Posted on 03/04/2015 6:16:54 PM PST by NormsRevenge
NEW YORK, March 4 (Reuters) - NASCAR calls it "right-sizing" but others see it as sign that something is terribly wrong with America's most popular motor sport as thousands of seats are being removed from tracks across the United States.
The sprawling Charlotte Motor Speedway, which once drew a crowd of 167,000, is removing 41,000 seats while tracks in Dover and Atlanta will chop capacity by at least 17,000.
"Right-sizing is the term," NASCAR's Chief Operating Officer Brent Dewar told Reuters after addressing the Sport Business Summit in midtown Manhattan on Wednesday. "It is what you are seeing in all sports properties is the transformation of making the fan experience greater."
With TV ratings on a steady decline the sight of empty seats has served as a glaring reminder of the problems facing NASCAR as the series tries to recapture the glory days of the 1990s.
But Dewar maintains that downsizing is not so much a sign of trouble but a sign of the times reflecting the race experience fans demand and the way they consume sports.
"What you are seeing at a lot of the tracks is widening of the seats, additional suite access, venues that allow a better fan experience," said Dewar. "It is not just going to the race; it is more than the race.
"That is the story you are seeing at many of the tracks, football stadiums and baseball parks. The fan expectation today going to a sports venue is changing."
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Those are all in the infield at MIS.
My friend has a Prius and we joke that someday there will be Prius 500. Mark my words.
Lots of problems and causes, but as with Tony George’s ruination of the Indy 500 the youngest France generation let the marketing tail wag the racing dog.
A cup only holds so much water. When the sun going behind a cloud or a flock of birds taking off merits a sponsor mention, you are in Overkill Land.
I just happened to watch some extended race footage from 1996-97 and it was amazing to see the focus on the competition i.e. the racing. Minimal graphics for the running order, sparse commercial interruptions, no fake yellow flags, no celebrity nonsense, no charity appeals, etc.
A new balance must be struck. But will the same people who abandoned Rockingham and sought out Sparta bleeding Kentucky listen to reason?
They'd have to schedule it for Speed Week.
It has a lot to do with the economy. Its expensive to go to a race these days.
Most boring car racing on the planet. It looks like 2 or 3 groups of ants going around in a circle. That’s what they wanted.
Restrictor plates was the kiss of death.
“My friend has a Prius and we joke that someday there will be Prius 500.”
“And here comes Wilson in the Whole Foods Prius, he’s back on the track after an incredible 45 minute pit charge!”
One big problem for Indianapolis is that the Simons and Irsays got the former Democrat mayor to give them $1.3 billion in taxpayer money for sports palaces. Two of the best in the country, BLF and LOS.
Fans go to the Speedway and walk into the crapper and think they’re back in the 70s.
The H-G family finally tapped the state last year for a mere 100 mil over 10 years but probably too little too late.
The spousal unit (wife) isn’t into nascar as much but will have it on and when it isn’t practical to go hang out elsewhere, I try my best to ignore it.
However, what little I pick up on is an endless drivel about all kinds of meaningless details and overloaded effects on screen.
A figure 8 track configuration would probably boost attendance considerably. Ovals have become so passe.
“as with Tony George’s ruination of the Indy 500”
Don’t forget that Roger Penske played a HUGE part in that clash of egos.
As an Indiana resident, it pains me to remember what the Indy 500 used to be.
The demise of USAC began with two events, Tony Hulman’s death, and the 1979 USAC plane crash that took out the top USAC leadership. That plane was piloted by my first flight-instructor, Don Mullendore.
I didn’t see any empty seats at Watkins Glen last August. Maybe they just need more right turns here and there.
Political correctness in NASCAR? huh?
It was dying before that, but 3’s death sped up the process.
Smokey Yunik is spinning in his grave!
That's got to be reassuring to Kyle Busch.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.