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

The crowd tonight was one of the worst Wednesday crowds I can remember since the backstretch stands were installed. I figured with gas prices that attendance might slip a little this year, but if the back stretch is supposed to hold 7,300 I would estimate there was only 2,000 sold.  The front stretch seemed about normal for a Wednesday show.  Some empty seats in the bottom 7 rows.  Has to be a tough blow for the track though. Hopefully something can be done to fill those seats next year.

Eric Arnold
Social Media Manager & Track Historian
Knoxville Raceway

ok, so rough estimate about this "tough blow" for Knoxville. The purse tonight was roughly $80k. Being very conservative, there were at least 12,000 people there paying $38 a pop. Not including concessions, poor Knoxville grossed around $450k in ticket sales tonight with my very conservative estimate. I don't know how they'll go on.

Yes, Knoxville is still a money making machine.... but come on, that's a lot of ticket sales lost that they used to have.

Eric Arnold
Social Media Manager & Track Historian
Knoxville Raceway

the businesses around town are sure taking a hit... example, normally before the race there isn't two inches of open space in pizza hut, last night there were about 2 people in there... it's was odd...

I wish Earl still did Eldora's track prep.  

There didn't seem to be much of a walk-up demand last night for tickets.

The crowd was similar in size to the Friday night crowd at this year's Kings Royal, at least in my estimation. I'd say around 12,000 would be accurate.

I'd be interested in knowing where the folks came from...how many were from within 100 miles or from places beyond. Jon Evans told me there were around 500 Australians in attendance. How many fans were from PA. or Ohio, where the vast majority of 410 winged sprint car racing takes place?

I'm sure gas prices and a sour economy has some effect but there has to be other reasons, too. Falling attendance has been a trend for several years at Knoxville and it's not all because of the economic factors. How can this trend be reversed?

I think its just a run of several different things. I also feel that car racing in general maybe on a downside swing. What goes up must come down. Several of the surrounding local tracks have struggled with car counts and crowds this year. There is such a competition for people's entertainment dollar (especially when there are fewer dollars to be spent). I feel that some people may be more interested in watching a guy get shot of out a cannon or seeing a demo derby than watching the skill it takes to pull off that slider in 3 and 4 for the victory.

I feel that teenagers are a missing gap. I have seen times where guys I know would rather stay home and play Xbox than go out to a race. I would even go so far as to say if you had a sprint car kit in the garage at some of these houses, the kids would rather sit on their can and play Call of Duty, than go out and build the car and race it. There are exceptions and there always will be, but it seems to be very tough to get anyone out do to anything this year.

I think we all just have to "ride the tide", I just hope not too many folks end up falling off their board!!

P.S. Pizza Hut sucks in general so thats why no one was there...lol

I agree, slow_sprinter, teenagers are a missing gap and they are the future of the sport. So why is a 13 year old charged adult prices at most tracks? How many 13-18 years olds have a job? I can well understand adult prices for special events like the Nationals but the future is at all of the local tracks. What we are seeing today with fewer crowds at many special events is the result of all of the local tracks policies and pricing. AND charging a 13 year old KID an adult ticket price is not good promotions for the future. Personally I think that every local track should have a family package of around $20-$25 for two adults and as many kids and teenagers (up to 18 years) that they can bring. Teenagers will spend money on hamburgers and hotdogs and if you provide a good show they become the future and bring their kids.

WaDo, Roger

Who gives a crap! I was there and if other people aren't there it's there own loss.

i think the economy has a lot to do with it. if gas, food, and just everything wasn't so much right now and all summer long we would have been able to save enough to go all 4 days.

I'm new to the sprint car open wheel dirt tracking but have found it very exciting. In fact tonight is my first trip to the nationals. I was told by race fans that tickets for Friday & saturday had already been sold out so I never tried to get any or make travel plans to be there. But I would like to point out that as far as the future of sprint car racing and seeing younger people being more involved everyting mentioned so far is correct but what about the cost for the average family to get into a sprint car type of racing? I have a descent paying job but I couldn't begin to afford a sprint car for even the 305 class. So if I can't afford to run a sprint with a good job how can the weekend racer with a job that doesn't pay all that well afford to be able to race week in and week out? Just a thought? I do like the hosehead forum and web page it's to bad more young kid's aren't checking it out.

Fuel prices is the factor that kept us from going this year. Do not underestimate the effect of high fuel prices. We estimate it would have costed us $800-1000 in fuel alone to get there and back.

9th Annual Northern Ohio Sprint Car Show
March 18-20, 2011
Featuring the FAST sprint cars
NOSCS Hall of Fame, and much more...
At the Tiffin Mall in Tiffin, Ohio
Official home of the Hoserville Ohio Benefit Auction

What in the world of outlaws are you driving?? A motor-home? For me to take our car and rent hotel rooms and eat out every meal is probably the same as you would pay for fuel and cook you're own meals. I for one chose to use my vacation going to the P.A.S. and watching the Oval Nats. this year, because it's relatively close. Who wants to spend 4 days travelling in a car going and coming? Do you live close to Knoxville or far, as I'm sure thats more of a concern. Please don't feel I'm picking on you.

Sean, Tucson AZ.

!!SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL TRACKS!!
!!Get Well Shane!! 

I think Scoop lives in northern Ohio.

I do live in northern ohio, about 750 miles east of Knoxville. We do have a motorhome. We prefer to be in knoxville, and going to DeMoines wouldn't allow for frequent coming and going like we prefer to do. We do drink a few, and we WILL NOT drink & drive. So here we are!

9th Annual Northern Ohio Sprint Car Show
March 18-20, 2011
Featuring the FAST sprint cars
NOSCS Hall of Fame, and much more...
At the Tiffin Mall in Tiffin, Ohio
Official home of the Hoserville Ohio Benefit Auction

This is the first time in 13 years that I'll miss the Nationals. Really bummed about that.

I'm 3 hours and 18 minutes from Knoxville and I didn't go this year (though I have been up there 4 or 5 times this year). The Mrs and I were thinking about going Saturday night, but why spend $200 for one night of racing, when we can sit here and watch it on TV for free?

I have 4 days of vacation left until the 15th of January and I'm saving them for the best race on the planet on the 13th of January.

However, the Mrs and I have decided to return to IA next year for 8 nights of racing again.

Member of this message board since 1997

Just curious, by way of your username... you wouldn't by chance be missing The Nationals because you're in Sturgis, would ya?

Fenders are like vacuums... they both suck.

but yet the crowd grew a whole lot for all 3 nights of the 360 nationals.

hmmmmmm...........................

yeah i already know dude ----- the fan count there didnt really have anywhere to go but up. but it sure went up a lot this year. more than anyone expected. especially with WoO, All-stars, and Belleville Midget Nationals in the region.

too bad the fan count was down this year for the 410 nationals. of course - i want the 360 nat's to be awesome in car count and attendance - but i hope the 410 stuff stays big too. its better for fans that both not only coexist - but flourish. its too bad ------ i listened to last night and tonite on hoseheadsradio ---------- and it sounded as if the shows were just as good as what we saw only a few days ago at the 360 nationals. knoxville has put together 6 INCREDIBLE tracks and nights of racing so far. good for them. they are the best track in the nation for a reason...................

How much would could a wouldchuck chuck if a 
wouldchuck could chuck would

me and a friend of mine went up from Oklahoma City for the 3 nights of 360 nationals and the Brodix ToC. we spent about 5-600 bucks.

yeah we could have watched it on race network. but i been to that race every year since 2000. and knew with car count and forecast it would be worth the money. and it was. i spent a lil more than my buddy. i spent about 600-650. Slideways eats into that - as well as a few souveniers. although this was the 1st year i didnt get a shirt. a lot goes to food too - tasos is the bomb. we actually stayed clear out in oskaloosa. his parents (precher) was up there doing a bunch of church stuff - so we actually got free meals each day lol. but it was the cheapest double bed room up there. we stayed 4 nights and paid about 135 each. the drive was actually beatiful - and even though it was my 9th trip to 360 nat's - i had never been to osky (we always stay in pella) - we spent about 80-100 on fuel EACH for the total trip. something near 1600 miles i think it was. spent 60 each on the rental car. spent 80 each on tickets. food and drink at the track gets expensive - the chicken bites arre just so damn good!

even though i'm in a tight spot financially now - never will i regret going. i had a blast - i have a blast every year. beatiful weather except for sunday - the racing was FANTASTIC all 4 nights - good company - good to see new places and meet new people. just an awesome time. would like to see 410 nationals someday ------- but have absolutely no interest in the osky races (dont drink lol). maybe. someday. now i'm lookin forward to the Short Track Nationals at Little Rock in October. should be awesome!

How much would could a wouldchuck chuck if a 
wouldchuck could chuck would

I'm not there this year, but is it really down all that much?? I've never seen the backstretch stands more than half full on Wed. or Thursday ever? Does someone half a picture of the backstretch stands either night to share?