Here's what everyone will be talking about as the NASCAR haulers roll into Daytona International Speedway next month for the start of one the most unpredictable seasons in recent memory.The last time backstretch tickets to the Daytona 500 were this cheap, Sterling Marlin pulled into Daytona victory lane to collect his second consecutive 500 trophy and a young Jeff Gordon went on to finish the season 34 points ahead of Dale Earnhardt to claim his first Winston Cup championship.
That was 14 years ago and America's interest in NASCAR was just being piqued. Corporate America was figuring out the sport's massive potential. Drivers were accessible, candid, genuinely grateful for any media coverage they could generate and still a bit surprised to be recognized by fans West of the Mississippi or north of the Mason Dixon.
It was NASCAR on-the-verge. Just as it is now.
Only now NASCAR is clinging onto the good will it's generated in the previous decade. And say what you want, no sport cares for its fans more.
Sure it's largely out of self-interest and sustainability, but give credit where it's due. NASCAR's approach is to earn your hard-earned dollar. As important as it is to weather the economic storm with its product, it's vital to keep the fans engaged – preferably by filling grandstands but also by keeping the television ratings high enough to attract sponsors and justify network coverage.
One after another, NASCAR's most celebrated venues – Las Vegas, Darlington, Atlanta, Charlotte, Richmond – have announced ticket discounts, payment plans and package deals to entice fans. In addition to its $55 Daytona 500 ticket, speedway president Robin Braig is working with local hotels to eliminate minimum-stay requirements. Daytona, like so many tracks already offered free parking and allows fans to bring in their own food and drinks.
Attendance had been waning even before the economy started to tank, but at least NASCAR is reacting and its venues are being pro-active.
Or as former Cup champion Dale Jarrett explained last fall, "We saw so much success and upswing lately, we might have gotten a little excessive about some things,'' the ESPN analyst said.
"There might have to be a little cut back, but the teams are going to survive.
"And as we cut back and they talk about our stands aren't filled, remember it's still the biggest sporting event in every single state we go.
"Even though we've had a bit of a back slide, we're still the biggest thing happening there. The growth just made us just that much larger. You have to put things in perspective.''
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1-22-2009 @ 4:39PM
lttldblj said...
NASCAR might as well be the new IROC with the COT.
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1-22-2009 @ 6:53PM
hafttwo said...
i will notpay money towatch a bunch of toilettas go around the track as well as the announcers pushing the foreign automaker down our throats.
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1-22-2009 @ 7:18PM
carships said...
NASCAR will survive with the times like any other big entity.Fans will attend races as before,but perhaps without all the extravagnaces.I`ll attend the usual races as I`ve had in the past 15 years and enjoy the knowledgeable fans,old and new alike.
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1-22-2009 @ 7:29PM
Justin said...
The "down South" culture is going to take a hit too. Without people of color in the sport it will only hurt them all. I enjoy all racing but something does not smell right here. The France's have never looked at their sport and how it fits into the rest of the country's ideals.
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1-23-2009 @ 12:11AM
jonascarjohn said...
club 3 in turn 3 daytona infield 3 weeks
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1-23-2009 @ 9:43AM
maveness said...
Oddly enough, this year (despite getting laid off yesterday - oh the fun of that one) I'm using this cut in ticket prices to have fun and go to a race I haven't been to before. For the past several years I've been to Martinsville. This year we're going to Darlington, all because of the price reduction.
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1-25-2009 @ 9:05AM
delawarejack said...
Right now NASCAR is scared to death that millions of fans could care less about the NASCAR season .. that the three top teams have so much more money .. if you are not a fan of one of the drivers of those top three teams, your season is over before it has started ! Parity & Competition has put the NFL on top, BECAUSE at the beginning of each season almost every single team ( Except Detroit, of course ! lol ) has a legitimate shot to go to the playoffs & a chance to go to the Super Bowl because of the Parity. In NASCAR, once you get past the drivers from the three most monied teams & if you don't root for one of those drivers, but root for one of the other 30 or so drivers, what the Hell fun is there left for YOU ?????? NONE !! and as Porky says : Tha Tha Tha That's All Folks !!!
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1-25-2009 @ 4:47PM
DEBRA said...
I DON'T FEEL AS IF THE DRIVERS ARE ACCESSIBLE ENOUGH TO THEIR FANS. WHATEVER HAPPENED TO PUBLIC APPEARANCES? NOT EVERYBODY CAN AFFORD GARAGE PASSES AND EVEN THEN THE DRIVERS WHOM WE HAVE HELPED MAKE RICH ACT LIKE THEY CAN'T BE BOTHERED. I SAW A COUPLE OF SESSIONS AT THE TRACKS LAST YEAR WHERE THEY WERE IN LITTLE GLASS CAGES SO YOU COULDN'T EVEN SPEAK TO THEM. THIS ARTICLE WAS SO RIGHT-THESE GUYS AREN'T GRATEFUL ENOUGH TO THEIR FANS. ALL OF THEM HAVE THE BIG HEAD AND ARE SO SNOTTY. EVEN JR WHO USED TO BE SO HUMBLE ACTS AS IF HE IS ABOVE ALL THAT NOW.
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