAR that you’ve vowed to no longer spend money on attending races or even watch on TV. There should be plenty of you out there, as it seems there has been quite a bit to be angry about this year. And the recent penalty/appeal denial for Clint Bowyer and RCR seems to have created even more. So if you fit in this crowd, read on, because I have a question for you.
Let’s say you live moderately close to a race track that currently hosts a Cup Series date. You live so close in fact, that to attend a race there, you wouldn’t need to spend money on any major travel or hotel rooms. You can literally just stay at your own house. And let’s also say the Cup Series is coming to town this weekend. So with all your anger and frustration, and the ability to use the economy as another excuse, you decide you won’t be attending. Screw NASCAR…
Now, what if this race track called you up and said “hey, we just want a good crowd this weekend, and we don’t care that you can’t pay. We will give you X number of tickets for free so both you and your family can attend the race.” Would you go?
If it was going to cost you nothing but your time, could you put aside your bad feelings towards the sport as whole, and just go enjoy a day at the race?
This scenario popped into my head this week as I listened to sports radio and read sports writers who talked about the recent ticket issue with the Tampa Bay Rays. In case you aren’t aware, the Rays were only able to draw a crowd of 12,000 a few nights ago, and they are in the thick of the playoff race. The question being raised, was what does it take to get fans to come out, if a winning team in a playoff race isn’t good enough?
Obviously attendance has been a big issue this season. Many races, including last week at Dover, have seen far lower attendance than they did in recent years. And I’m wondering if it’s really a money issue for people, or if it really is because people are so disenchanted with NASCAR that they would rather do something else with a Sunday then enjoy a race.
It seems many tracks have slashed ticket and food prices, and many are working with local establishments to lower prices on things like hotel rooms. Many are also offering unique fan experiences like pre and post race concerts, and even giveaways. But for some, it doesn’t seem to matter.
So I’m curious. Have you forgotten how much fun it is to go to a race? To camp out all week in the infield at Talladega and party like crazy; to head down to pit road on race morning and be among the crews while they prepare; to walk amongst the souvenir trailers and try to decide if you really need a fifth Kasey Kahne hat; to get chills at the end of the National Anthem when the fly-by jets scream over; to debate with your buddy the pit call that Bob Osborne just called out over the scanner; and to cheer like hell when the field comes out of turn four for the green flag. Do the perceived problems that NASCAR has really outweigh all of that?
As we head off to Kansas this week, I will leave you with only my initial question. If it didn’t cost you a dime, would you go?
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