Click Here To Find Cool Nascar Items!

There was an interesting piece today from the Daytona Beach News Journal about how hotels in the Daytona area are working harder to get fans to come and stay for the 500.  The article mentioned that average hotel prices are down significantly since 2008, and that ticket prices for the 500 have also come down.  Obviously the price drops are a symptom of the falling attendance that NASCAR has experienced over the last couple of years, but while it’s good to see the cost of attending a race is falling, we need more and quicker.

A sidebar to the News Journal article shows the average nightly rate for Daytona area hotels in February since 2001.  It’s interesting to note that between 2001 and 2008, the average rate rose $47.26.  But from that high in 2008, rates are only back down $26.73 on average.  I understand that other factors like inflation are in play here, but simple supply-and-demand says prices should be lower.

Tracks have also gotten into the act, with most dropping seat prices and allowing for greater flexibility with payment and package options.  Many have also experimented with adding different seating and camping areas, and other entertainment options like pre and post-race concerts.  But again, with so many empty seats, it would seem that more could be done to get fans back to the track.

According to the experts, one big area where viewership is down, is with the younger demographic.  NASCAR’s main audience has skewed older, and is now the highest of any major sport.  I believe one way in which this could be combated is with lower prices.  They want younger fans to come to the track and watch on television, so make it more affordable for those younger fans to experience NASCAR.

My whole point here is that NASCAR and the tracks should be working towards a new pricing model.  They’ve obviously seen that the sport isn’t strong enough to continue charging high prices in a bad economy.  So instead, why not go in a different direction?  Why not make NASCAR the best value in sports?  Price the tickets for races so low that fans have no other choice but to come out.

Something I’ve never understood about sports, is that when attendance is suffering, why venues don’t do more with ticket prices.  Isn’t it better to have the place full with lower prices and maybe more free tickets, than to have an arena 50% full at full price?  The more fans in attendance, the more consumers you have to sell food, beverages, and merchandise too.  You are also able to build a relationship with that fan that could spawn loyalty and future purchases.  This is what NASCAR is missing right now.

It appears that creating a fantastic product on the track hasn’t done much in the way to coax people back to the track.  While we have had the same champion for the past five seasons, the racing has never been closer in the history of the sport.  So if the product is good, and people still aren’t showing, what’s left to do?  Lower those prices.  Make it more affordable for those blue collar families to come and enjoy racing, and you’ll get that younger demographic back.  Families will bring the kids that will be ticket buyers in the future, and younger people will come out to have a good time because it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.

The sport as a whole is experiencing a correction because of the bad economy.  We are seeing it with everything from sponsorships to ticket prices.  Everyone wants more value for the dollars they are spending.  For the fans, I say leave the product as it is, and add value by bringing down the prices.  If you drop them (the prices), they will come.

TheNASCARInsiders.com

Follow the Insiders on Twitter or be a fan on Facebook!

Click Here To Find Cool Nascar Items!

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?

TheNASCARInsiders.com

Follow the Insiders on Twitter or be a fan on Facebook!