Audience in decline?

[Dave]

So were the speeds down 10-15 Mph?

Yeah the pole was 215 and most of the race pace was 200's. Hard to hang on with high horsepower and low downforce! But it kept the cars from racing inches apart.

 

[mw6789]

Went to the Pate Swap Meet at Texas Motor Speedway one year and they were preparing for a Indy car race that if memory serves me correctly was cancelled because the speeds in the corners were faster than the drivers were physically able to withstand.

 

[Bullard Anderson]

Went to the Pate Swap Meet at Texas Motor Speedway one year and they were preparing for a Indy car race that if memory serves me correctly was cancelled because the speeds in the corners were faster than the drivers were physically able to withstand.

Mike that was CART. You are correct still.

I've really enjoyed IndyCar racing over the last few years.

I'd rank my favs as

1. Funny Car 2. Rest of NHRA 3 Truck Series 4 IndyCar 5 Dirt Late Models at any track

 

[Jon Asher]

Regarding the Texas IndyCar race, it’s important to remember that this is the only track of its type where the IndyCars run. Numerous track operators have publicly stated that they aren’t interested in even trying to promote an IndyCar event at their facilities (Kentucky Speedway comes to mind as but one).

When you talk about the Indy 500 let’s remember our history. Before the CART/IndyCar split, which effectively killed open wheel racing in North America, Pole Day for the 500 used to attract 200,000 paid spectators. Bump Day would pull in about 100,000. The race itself, including Standing Room, once attracted as many as 300,000-plus.

Now look at the numbers. With a reduced-fro-a-full-month-to-a-single-weekend affair, Pole Day pulls in about 10,000 and Bump Day proportionally less. IndyCar was “happy” to tout a crowd of close to 200,000 this year, but anyone with a pair of eyes could readily see wide swaths of empty grandstands on the television broadcast.

The Indy 500 is the ONLY successful event IndyCar has on their schedule, period. The Long Beach Grand Prix used to be a major league home run for them. No longer.

David Gawboy is right. All types of racing have seen a decline in live attendance, and that certainly includes drag racing.

What our sport has to do, and quickly, is figure out exactly why people aren’t coming out, and then change things so they want to return.

Jon Asher

 

[mick]

listened to collin cowherd this morning talk about the dismal ratings for
the final cup game last nite (nhl); he talked about..........
- the fact that nothing else was on TV last night, still poor ratings
- the NHL has great parity (9 different cup winners in 9 years)
- the NHL has strict salary caps, you can win without a big 'star'

so what does the NHL do? - they fill their arenas, with full understanding
that theirs is a niche' sport not even close to competing with the
'lions in the jungle', the nfl, nba and mlb and also recognizing their
TV ratings are dismal; they win on their own terms.

not going to badmouth the military and youth promotions the nhra has
already enacted, but what percentage of an event are these two
demographics?......small would be my guess.
provide ticket promotions everyone can participate in.

example: buy 4 cases of coca-cola products @ xyz stores and receive
a 50% off gen. admission ticket to upcoming nhra event.

figure something out with smart phones - i purchase a product with an
attached NHRA perk - the perk is somehow provided electronically - I show
this electronic 'coupon' at the gate and get my discount.

filling up the events - that's where the money is IMO.

 

[rckymtn3]

not going to badmouth the military and youth promotions the nhra has
already enacted, but what percentage of an event are these two
demographics?......small would be my guess.
provide ticket promotions everyone can participate in.

I totally agree with that. Now, having said that, allow me to say what my ultimate day is. Me, and perhaps 200 other fans, spread out, the stands all to ourselves, the pits open and easy to walk around, no one in your way in the stands, or at the transporters....takes you 10 minutes to leave the track...not good for the NHRA, but really good for me. I don't need a sea of people to enjoy a sport with. To me, it's not about being seen, it's about seeing the sport....so less is more.

My favorite Pomona days were the Thursday single pro qual days....the track was almost as I describe my ultimate day as.....

I know it's better for the sport if it's popular, but for me, I am not a crowd person...I go to matinee movies, and off-hour meals....

Wondering how many others feel this same way? You know it's good for the sport, but you really prefer less crowds....

 

[Jeff]

You'd make a great OPEC nation prince Kevin. Unfortunately, the crowds are necessary for the sport to grow and prosper, there are not enough deep pockets who stay interested for long enough to keep the sport alive.

You'd love most of the recent ADRL races, some of the best door slammer racing you'll ever see .... but a organization that is going to die without financial support.

I don't think any of us go to the races to be seen (I'm thinking the hot blonds and brunettes we appreciate at the races are NOT on this board) ... but we "appreciate" sharing it with the crowds because that is what it takes for the show to come again next year.

 

[mick]

......Wondering how many others feel this same way? You know it's good for the sport, but you really prefer less crowds....

couldn't agree with you more kevin, my self-serving ideal is the same as
yours - mass crowds are full of stupid people; they walk slow, stand where
they shouldn't, ask stupid questions and generally are annoying......
and this is all @ walmart getting ice, haven't even got to the track yet