Here is a prime reason the sport is in a decline. The nations economy is shaky, your fan base is fighting to keep their jobs, money is tight all around.
Your normal Sunday race at a not-in-the-top ten tracks list is rained out. Your race wasn't sold out either. Not even close.
What do you do? You put this on your website
"Fans that have not yet purchased tickets, may still buy tickets for the 90-lap event; tickets begin at just $55." 
One wonders how they stay in business.
it's on ESPN @ 10 am
I thought it was in decline because they only turn left for 90% of their races. But ticket prices that rival a Rolling Stones show could have something to do with it, too.
Also, $55 plus the three cases of Busch Light that each person will take to the race, so figure $70 haha.
The indy race at NHMS was pretty lightly attended as well. While I'm sure weather had an influence on the attendance, I wonder how that series is able to sustain itself.
the price for ALL entertainment is way up. Wether it is going to the movies, watching a race, or seeing a show. You are going to spend a fortune to go to the circus. At least bread is still cheap
Twin_Cam wrote: I thought it was in decline because they only turn left for 90% of their races.
Well, that, and because they cancel road races when it rains.
sachilles wrote: The indy race at NHMS was pretty lightly attended as well. While I'm sure weather had an influence on the attendance, I wonder how that series is able to sustain itself.
Indy 500:
350,000 fans
tickets average $100 or so
$35,000,000 ---- helps to keep series afloat
didn't they run that race in the rain a couple years ago too? what gives?
mad_machine wrote: At least bread is still cheap
have you bought bread recently? 
saw a Moody Blues concert about 6 weeks back....... 100 minutes of performing = $75.00 per ticket 
mad_machine wrote: At least bread is still cheap
To buy a "name brand" loaf of bread in Canada will cost you minimum $3, anything that tastes like actual good bread close to $5. What were you saying about bread?
great racing in the closing laps, crazy E36 M3 too, Marcos Ambrose takes the win !!
oldeskewltoy wrote: saw a Moody Blues concert about 6 weeks back....... 100 minutes of performing = $75.00 per ticket
One might argue that the Moody Blues are still somewhat relevant and useful to society, where as Nascar may not measure up so well...
me and the old man went to the Glen for the first time this weekend specifically for the Rolex series with the added bonus of NNS and Sprint cup. It was $70 for the whole weekend general admission. I had no intention on staying on Sunday for the Sprint cup race.
Even on a road course they are boring, we watched the first half of the Nationwide race in the grandstands in the Esses, which is pretty much the same thing.
mad_machine wrote: the price for ALL entertainment is way up. Wether it is going to the movies, watching a race, or seeing a show. You are going to spend a fortune to go to the circus. At least bread is still cheap
Funny, these days I never pay more than $5 for a movie. Our local multiplex had changed it's $5 for movies before 5:00pm Mon - Fri to 7 days, movies just got cheaper 
If I want to see a movie in 3d I go to the IMAX and prices there (with Membership) is only $11.75. When I was back in the UK in May it cost the equivalent of $16-7 to see a regular 2D movie.
The last concert I went to was Robert Plant, excellent value I thought at $65.
For other events I use GROUPON. We went to 'Thunder over Michigan' air show last month, 2 tickets for $25.
It's my experience that in this economy entertainment is getting cheaper, at least for anything I'm interested in.
I've been saying that the average working guy/girl probably makes $300 to $500 take home each week. Figure in the cost of living with fuel prices and people just don't have the cash to do any extra activities. Ticket prices at $50 for one race sure don't help. That goes for the people who have been able to keep their jobs, and way too many haven't. I kinda wonder how the Indycar race would have turned out if they only charged $5.00 to get in, or (gasp) offered FREE admission. My local short track had an event last year where they charged $10 a carload. I haven't seen the place that packed in years. The personnel in control really need to rethink ticket pricing policies in my opinion.
ncjay wrote: The personnel in control really need to rethink ticket pricing policies in my opinion.
They are just following the governement's/airline's lead.....
Ranger50 wrote: They are just following the governement's/airline's lead.....
YES! More political commentary on an automotive forum, this is exactly what I came here for! A+ would read again.
If they spend less on admission, they're going to spend more on concessions. If you have a ton more people there due to a lower ticket price, you're going to sell more $8 sodas.
I dunno, sounds like it might work out better to have reasonable ticket prices and fill all of the seats than have 3/4 of the seats empty.
All I am saying is "they" want $X in revenue with a current number of "users". Instead of trying to entice more users with cheaper prices, they raise the price, drive away a percentage of users while still retaining some previous users to stay at their $X in revenue. Sometimes you have to lose/spend money to make money.
Just look at NHRA. They have continuely shrank the benefits of being a member and spectator while raising prices and the stands show a direct result from it. Yet when you look at the salaries of the top people, they are continuing to rise. Also the "show" they provide is E36 M3ty from my point of view because they may as well call it, "As The World Turns Around John Force or Top Fuel". Boring!! There is more to drag racing then just those two racing.
sachilles wrote: The indy race at NHMS was pretty lightly attended as well. While I'm sure weather had an influence on the attendance, I wonder how that series is able to sustain itself.
The lite attendance of the NHMS had EVERYTHING to do with the dumb ass schedual...Who in there right mind would schedule a two segment race with 1st 25 laps at 9:30AM and the second at 6:30PM? Some dumb office jockey needs to go... I know at least 4 ACT racers who looked at the schedule and said WTF I'm not even going to bother when i can run the two other track in the area and get double the points as i would wasting the whole day at NHMS. But i hear it was a good show
Derick Freese wrote: If they spend less on admission, they're going to spend more on concessions. If you have a ton more people there due to a lower ticket price, you're going to sell more $8 sodas.
They are slowly figuring that out here in Atlantic City. Last month they had a concert with CCR and another older band.. they only charged TEN dollars a ticket and filled the arena. Later all those people went out into the casino and spent a minimum of $100 each.
By their costs.. The Trump Taj spent $80,000 to put the show on.. but saw a $100,000 increase in profits from the Casino Floor and restaraunts.
The ACT cars where the best show of the weekend. Even the Modifieds seemed to be having a hard time. Being the low series on the totem pole, I don't think the ACT folks had the prime choice the scheduling. However, doing split features like that is not out of the ordinary for them. While 4 may have opted out, a few more where asked(told) that they needed a bit more experience before they'd let them out on the oval to race. They still had a ton of cars. ACT in general puts on a real good show. Curley knows how to put on a good show. It's evident when that group hits the big track.
Back before they built the big oval at NHMS/NHIS, the same group of folks ran the old road course that was there. That was good fun to watch. I know they'd never run the road course that is there now, but I would sure love to see them give it a try.
44Dwarf wrote:sachilles wrote: The indy race at NHMS was pretty lightly attended as well. While I'm sure weather had an influence on the attendance, I wonder how that series is able to sustain itself.The lite attendance of the NHMS had EVERYTHING to do with the dumb ass schedual...Who in there right mind would schedule a two segment race with 1st 25 laps at 9:30AM and the second at 6:30PM? Some dumb office jockey needs to go... I know at least 4 ACT racers who looked at the schedule and said WTF I'm not even going to bother when i can run the two other track in the area and get double the points as i would wasting the whole day at NHMS. But i hear it was a good show
Um, the Indy car race was the main event, in one segment. The ACT and modifieds were used to fill in the day and maybe atract a few more people. Didn't seem to work to well.
actually the ACT guys and the modifieds were the day before. Basically got folks in the seats to see the Indy qualifying. Sunday was INDY lights and the regular indy cars only. They were separate tickets, for separate days.
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