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

used to be a  well known TV commercial slogan but it might start applying again come next march.   everyone wants a raise.  and in truth the way things are going probably deserve one.  But some one has to pay..   Money was weight, weight has gravity and we all know how things with gravity roll down hill.         So, at the admission window come spring.  anyone expecting an increase? want to take a guess at price of admission?

 I'm suprised that prices did not increase last year. And to be honest, I don't like higher ticket prices BUT I understand, costs have risen for many things, so I am OKAY with paying a higher ticket price. And really, I think some of the prices that we currently pay are too low, like the Cappy Classic for example. 

Name one place where we can see 60+ spring cars each Saturday night with no fillers at $15 ??         Knoxville, and while I may be in the minority here, I think $15 is a bargin. 

Keep It Real

I left the nest for the Navy in September of 1969 and have been counting the cost of entertainment and trying to make my income fit ever since.  Some years it covered more than others and I expect that to continue until I do the crappie flop.

Stan Meissner

100% agree.  PA you are going to  pay more than 15.00 to get into a weekly show.

Let's go Sprint Car Racing!

Knoxville - Best Track In the USA!
Eldora - 2nd Best Track in the USA!

I think ticket prices have been "too cheap" for decades.  I know it's supply and demand driven, so it's not as easy as just raising prices to offset costs, raise purses, and draw in bigger and better teams.  However, sprint car fans tend to complain and push back against ticket costs more than any other sports fans in the country.  If I take my family to an NHL game, tickets alone cost me $500-1000 for a family of five.  MLB game---$250-500--and that's just the tickets.  NFL, Nascar, NBA, Indycar--------you name it and it will cost astronomically more that attendance of a sprint car race.  All the NHL and NFL games are sold out.  NBA games do pretty well.  Nascar and Indycar---depends on who you talk to and where the race is.  I think it's an absolute bargain to attend a WoO race for $40-48.  And it's not just the gate that's a deal.  Concessions are dirt cheap when compared to other sporting events.  I've heard sprint car fans complain about $4 beers.  $4!  I've been to events where a beer was $12-14!!!!  Bottles of water were $5.  

In my opinion, sprint car racing, at all levels, is one of the best entertainment values you can find.  I would expect a big increase in ticket prices.  If my costs are up at home, I cannot even imagine how much the costs have gone up for tracks, promoters, teams, and sanctioning bodies.  

"So, at the admission window come spring.  anyone expecting an increase? want to take a guess at price of admission?"

No guessing here.  I renewed my tickets for the Ironman weekend at Pevely.  The tickets, including the handling fee, went from $70 each to $85.  I have seen no indication that they are increasing the prize money. 

The good thing about being a fan:  the prize money has no effect on your trip.  I'm going to guess the increase from $70-85 is not so the prize money can be increased.  It's to stay profitable.  JMO  

I've posed a similar question in the past of fewer races of higher quality and higher ticket price vs more frequent shows at a much lesser price with a lower quality of cars. I'm in the minority as most choose the higher profile shows that are less frequent. Increasing all these shows to 20k to win plus is definitely going to have an effect on ticket prices. Truth of the matter for me racing is a family affair. If my kids arent going or interested, I'm probably not going to be there much. My tone from when I first joined HH till now has certainly changed a lot. 

To those welcoming a price increase or demanding higher paying shows: You better be there to support the events you yearn for, otherwise they may just disappear altogether with no pieces to pick back up to get the old weekly racers back into the sport.

To those promoting these high dollar events: Be mindful that in order to get your cut and pay these drivers more it could come at the expense of some of your grassroots fans. Then the stands will look like NASCAR. 

now get off my lawn!  

Are many tracks accepting credit/debit cards at admission windows?

This past season the (3) dirt tracks I went to accept debit /credit, which is also nice at concessions. 

Keep It Real

The streaming prices are insanely low for what the fan gets as well.  I am shocked at how low Flo and Dirtvision are currently.  Don't forget, less than 5 years ago getting a few of the WoO shows were $24 to $35 a pop for just a few select races, now you get the entire Sprint and Late Model and Attica, Knoxville, Millersburg, Husets and Grove regular shows for less than $2 each (if you watch them all).  $4 a race if you are a WoO only type. Flo is even more insane a bargain just with All Stars, 3xUSAC Series, Lucas Lates and tons more for less than $1 a race if you only watch the All Stars and USAC.   At $300 and $150 Dirtvision and Flo will not be that cheap for long with the pressure to share more of the streaming revenue with tracks and owners/drivers.  I know, I know nothing beats being at the track, but I'm not driving 10 hours to got Rolling Wheels, Lincoln or US 36. I'll hit over 40 races live this year and watch every single WoO Sprint, USACx3 divisions and All Star Race that I am not at live.  I expect to pay more for that priveledge very soon, both at the track and streaming. 

When my bills come due I don't look at the charges and think "this isn't enough, they should be charging me more".  The struggle is to continue going to a few races and watching them on streaming through my 70's and hopefully into my 80's.  No way in hell I'm taking on a part time job while retired and fighting a health problem.  I'm hoping that racing continues to be within the grasp of us common folks and not another playground for the wealthy like concerts and professional sports. 
 

Racing seems to be getting divided more and more into the tale of two sports.  The local weekly shows with six-eight classes that have admission under $20 and the big shows that require a small loan to attend.  I would remind everyone that the big shows are here today because us old folks soldiered through 23 second laps and jalopies for decades to keep these venues relevant.  But I digress, the bottom line for me is the bottom line.  I can sleep well at night knowing that I don't advocate pricing other fans out of the sport.  
 

One has to look at the competition for entertainment dollars and try to think of any sport that isn't accessible on TV for a decent price.  Years ago when I first got cable the pay per vue model was the standard.  $59.95 for a big boxing or wrestling match.  That gave way eventually to streaming based on a package deal such as the NFL channels while still broadcasting free games over the air.  I think dirt track racing needs to be accessible to thrive.  Streaming services, in case nobody has noticed, are running a lot of the same commercials as broadcast TV.  What they have to offer doesn't stop with the fans but they're able to cut deals with advertisers and that helps hold the price to a reasonable level.  As my wife says "why is your racing channel costing us double what we pay for Netflix?"  She is not a racing fan and doesn't see the value of DV but is fine with the annual Floracing bill.  On the flip side, there is so much content on YouTube and track websites and free replays of whole races that if the time comes a person could live without streaming and still keep up with the sport.  My only agenda is to be able to follow the sport that I have enjoyed since 1960.  Nothing more profound than that here. 

Stan Meissner

I am on the side of attending more races at a lower price. I am from Pa. so we don't have to suffer through six or eight divisions to see a few sprint cars. Our full time sprint car tracks usually have no more thn three divisions. For instance at Port Royal's three division show the lowest class is usually 305 sprints or 358 late models. I like a big show to but my concern that Port Royal is getting too saturated with big shows. This makes it harder for families to attend and they are the future fans.

Similar worries Knoxville. Weekly is 15 bucks for all sprints. They added another WoO show this year and have ran NASCAR past two years (thankful it's gone for now though I'm glad it was good revenue for the track), USAC is back, Allstars get a week, 360 nationals,  410 nationals, and late model nationals It gets to be nearly half specials. Usually the kiddos only come for the weekly shows and honestly I love the weekly shows more although I'm excited for the USAC show. Also you all can call me crazy but I don't mind going to nearby mid week eight classes of taxi cabs type shows during the summer. It's not sprints but I can still find a lot of enjoyment in it! Brother in law runs a modified so knowing the ppl in all classes on a more personal level helps a lot too. 

You must be Dutch like me? Well maybe not but I've also never thought "this isn't enough, they should be charging me more."

Flo is an unreal bargain. Prefect Christmas idea for any race fan. If you have multiple people pooling money for a gift the 150$ becomes quite attainable. Got it last year and was practically all I wanted for Christmas this year. Chili Bowl season nears...

I dont disagree with The break down in the math showing $1 per race. But it becomes even cheaper if one person hosts his friends each weekend with surround sound big screen in the man cave . For 4 adults to watch a big race move is $120, watch it with friends at home for pennies

Even though I may not know you, I 
care what most of you think!

ok---perfect for those with friends.  What's strawser supposed to do?  

Hopefully the institution takes away his TV privlleges.

LOL!  I have plenty of friends.

Let's go Sprint Car Racing!

Knoxville - Best Track In the USA!
Eldora - 2nd Best Track in the USA!

I go to a lot more races than you think.  Just not any at one track.  This year I am going to my favorite track again......Knoxville for the Nationals.  Simply the best week of racing anywhere!

Let's go Sprint Car Racing!

Knoxville - Best Track In the USA!
Eldora - 2nd Best Track in the USA!