Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
Moderators: dirtonly  /  dmantx  /  hosehead

egras-

There's no question that the majority of tracks out there that think they can keep doing what they did in the 80's, because it worked then, are really going to grapple with this issue.

I highlighted 'majority,' as there are a few exceptions out there that seem to be impervious to change as a whole.

Kids are a huge impact at tracks. And if your local track is not working on kid attractions (like kids bike drawings, snow cone machines, a specified play area, kids bike races at intermission; etc.), then it's already impacted attendance.

But it's not just all kids either. You had mentioned casinos in your original post. They were not really part of the global entertainment options in the past, but now the majority of the population centers have casinos in their 'Saturday night drive' possibilities for entertainment. Yet, another slice of the pie being wedged in.

Performance Racing Industry recently published a feature story on this subject matter (not just the kids component, but several of the puzzle pieces pulling fans away from the track) that you may enjoy reading.

Here's a direct link to the article online: http://www.bluetoad.com/publication/?i=287978&p=98 

...give it a minute to load because they use a service provide to host the pages online. 

But one suggestion/possible partial solution for tracks on race night and trying to resolve the kids sports situation, would be to allow 'kids in their team uniforms to get in for 1/2 price.' Example: lets say the majority of kids sporting events end by sundown - about the time racing fires up. But by the time the family schleps all the way home to change, regroup, and travel to the track - it's too late or too much hassle. But if the kids know that it's not only OK - but 'cool' - to wear their team uniform to the track, then it could be a free 'vehicle' to get families to go right from one activity to another.

There are a multitude of things that tracks can do to take a stab at some of these new (and not so new) challenges. But they've got to at least try.

One thing hasn't changed over the years, good old fashioned legwork goes a long way to get fans and teams to support your track or series...but you have to accept that times have changed and you have competition from sources that weren't so impactful.

dmantx, I have posted numerous times that adult general admission for those 11 or 12 years and older is unfair to family's with teens.  They are the future generation of fans that most tracks are pricing out of the familys ability to pay, week after week.  Track promoters, owners and marketing experts should realize this, but most dont care about the future. 

I have copied and pasted from the Lucas Oil Speedway web-site, their schedule of admission prices for their weekly shows.  Note the charge for the youths, 6-15 years @ $5. and the reduced price for seniors and military.  Lucas Oil Company is without doubt the best company to be envolved in motorsports currently.  They recognise the market that should be targeted for future stability.  Why can't the others see the light?

There has been talk of fan attendance being down at a lot of shows--especially weekly shows it seems.  It seems like the WOO ruining sprint car racing has been brought up, the economy, yada yada yada.  What surprises me, is that no one has brought up the real culprit in the demise in not only grass roots race attendance but attendance in a lot of other entertainment brands.  KID'S SPORTS!!!!!!!  

I'm a father of three and two of my kids are in Jr. High right now.  I had not one open night in the entire month of June and I refuse to let my kids do the travelling club sports.  My nights are full enough just doing the local "free" town sports.  I had to skip my daughter's softball game to attend the WOO show in Rockford, but some folks won't miss one of their kids games for anything--because they have been told that they are bad parents. 

My wife and I used to get together with my sister (who lives 2 hours away) about once every two months and go out for a night on the town for supper and gambling.  Haven't done that in two years.  Why?  Her 11 year old son is in a ball tournament every single weekend from the 1st of April to the middle of July!!!!!  Then, when baseball is done, for some reason, they begin a mid-summer basketball league.  Followed by fall soccer league.  Followed by a 6 month basketball league.   We're not talking a quick game on Saturday morning.  We are talking entire weekends--sometimes beginning on Thursday nights and not ending until Sunday night. 

My point?  How can any of those people attend a race when they have been convinced that the only way their kid will play on their high school baseball team is to give up 6 full summers and drain their bank account?  How can people in their upper 50's to low 70's attend a race when all of the other grandparents are at little Johnny's baseball game in Timbucktoo.  (Some of them 6-8 hours away for 8 year old kids!)

I have to become the bad parent and not only skip a game here and there but if the kid wants to go to a race, I tell him he is going to have to skip a ballgame. 

Some of you may not think this is a big deal, but you are VERY mistaken.  Went to Dubuque Iowa for 4th of July.  Hit the casino on Saturday night.  Dead.  Usually packed on 4th weekend.  The bars--Dead.  Live bands.  Dead.  What did we see everywhere?  On Saturday the 3rd and Sunday the 4th?  Little kids with baseball uniforms and parents and grandparents all over the place.  Our hotel was packed with nothing but kids in tournaments. 

I remember the good old days when we mustered up 6-8 little league teams right in my little home town, we played on tuesday and thursday night for the month of June and then come Saturday night, my parents either took me to the race track or we went on a family vacation.

Those days are gone.  And with it, R.I.P. family night at the track, adult softball leagues, etc. etc. etc.

You may think I'm nuts, but I can name 50-100 people that would be at the local dirt track if it werent for their kids or grandkids sports being scheduled now every single weekend.  And I'm in a town of 3000. 

The economy is shifting--not tanking. 

Maybe you should read it then.

Make the price for higschoolers $5 a head. They'll start with a $20 bill anyway and spend the rest on concessions- guaranteed.

Thanks for keeping an eye on attendance. I know it's important to you. I'll keep watching the race. 

Not worried about.  The races I have attended this year have all been well represented. 

I've just seen a number of comments where fans are suprised by the low attendance at a few races this year.  Throwing in my two cents as to why I think those numbers are down--and will stay that way. 

Sorry for the input

There has been talk of fan attendance being down at a lot of shows--especially weekly shows it seems.  It seems like the WOO ruining sprint car racing has been brought up, the economy, yada yada yada.  What surprises me, is that no one has brought up the real culprit in the demise in not only grass roots race attendance but attendance in a lot of other entertainment brands.  KID'S SPORTS!!!!!!!  

I'm a father of three and two of my kids are in Jr. High right now.  I had not one open night in the entire month of June and I refuse to let my kids do the travelling club sports.  My nights are full enough just doing the local "free" town sports.  I had to skip my daughter's softball game to attend the WOO show in Rockford, but some folks won't miss one of their kids games for anything--because they have been told that they are bad parents. 

My wife and I used to get together with my sister (who lives 2 hours away) about once every two months and go out for a night on the town for supper and gambling.  Haven't done that in two years.  Why?  Her 11 year old son is in a ball tournament every single weekend from the 1st of April to the middle of July!!!!!  Then, when baseball is done, for some reason, they begin a mid-summer basketball league.  Followed by fall soccer league.  Followed by a 6 month basketball league.   We're not talking a quick game on Saturday morning.  We are talking entire weekends--sometimes beginning on Thursday nights and not ending until Sunday night. 

My point?  How can any of those people attend a race when they have been convinced that the only way their kid will play on their high school baseball team is to give up 6 full summers and drain their bank account?  How can people in their upper 50's to low 70's attend a race when all of the other grandparents are at little Johnny's baseball game in Timbucktoo.  (Some of them 6-8 hours away for 8 year old kids!)

I have to become the bad parent and not only skip a game here and there but if the kid wants to go to a race, I tell him he is going to have to skip a ballgame. 

Some of you may not think this is a big deal, but you are VERY mistaken.  Went to Dubuque Iowa for 4th of July.  Hit the casino on Saturday night.  Dead.  Usually packed on 4th weekend.  The bars--Dead.  Live bands.  Dead.  What did we see everywhere?  On Saturday the 3rd and Sunday the 4th?  Little kids with baseball uniforms and parents and grandparents all over the place.  Our hotel was packed with nothing but kids in tournaments. 

I remember the good old days when we mustered up 6-8 little league teams right in my little home town, we played on tuesday and thursday night for the month of June and then come Saturday night, my parents either took me to the race track or we went on a family vacation.

Those days are gone.  And with it, R.I.P. family night at the track, adult softball leagues, etc. etc. etc.

You may think I'm nuts, but I can name 50-100 people that would be at the local dirt track if it werent for their kids or grandkids sports being scheduled now every single weekend.  And I'm in a town of 3000. 

The economy is shifting--not tanking. 

dmantx, I have posted numerous times that adult general admission for those 11 or 12 years and older is unfair to family's with teens.  They are the future generation of fans that most tracks are pricing out of the familys ability to pay, week after week.  Track promoters, owners and marketing experts should realize this, but most dont care about the future. 

I have copied and pasted from the Lucas Oil Speedway web-site, their schedule of admission prices for their weekly shows.  Note the charge for the youths, 6-15 years @ $5. and the reduced price for seniors and military.  Lucas Oil Company is without doubt the best company to be envolved in motorsports currently.  They recognise the market that should be targeted for future stability.  Why can't the others see the light?

Thanks for keeping an eye on attendance. I know it's important to you. I'll keep watching the race. 

Make the price for higschoolers $5 a head. They'll start with a $20 bill anyway and spend the rest on concessions- guaranteed.

I witness the overboard sports dedication, and it drives me nuts.  It does not seem healthy or helpful to me.  I watched one of my friends get burnt out by his son's non stop lacrosse, and it didn't appear to help anyones quality of life, or opportunity at the next level.  I blame coaches who want to inflate their own importance, and specialty coaches looking to line their pockets.       I  played college lacrosse, and i don't think that the nonstop camps and tournaments really help.  I started in my junior year of high school, skipped 6 years while in the Navy, and was still a starter for 3 years in college.  Outside of the season, I played with race cars plenty and had a life.   I had plenty of teammates who lived the full time lacrosse life style growing up and they were no better than the pick up hockey, little league baseball, high school lacrosse and summertime surfer teammates. I have also coached and watched players come to me after spending a fortune on personal coaches.  They had inflated egos and bad habits built up by these "experts" that I had to fix as a volunteer coach.  Best bet, live a balanced life and work your ass of at practice and you'll make it.  52 weekends of tournaments is just putting laps on the engine, and your body doesn't get a rebuild.  I hope that makes sense.  My point is, bring the kid to the races, because if they have it, they'll make, if they don't have it, I hope they are smart.

Another Dick from the peanut gallery heard from

Your NASCAR mentality is showing. Crybaby fanbase. Just sit there and count seats and then complain about how bad the racing was. 

As I said, another Dick

Maddog---You NASCAR lovin' fan counter YOU!  Man, does that guy know you, or what? 

(I can also tell you like the Bears as well--see, we are all mind-readers) 

egras-

There's no question that the majority of tracks out there that think they can keep doing what they did in the 80's, because it worked then, are really going to grapple with this issue.

I highlighted 'majority,' as there are a few exceptions out there that seem to be impervious to change as a whole.

Kids are a huge impact at tracks. And if your local track is not working on kid attractions (like kids bike drawings, snow cone machines, a specified play area, kids bike races at intermission; etc.), then it's already impacted attendance.

But it's not just all kids either. You had mentioned casinos in your original post. They were not really part of the global entertainment options in the past, but now the majority of the population centers have casinos in their 'Saturday night drive' possibilities for entertainment. Yet, another slice of the pie being wedged in.

Performance Racing Industry recently published a feature story on this subject matter (not just the kids component, but several of the puzzle pieces pulling fans away from the track) that you may enjoy reading.

Here's a direct link to the article online: http://www.bluetoad.com/publication/?i=287978&p=98 

...give it a minute to load because they use a service provide to host the pages online. 

But one suggestion/possible partial solution for tracks on race night and trying to resolve the kids sports situation, would be to allow 'kids in their team uniforms to get in for 1/2 price.' Example: lets say the majority of kids sporting events end by sundown - about the time racing fires up. But by the time the family schleps all the way home to change, regroup, and travel to the track - it's too late or too much hassle. But if the kids know that it's not only OK - but 'cool' - to wear their team uniform to the track, then it could be a free 'vehicle' to get families to go right from one activity to another.

There are a multitude of things that tracks can do to take a stab at some of these new (and not so new) challenges. But they've got to at least try.

One thing hasn't changed over the years, good old fashioned legwork goes a long way to get fans and teams to support your track or series...but you have to accept that times have changed and you have competition from sources that weren't so impactful.