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May 07, 2008
Race Attendance Vs The Price of Going
By Keith Ott
We NASCAR
fans are a nation of sport crazy nomads. No other sporting genre in America draws crowds from a larger
geographical area than a NASCAR race does. It has to be that way. There’s
only one Cup race per weekend, and, if you want to see it live, you have to go to
it. That means one thing in
America. While formerly known as the gas
and go, it now has such titles as, “The gas and cry,” “#!@###! OPEC,” and, “Pump
pain.” It doesn’t matter what you call it,
you have to do it to get there. Which
brings up the question, “Where do you draw the line between gas prices,
expenses, and attending.”
What is your comfort zone?
Me, I have
no comfort zone. Call me, “Low
end.” I have a comfortable
lifestyle. I have my toys and hobbies,
but I just can’t see the price of travel and a ticket to most events. I’m a bit on the green side too, so 30k+ cars
idling fumes waiting hours to get in doesn’t thrill me. My options, as I see them, are…
Don’t go. I have a 60” HDTV. A restroom not
shared with 150k of my new best friends. There are no lines for burgers, wings, pink hotdogs, or beers. Which are not, at home at least, $5 a
pop.
A bus trip. Still expensive but it solved most of above except the 150k in the
restroom and the food, and beer.
The Local track. Cheap tickets, no wait, good prices, military discount. You’ll find me here www.langley-speedway.com. I won’t make it a link because I have no
association with the track except fun. Besides, you have your own in your area.
Actually, I
can see a lot of fans embracing their racing fix at local tracks. A family adventure where you don’t have to
sell the first born to attend.
So, that’s
my comfort zone. What’s yours? How do you
and yours deal with the growing expense of being a fan?
May 7, 2008 | Permalink
Comments
I pay bills like everyone else, but my "comfort zone" is dictated less by cost than by my work schedule. At some point fans need to suck it up and take the hit to go to a race.
Posted by: Mike Daly | May 7, 2008 2:19:00 PM
I went to Talladega 2 weeks ago.
tickets for 2 $420.00
3 nights hotel $400.00
gas to drive 1536 round trip $425.00
Seeing Talladega Superspeedway, miles of campers, tent, and port-a-pot, people drinking and driving, and doing the best they could with beads to get girls to lift their top to see if they had the MISSING BLACK DEVICE! Priceless.
Posted by: Diane Sadler | May 7, 2008 2:29:57 PM
I should add the tickets were a VIP package
Posted by: Diane Sadler | May 7, 2008 2:31:38 PM
Last year my bill for going to Charlotte, attending the Nationwide (then Busch) and Sprint Cup races, was $736. this year with the increased cost of ticket, gasoline and camping, it will be $811.
I may stay home.
Posted by: Ron | May 7, 2008 2:37:59 PM
Mike Daly,
Spoken like the true fan I know you are. My point was that how many hits can a fan do now with increased prices for fuel, etc.
What would Daly's limit be?
Posted by: Keith | May 7, 2008 2:49:48 PM
I've had my infield season ticket to California Speedway for one season and that's enough for me - I'm not infinetly wealthy. The stay-at-home, avoid the crowd and lines, the tube (which allows you to see much more than being there) and everything I need just a few feet from my recliner works real well for me...
Posted by: MadDog | May 7, 2008 2:49:48 PM
I'm also going to both Dover races.
I have 4 seats for both @ $100.00 each.
That is a day trip for me.
Posted by: Diane Sadler | May 7, 2008 2:57:53 PM
Last year, I treated my kids and their spouses to the All Star race, Atlanta (they paid hotel) and Coca Cola 600 in Charlotte. Probably forked out just under $2,000 last year. No, I'm not a rich widow, but I had the funds at the time and don't regret the blast we all had.
This year, I've spent about $300 for Darlington tix that include NW Fri night (military bennie). It's only 35 minutes away, so gas shouldn't be horrible. One tank in my daughter's car instead of two tanks in my truck.
We're talking about Charlotte in the fall, but I'm not treating them to tix. I'll go alone if I have to. Next year, I really want to make Dega, both Dovers, Martinsville and maybe CC600. That's how I indulge my passion and I don't regret it. Nothing like a live race, all those negatives considered.
And Keith, the ladies restroom has way more than 150K passing through the stalls. ;-}
Posted by: Doris | May 7, 2008 3:41:53 PM
My comfort zone limits is when it affects my ability to do everyday stuff at home. Here is my suggestion. I myself, planed a vaction to Florida around the Daytona 500. Killing two birds with one stone made the experience great as part of being there. As far as the local cup track, its 25 miles from home so no real cost other than the tickets and some souvenirs
Posted by: Bob | May 7, 2008 3:55:42 PM
Anniversary Trip is what I call mine, that way hubby can't refuse. Price to Dega in the Fall, 4-tickets $680.00, diesel pulling our room- $ who knows this year,(Northern Ky-Dega) camping- $180.00, Crap its worth it just to go Dega and be in the middle of it.
Posted by: Graceann | May 7, 2008 4:41:13 PM
Went to Richmond from New York with two other guys in a motor home. The total weekend including Friday and Saturday races tickets, food, parking fees and gas cost us $390.00 each. Well within my comfort zone and had a great time. Hell lap 397 alone was worth the price!
Posted by: Peter | May 7, 2008 4:57:12 PM
My comfort zone of late is right in front of the TV. Laying on the couch, drinkin' whatever beer I happen to fancy that afternoon, and thinkin' "Damn, I used to be able to afford to go there".
I can make do with the broadcast, MRN, and Trackpass - it's not ideal, but it does in a pinch.
Yeah, I'm a fan...yeah, I have tickets in the family at the ready...but when a round trip gas bill equates to a half a house payment, or a truck payment, or a month of daycare, or...
Just makes you REAL selective about where you attend. I will be going to Gateway this year - but only 'cause I'll be in St. Louis anyway! I'm a cheater!
And this year my local track has provided better racing than TMS has anyway, and that's the most important thing. The sanctioning body doesn't guarantee the quality of racing, and the NCW Series puts on a damned good show.
Posted by: the6and9 | May 7, 2008 5:00:37 PM
Well Keith......for me and my softball buds,we alternate buying tix to 3 races.The Darlington race is only about 4o miles away and we just get there the day of the race and tailgate and drive home that evening.Same with Charlotte for the 600.The tix for 6 of us was a little over 600.I usually do the cooking.In the past I would overdo it with chicken,pork,chops and brats.The last year and this year at the Rock we did the burgers and dogs things to ease up the spending.That will be in order this weekend and at Charlotte.We have talked about ventureing out to Dover or Atlanta,but Dega is my fav.Man,the way things are and with me having a new little one..the 52 inch we watch the other races on at the house is just a bit cheaper!Plus we play ball out of town at least 2 weeks a month from March till Oct and finish up with a big trip to the Disney Complex.My income ain't going up so.....
It's tough to miss that tire smell and fuel smell.My gosh the beer is the most expensive thing we do!!Might be a good time for those wings and Busch lite!And I'm getting to old to dive after softballs!I need to re-do the racing/softball budget!!
Posted by: DJ | May 7, 2008 5:04:36 PM
LOL, who would ever think NASCAR fans might have issues with expenses? Certainly not NASCAR.
While I think the best place ever to see a race is in person, NASCAR has moved venues; sought a different demographic; and basically said, "Move with us or, whatever." Gas prices might bring them back to thinking fans at the track are important.
Posted by: Keith | May 7, 2008 5:10:59 PM
Doris,
I have a secret clearance. I know what goes on in the ladies head...LOL
Posted by: Keith | May 7, 2008 5:15:39 PM
LOL, you guys are great....
Bob combines racing and vacation.
Graceanne uses anniversary guilt to achieve her goal.
Peter can afford it so he goes with the gusto.
Posted by: Keith | May 7, 2008 5:20:40 PM
DJ,
I'm from Buffalo (Well, close, but that's neither here nor there) I have wing recipes for ya.
Posted by: Keith | May 7, 2008 5:26:05 PM
Well Chief this might be the first year I don't attend at least 1 Cup race...I use to hit Bristol in the Spring and Fall...dropped the Spring race after getting too sun burned, Lowes-EVERYTHING, Trucks, Dirt, Busch, All Star, 500 and 600, toss in Darlington and Martinsville once a year, But in the past 2 years Ticket prices have out paced other sports! And of course the Brain Trust in my company use fuzzy math to pay us less to produce more and more...so I'm protesting, a Sabbatical if you will. I live 2 hrs from Bristol, 2 hrs from Martinsville, 3 hrs from Darlington, and a hop skip and a jump from Lowes's(60 miles)...I learned early on...I stop at Bo-Jangles get a bucket of chicken and some Sweet Tea and I'm good to go...at Martinsville however all bets are off, Gimme a dozen of these Martinsville dogs or Balogna bugers and a Ice Cold Sundrop and call it Nirvana!
On a serious note it has gotten to the point the the "Common Fan" cannot afford to take there family to a race...Thats my luxury living where I do. I try to get to my local Short tracks Home @Hickory, Tri-County in Hudson, Antioch BF Eygpt, and Concord Motorsports Park and I encourage everyone to support your local track!
One thing I wanted to touch on Chief, Back in the early 90's The Nascar Weekly series sent out P&R guys to help us car owners attract sponsors (#25 Budwieser Oldsmobile)...The problem was potential sponsors see Cup, then come to our "office" and leave a little jaded because of anemities...I've never been to Langley, But at least Elko Speedway now host a Busch East race! and they have greatly improved the facilities!
Posted by: Fan #5 | May 7, 2008 6:09:03 PM
Mike Daly - "I pay bills like everyone else, but my "comfort zone" is dictated less by cost than by my work schedule. At some point fans need to suck it up and take the hit to go to a race."
But Daly, whatever happened to your lie you spread for 3-4 months? You know the one, the one where lower attendance was the result of poor management on the part of ISC and other track owners to the total exclusion of any other reasons.
Whatever happened, finally see a touch of reality and jumped on the high prices/bad econ bandwagon? (Fat Chance of that!)
As far as me attending and event this year, I'll make a deal with anyone here, you pay me 1/10th of my 12,000 mile journey via one of those big silver birds and I'll be there.
Posted by: marc | May 7, 2008 6:30:11 PM
LOL, Marc,
Always got to tax the brain of the old sailor don't ya?
Let's see, 24 hours in a day. The Earth's circumference is ~24900 miles...So, that puts you @12000 miles + or - 2 degs opposite from Richmond.
I want a tee shirt!!!
Posted by: Keith | May 7, 2008 8:04:26 PM
#5,
That's exactly what I was looking for. Common, although I hardly consider myself or any fan common, fans that have to give up something to attend events.
Do they owe us anything? No freakin' way. It's all about business. If you want to see the stars you have to pony up. It's the only show in town.
Now, my other shoe says, "Do we owe them anything?" pssssst, down here (I'm old and it's an old shoe), ok got it...No freakin' way. Basically , old shoe said that if we don't watch, who would care. He also rambled on about how the T35 just glorified big teams who actually had to race in the past to become big teams but are too afraid to lose what they got by racing. That shoe has a mean tongue.
LOL, we'll get ya to Langley. Depending on who's in, we'll get ya onboard a few of Americas finest warships, too.
Posted by: Keith | May 7, 2008 9:41:35 PM
I attend a race when the following items all come into synchronous alignment:
-I am on leave (military)
-My wife is in a generous mood (it means leaving her with the kids)
-I have the money to spare
-The race has to be at a track worth attending a race at.
All of these happen, at the same time, once a year at best. The last one, most folks call me on it and say I am not a true fan if I won't go to any race. Well, I abso-tively refuse to pay the outlandish price of season tickets (the only kind to be had) for Kansas Speedway, my "home" track, to see stock cars go around a track made for Indy cars, with 9.73 seconds between 1st and 2nd place and 4 green flag passes. (I am being facetious, but you get the point). For this same reason I will never attend a race at Fontana, Indy, or Chicagoland.
I will pay out the nose and fly there anytime I can afford to to see a race at Daytona, Martinsville, Talladega, Richmond, Loudon, Dover or Darlington. Atlanta used to make that list, but with the new car that remains to be seen.
Allow me a small tangent here regarding gas prices: as long as folks continue to pay, the prices will keep going up. Kind of like my kids; if I keep letting them get away with sh*t, they will misbehave more and more.
Keith,
You in the military? I catch your references every now and then. Just curious. I'm an Engineer out here at Fort Riley.
Posted by: Joe | May 7, 2008 9:47:17 PM
F5,
You are spot on; it used to be something I could make happen usually on semi-short notice, but it is now definitely a luxury.
Posted by: Joe | May 7, 2008 9:57:13 PM
Graceann,
Any tips for turning the wife into as much a fan as yourself? She likes Edwards, but JUST Edwards; not "the 99", or anything else involved (although she was just as much "WTF???" at the 18's shenanigans last week as I was, so there is hope!).
Posted by: Joe | May 7, 2008 10:02:25 PM
Joe,
Proud for your continuing service, and your wifes generous, and I'm sure reciprocated, appreciative mood. I'm FCCS(SW/AW) Keith Ott Ret. at your service.
Military life is NASCAR. It's a shame that it's easier to get tickets to (political censorship by me, because I was getting political) than it is to get tickets to a race.
"Well, I abso-tively refuse to pay the outlandish price of season tickets (the only kind to be had) for Kansas Speedway, my "home" track, to see stock cars go around a track made for Indy cars, with 9.73 seconds between 1st and 2nd place and 4 green flag passes." - Joe
Joe, if you weren't married, and I had a spare daughter, she'd be yours. I'd even let you touch the remote. (It's a man thing. You girls wouldn't understand.)
I'm not sure they don't, but it would seem like a no brainer to me for tracks to heavily discount active duty, and our reservists of course, tickets. Ya ever seen a bunch of happy troops/sailors eat and spend? It's a win win.
Posted by: Keith | May 7, 2008 10:24:14 PM
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