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

So is there still a race at Port Royal this Saturday, 21st?

they have it on their schedule but not a word on social media from them for about ten days announcing the Modifieds were cancelled. I know it's not 410s but at least one post about it would be at least respectable for them. 
 

or did they lose more staff?

I see Port cancelled the PaSprintSeries for this Saturday, not a surprise i guess!!!

Lol...Razor Steve.....that is all I have to say about that. 

Let's go Sprint Car Racing!

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

Didn't know he was in charge of the weather.

Lol.  I am not talking about the weather!

Let's go Sprint Car Racing!

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

So what's he have to do with cancelling?

Than what's he have to do with the cancellation?

He promised to not say anything else on the topic and then you asked him a question!!!! Why?

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

He brought it up Rod if it's so traumatizing don't read it.

So the weather in Port Royal is so bad they cancel a day early and BAPS isn't even thinking about canceling only 60 miles away. 
guess that's where I'm going. 

 

I am not usually for early cancellations but. A chance of rain temps in the upper 40's with wind by the time they are done. Many race teams travel a long distance for it (I am sure the back gate will hurt also) and few fans show up for it if it was 80 degrees. What are the odds of them making money tonigh? 

If I had to venture a guess, 2023 was not a financial sucess for the track. A few years ago, every major event had Chamber of Commerce weather with packed crowds. That was not the case this season. Most major shows fought the weather, and I am not sure they had one sold out crowd this year? Needless to say, Steve O'Neal could not afford to lose any more money on an iffy weather weekend.

They did it to themselves. Raising prices, drug out marathon shows and people started turning to Flo as a cheaper alternative and one where they can just shut it off and go to bed instead of being held hostage listening to the worst announcer in the sport brag about "Not just hosting races but hosting events" 4.5 hours into yet another drug out show. Anyone with a brain could've seen it coming 3 or 4 years ago. Throwing money at the purse isn't gonna always equate to more cars or fans. In their case they got a few 305 guys to move up but the reality is, those guys aren't putting asses in the seats and now you have teams that cost you more than they did before. I don't know what a 305 race pays to start but a 305 team that moves up to 410s is taking home more purse money every time they make the show regardless of where they finish so the track doesn't gain anything from them. They actually lose. Same with limited vs super late model. 

I don't think this is the first time I said this to you, but you nailed it.  I'm still Standing by my previous comments over the years that Flo is killing weekly tracks and weekly races. Yes, they would probably lose a ton of money today but it's a race track, race, or get off the pot. 

All tracks are also businesses which have to make money to stay in business. I do agree that Flo is hurting the weekly shows. Either flo will have to cost more to return more to the tracks or the cancellations in less than desirable weather will continue. I look for more tracks taking Lincoln's approuch to streaming. It has rained off and on in the Port Royal area today and looks to continue that into the evening.

All tracks are also businesses which have to make money to stay in business. I do agree that Flo is hurting the weekly shows. Either flo will have to cost more to return more to the tracks or the cancellations in less than desirable weather will continue. I look for more tracks taking Lincoln's approuch to streaming. It has rained off and on in the Port Royal area today and looks to continue that into the evening.

It drizzled in the port Royal area today.  It also drizzled at Baps however Baps raced today.  

Even with a day with no drizzle there would have been about 50 people in the stands for this race.  305s don't bring a large crowd.

The real racetrack raced today in central PA.

Let's go Sprint Car Racing!

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

You really need to do something about your PDS (Port deranged syndrome).

Of course a track is going to be much quicker to cancel a 305 race than a 410 race in iffy weather. Common sense people.

A

Lincoln took a lot of shit for the move they made last offseason by not having every race covered on Flo. Mostly from people who live out of the area and I get their perspective but the fact is, tracks need to prioritize their regular fans over people watching from across the country who may never actually buy a ticket. Exposure is good but it also needs to be limited. The fans from out of the area may be attracted to take in a race sometime if they find themselves in the area for whatever reason and that exposure does pay off there. And having limited coverage on Flo will achieve that. But going all in for tracks in a weekly sprint car hotbed is just plain stupid. Pennsylvania is well known for having the most dedicated fanbase anywhere. 6 inches of snow on the ground in February at Lincoln doesn't even deter them. But that will all change if you price your product beyond what the local demographic can support and Port Royal is close to if not already exceeding that threshold. Take a walk around and figure up what a night at the races even on a regular night will cost a family of 4 then take a look at the median income in the area and it paints a very clear picture. Then throw in shows that routinely get drug out half the night and you get exactly what we have now. Flo then becomes the cheaper, better alternative for the family. Never leave the house, order some pizza and if the kids are falling asleep at 10:45 while they're pissing around doing idiotic driver intros for a feature that should've started an hour ago, you don't have to worry about carrying their asses to the car and leaving early which is something I saw a lot of at this years Tuscarora 50. They can just go to bed and if mom or dad gets the shits of it, they can just flip a switch and watch the replay the next day or whenever. As I said, they've done it to themselves and raising prices for fans then throwing it into the purse that hasn't really netted any real gains in car counts or field quality isn't the answer. Efficient shows at affordable prices is the key.