d'kid
Nitro Member
Why?
Do you think Bruton is going to go broke? I just think he's going to wait for the NHRA as we know it to go broke and buy up the remains...
d'kid
Nitromater
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It never fails.....
- Thread starter Toejam
- Start date
Why?
Do you think Bruton is going to go broke? I just think he's going to wait for the NHRA as we know it to go broke and buy up the remains...
d'kid
Yet you do not attend correct?
vegasnitro
Nitro Member
It's the economy, period. Tickets cost too much, parking costs too much, concessions cost too much, souvenirs costs too much, gasoline costs too much and travel costs too much and is usually a giant hassle.
20 years ago, a guy making $12/hr could afford the $25 dollar tickets, the $5 parking, the $3 cokes and the $15 TShirt for the kid. That same guy now has to significantly plan out the $60 ticket, $20 parking, $4 per gallon gas and $30 TShirt for the kid. God forbid he want to have a beer or feed himself or the kid at the track.
As the crowds dwindle, all of the costs will continue to go up, so they will continue to make the same amount of money until no one shows up. I feel we are about at that tipping point now. Particularly with the Internet and HDTV and DVRs, it is just too easy to stay home.
It is not just the NHRA, it is everything sports/entertainment related, but the NHRA has a smaller well from which to draw the water versus the NFL, concert tours, movies and so on, thus the NHRA is significantly more exposed. There is going to have to be a paradigm shift in the way all entertainment is presented and there will be casualties until it is figured out.
20 years ago, a guy making $12/hr could afford the $25 dollar tickets, the $5 parking, the $3 cokes and the $15 TShirt for the kid. That same guy now has to significantly plan out the $60 ticket, $20 parking, $4 per gallon gas and $30 TShirt for the kid. God forbid he want to have a beer or feed himself or the kid at the track.
As the crowds dwindle, all of the costs will continue to go up, so they will continue to make the same amount of money until no one shows up. I feel we are about at that tipping point now. Particularly with the Internet and HDTV and DVRs, it is just too easy to stay home.
It is not just the NHRA, it is everything sports/entertainment related, but the NHRA has a smaller well from which to draw the water versus the NFL, concert tours, movies and so on, thus the NHRA is significantly more exposed. There is going to have to be a paradigm shift in the way all entertainment is presented and there will be casualties until it is figured out.
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Sean D, shondoo
Nitro Member
I don't know if you can say, "period", Chris. Everything you stated is true, but the sanctioning body bears a load here whether anyone likes it or not. The rules are 100% in their control and they've done a poor job keeping the costs in line for the racers through those rules.
Sean D
I've been in business my entire life. If I worry at what's happening today, and not the trends coming, i'll be history in 5 short years.
With that said, I am 54 years old. It does not matter if "I" attend. I'm from the motorhead generation, and just being on this site should say that I am still interested in the NHRA..
The question you should be asking is this: Are kids in the age bracket of 10-25 years in age attending and excited? Are they interested in cars as we were?
Would they/are they connecting with racing?
I think not. Just look at the stands.
If you watch, the issues kids are more interested in are 180 degrees from cars and pollution. We grew up fixing cars, they are growing up with a video game and an IPhone welded to their face.
This is the group that we are talking about that will determine if the NHRA, or any motorsport survives past 2025.
Don't be worrying if I buy tickets, be worrying if the kids show up in masses like they once did.
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vegasnitro
Nitro Member
I agree to a degree, but if no one buys a ticket it doesn't matter what the rules are.
I have family who have been in the Marketing/advertising business over 30 years, hearing somebody who complains about something they don't support goes in one ear and out the other! Now somebody who just attended a race and has comments is another!
Dave
Nitro Member
It does if the rules are why people aren't buying a ticket.
As with many issues, it is a combination of forces. Many of the points a lot of you have made are correct but none are the only or final reason.
Yes the economy, yes the prices, yes the moves by the sanctioning body, sure they average NHRA fan may be older but it’s not as bad as you think.
There are kids still loving cars, check out X games stuff. They just added some weird drifting, racing something event.
When I pull into the staging lanes at the local track, there are a lot of younger people there. Now getting them to fork over the bigger money to go to a national event is the next step.
My kids and I are heading to 131 this weekend for a race. It’s not NHRA, but it is a drag race and in the end that is what I am a fan of anyway.
Alot of it does come down to price. This weekend we have the choice of Norwalk Nite of Fire or the IHRA Thunder Jam at Martin(131). Both are 2 hours from me. Both will be great shows but the IHRA race is half the cost. After I buy 4 or 5 ticket that is huge money. In addition I am trying to bring along a few rookies with me. I have a better shot at selling them on spending $20 or $25 on something new then $50
Yes the economy, yes the prices, yes the moves by the sanctioning body, sure they average NHRA fan may be older but it’s not as bad as you think.
There are kids still loving cars, check out X games stuff. They just added some weird drifting, racing something event.
When I pull into the staging lanes at the local track, there are a lot of younger people there. Now getting them to fork over the bigger money to go to a national event is the next step.
My kids and I are heading to 131 this weekend for a race. It’s not NHRA, but it is a drag race and in the end that is what I am a fan of anyway.
Alot of it does come down to price. This weekend we have the choice of Norwalk Nite of Fire or the IHRA Thunder Jam at Martin(131). Both are 2 hours from me. Both will be great shows but the IHRA race is half the cost. After I buy 4 or 5 ticket that is huge money. In addition I am trying to bring along a few rookies with me. I have a better shot at selling them on spending $20 or $25 on something new then $50
MM
Nitro Member
PJ, make sure to come by and say hello this weekend.
JRX
Nitro Member
The girls and I will be there. Love that track. It's close for us, but it still takes a good amount of cash to go. Bringing a cooler to keep in the car helps, but the concession stand prices hurt.
We didn't attend the Joliet race this year, just a bit too expensive for the four of us.
MM
Nitro Member
Didn't realize that. I'll have to go get em. Thanks Mike
Does this count as a thread de-rail
Now you can use the money you saved on Chi-Town Hustler t-shirts!
On the thread de-rail........probably.
mick
Nitro Member
next week am bringing to BIR......
18 yr. old son: 4th or 5th time starting somewhere around 10 yrs. old
25 yr. old son: 7th or 8th time starting somewhere around 10 yrs. old
25 yr. old son's friend of similar age will be a newbie, he can't wait.
cost to me: a lot
who cares, gonna' be a blast.
18 yr. old son: 4th or 5th time starting somewhere around 10 yrs. old
25 yr. old son: 7th or 8th time starting somewhere around 10 yrs. old
25 yr. old son's friend of similar age will be a newbie, he can't wait.
cost to me: a lot
who cares, gonna' be a blast.
Von Halen
Nitro Member
PJ, if you were at Night Under Fire last year, the tickets are 50% off this year! (Rain last year)
Only 4 Fuel Funny Cars, but a lot of other stuff going on too. Not to mention the badass fireworks at the end.
Joe, I have not been to a NHRA National event since they went to 1000'. I was at the last 1/4 mile race, the one at Norwalk. 1000' was just the last straw for me. If I continue to be a sheep, and keep going no matter what the NHRA brass decides, then they will continue to force down our throats whatever they want. Only to benefit them, and not us, the fans. I am 50 years old, and grew up at the AHRA and NHRA events. I had a very unique privilege in my childhood. I didn't just run up and jump on the tailgate of that station wagon with The Greek for a photo op. Now, I realize things change, and there is no way to get back to those "good ole days", but sometimes you need to take a step back. Reevaluate. 3 second 1000' times aren't bringing in the fans in droves. Cookie cutter cars aren't bringing in the fans in droves. Huge multiple car teams aren't bringing in the fans in droves. The politically correct standard interviews aren't bringing in the fans in droves. The NHRA doesn't seem to want the Al Hoffman's, Whit Bazemore's, or Scotty Cannon's. They seem to want a nice shiny product, that they can charge a premium for. The problem is, they aren't giving us a premium show, and they don't care that they're not. Pro Mods at 10 lousy events? Are you fricking kidding me? What, aren't they cookie cutter enough? Are they too wild, with too much character for today's NHRA?
Quite simply, the NHRA has gotten stale and boring. At an outrageous cost to attend. Sorry, but the fact is, there needs to be more excitement. It needs to be more of a show, with a race involved. 2 cookie cutter cars going in a straight line for 3+ seconds, just isn't enough to interest most of todays generation, or even the older generation like myself.
mw6789
Nitro Member
Well said Vaughn. Last NHRA race I attended was the WinterNationals in Pomona 2010. Went mainly for the nostalgia car show. After the parade of the old fuelers and after the semi finals, I left. Really didnt care which one of the "cookie cutter" cars won (actually correctly predicted all 3 winners). I have attented Indy, Pomona, and various other NHRA events MANY times since my first race in 1981, but unless it is something special like the nostalgia cars, I have no interest. Usually check the winners on Monday and seldom even spend the effort to watch on TV.
Silly Savage
Nitro Member
So are you saying Nostalgia racing is made up of Disgruntled NHRA fans now?
Sounds about right actually....
