Divisional spectator attendance?

Kevin Panzino · 07-19-2014, 09:20 PM

After returning from a 12 year hiatus from racing one thing stands out as very different. Almost no spectators in the stands. Literally a few dozen. Wow. I've been reading about how bad it is but didn't really hit me till I saw it. How are we going to get spectators in the stands? The top dragster/top sportsman classes didn't bring em. The nitro Harley's didn't bring em.

One place stands out... Norwalk. Whatever Bader is doing is working that's for sure. I'm concerned how much longer our sportsman venue is going to survive with essentially zero spectator revenue.

Are racer and crew entries alone enough to cover the costs for nhra divisionals??

Ed Wright · 07-19-2014, 09:22 PM

Nobody wants to watch bracket racing. That is all top sportsman and top dragster are doing also.

jwsamuel · 07-19-2014, 09:26 PM

Big crowd here at New England for the divisional race. Probably around 5,000 in the stands and there were no free tickets. They are staying in the stands for Top Dragster and Top Sportsman. Also have jets, nostalgia funny cars and wheelstanders, plus fireworks.

Jim

Ed Wright · 07-19-2014, 09:28 PM

Lots of bored people in New England? LOL

Kevin Panzino · 07-19-2014, 09:37 PM

Jim that's good to hear. I'm sittin in the stands at Columbus right now and it's a ghost town. Maple grove had some folks, not too bad. Leb valley and Columbus are sad.

Not to mention Columbus looks a bit, shall we say.. long of tooth. Looks like they are cutting back on the facility maintenance budget that's for sure.

Jack Matyas · 07-19-2014, 11:12 PM

Tonight at New England Lucas Oil Series ...............

BILL TAYLOR · 07-19-2014, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwsamuel

Big crowd here at New England for the divisional race. Probably around 5,000 in the stands and there were no free tickets. They are staying in the stands for Top Dragster and Top Sportsman. Also have jets, nostalgia funny cars and wheelstanders, plus fireworks.

Jim

WOW, 5,000 in the stands? Gotta be a worlds record for a Divisional. Hope it's accurate, most encouraging thing I've heard lately for Sportsman Racing!

cudadoug · 07-22-2014, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BILL TAYLOR

WOW, 5,000 in the stands? Gotta be a worlds record for a Divisional. Hope it's accurate, most encouraging thing I've heard lately for Sportsman Racing!

Quote from above: Also have jets, nostalgia funny cars and wheelstanders, plus fireworks

There's your 5000 people right there. It is NO WAY from NHRA Sportsman racing believe me!

Don Whitmore · 07-23-2014, 01:49 PM

When I was younger (many moons ago), one thing everyone seemed to enjoy (and look forward to) was 'match racing.'

When Bill 'da Grump' Jenkins would come to my local track (Edgewater, Cincy, OH) to race Sox and Martin or when the 'Chi-Town Hustler' would show up to race the 'Blue Max' people would get to the track at 1:00pm in the afternoon, just to see these guys roll-in and set up. I know I did.

Has NHRA handcuffed the pros with so many national events, they can never 'match race' anymore? Would something like this spice-up a Divisional and attract fans?

I know I miss it. Just sayin'....

Don

official22yrs · 07-23-2014, 10:56 PM

I remember back when I was a drag racing official, we had over 15,000 people show up for our points meet, this was in the late 90's.
Darrell Zimmerman said no way, you'll maybe get a thousand people, if your luck. To have this it was $10,000 plus NHRA gets the gate fees, the drag racer fees...only money you make are from your food sale and gifts.
PS we got them back at there own game....we gave out over 10,000 free tickets, and if they buy a bottle water for a buck...$$$ for us.

07-19-2014, 09:20 PM	#1
Kevin Panzino Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 575 Likes: 298 Liked 747 Times in 136 Posts	Divisional spectator attendance? After returning from a 12 year hiatus from racing one thing stands out as very different. Almost no spectators in the stands. Literally a few dozen. Wow. I've been reading about how bad it is but didn't really hit me till I saw it. How are we going to get spectators in the stands? The top dragster/top sportsman classes didn't bring em. The nitro Harley's didn't bring em. One place stands out... Norwalk. Whatever Bader is doing is working that's for sure. I'm concerned how much longer our sportsman venue is going to survive with essentially zero spectator revenue. Are racer and crew entries alone enough to cover the costs for nhra divisionals??

07-19-2014, 09:22 PM	#2
Ed Wright Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Sand Springs, OK Posts: 8,132 Likes: 896 Liked 390 Times in 170 Posts	Re: Divisional spectator attendance? Nobody wants to watch bracket racing. That is all top sportsman and top dragster are doing also. __________________ Ed Wright 4156 SS/JA

07-19-2014, 09:26 PM	#3
jwsamuel Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Upper Holland, PA Posts: 423 Likes: 27 Liked 216 Times in 88 Posts	Re: Divisional spectator attendance? Big crowd here at New England for the divisional race. Probably around 5,000 in the stands and there were no free tickets. They are staying in the stands for Top Dragster and Top Sportsman. Also have jets, nostalgia funny cars and wheelstanders, plus fireworks. Jim

07-19-2014, 09:28 PM	#4
Ed Wright Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Sand Springs, OK Posts: 8,132 Likes: 896 Liked 390 Times in 170 Posts	Re: Divisional spectator attendance? Lots of bored people in New England? LOL __________________ Ed Wright 4156 SS/JA

07-19-2014, 09:37 PM	#5
Kevin Panzino Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 575 Likes: 298 Liked 747 Times in 136 Posts	Re: Divisional spectator attendance? Jim that's good to hear. I'm sittin in the stands at Columbus right now and it's a ghost town. Maple grove had some folks, not too bad. Leb valley and Columbus are sad. Not to mention Columbus looks a bit, shall we say.. long of tooth. Looks like they are cutting back on the facility maintenance budget that's for sure.

07-19-2014, 11:12 PM	#6
Jack Matyas Live Reporter Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Bethlehem , PA -Christmas City , USA Posts: 4,930 Likes: 406 Liked 2,051 Times in 399 Posts	Re: Divisional spectator attendance? Tonight at New England Lucas Oil Series ............... Attached Thumbnails __________________ Jack Matyas 1547 FS/C 2015 Camaro COPO # 62- 2012 Camaro Convertible COPO

07-23-2014, 01:49 PM	#9
Don Whitmore Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Central Illinois Posts: 140 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Divisional spectator attendance? When I was younger (many moons ago), one thing everyone seemed to enjoy (and look forward to) was 'match racing.' When Bill 'da Grump' Jenkins would come to my local track (Edgewater, Cincy, OH) to race Sox and Martin or when the 'Chi-Town Hustler' would show up to race the 'Blue Max' people would get to the track at 1:00pm in the afternoon, just to see these guys roll-in and set up. I know I did. Has NHRA handcuffed the pros with so many national events, they can never 'match race' anymore? Would something like this spice-up a Divisional and attract fans? I know I miss it. Just sayin'.... Don

07-23-2014, 10:56 PM	#10
official22yrs Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 278 Likes: 0 Liked 803 Times in 105 Posts	Re: Divisional spectator attendance? I remember back when I was a drag racing official, we had over 15,000 people show up for our points meet, this was in the late 90's. Darrell Zimmerman said no way, you'll maybe get a thousand people, if your luck. To have this it was $10,000 plus NHRA gets the gate fees, the drag racer fees...only money you make are from your food sale and gifts. PS we got them back at there own game....we gave out over 10,000 free tickets, and if they buy a bottle water for a buck...$$$ for us.