Local track question....

moonflow

moonflow

BIRKY!!!
If the costs involved with running a weekly show are so high, and the turnout is not enough to pay the bills, then why haven't more tracks in this area done what Haubstadt has done successfully for several years now?

And that's run specials only that will put people in the stands with a good payout for the classes running.

One or two big shows can generate enough revenue to pay for the costs for the rest of the year.
 
That's a really good question. My question is why aren't all promoters trying to do everything Haubstadt does? I realize not every track can afford the nice tractors and equipment for cutting the track, but seriously that track's got it figured out. I recently heard it was ranked 8th or so in the country for dirt tracks, where is there a better track? I've been to Eldora, Knoxville, Lucas Oil, it wasn't any more exciting. I've been there probably 10 or so times and have yet to see a boring race. Best non wing sprint car racing out there. By the way, I'm not a paid spokesperson..
 
Yeah you have to look at the racers side of it. To have tens of thousands of $ tied up in a car, equipment, trailers, trucks, etc. - and not be able to race but maybe 10 times a year within 150 miles of home wouldn't be feasible.... Not to mention with the ever changing technology - you might have to redo your entire car every couple years to keep up - even if it had 20 races on it?
Not knocking Haubstadt by any means - but it takes the weekly tracks and racers to make the sport what it is...
 
But if one track in an already saturated market would go to specials only, would you not see car counts improve at the other tracks, plus the one track would still have money coming in on the big shows....but, just a thought.
 
Depends on when you run the specials. If they run the same night as another track then one or the other gets hurt. Either the guys at the weekly track running for points stay home to keep up with the points and the special show loses cars - or most of the guys go from the weekly track to the special track and that track loses cars. Not sayin that doesn't happen anyway - but not to the extent it would at a "special only" track. Don't know the answer - there probably isn't one that satisfies everybody...
 
Racing is facing a lot of challenges. Nearly all of those challenges can be overcome with stronger attendance at the weekly shows. Most promoters are too dependent on drawing existing fans instead of cultivating new fans.
The key to a track's financial success is a strong weekly program.
 
Tom also holds to a tight program,no effing around and no 45 min. intermission..I left there after the Mod Feature at 10:10pm and they still were done by 11 O'CLOCK! Did not see any of the Crate Feature...A TIMELY show helps everybody,Thanks..;)
 
Good point biker. I went to Shady Hill in IN on a Wednesday night for their 4th of July mod special as few years ago. I left at 10 minutes to 1:00 and they still had 5 races to run! Guess what track I won't be going back to? Some friends told me they've been there when the racing was just getting finished about dawn. On the opposite end of the spectrum is Macon. They usually wrap things up before 10:30.
 
Pops15 said:
Racing is facing a lot of challenges. Nearly all of those challenges can be overcome with stronger attendance at the weekly shows. Most promoters are too dependent on drawing existing fans instead of cultivating new fans.
The key to a track's financial success is a strong weekly program.
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Exactly!!!
 
Just a thought but what would it hurt for the local tracks to drop like general admission prices to say $6.00 and then more ppl would come and they would have more money to spend jmo.
 
00K said:
Just a thought but what would it hurt for the local tracks to drop like general admission prices to say $6.00 and then more ppl would come and they would have more money to spend jmo.
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Is the $12 weekly admission really a limiting factor to attracting new fans? You would have to double the attendence just to get back to the revenue from the $12 admission. I don't think that would work.
 
The best thing for the local tracks is going to be if they work together. If you have 3-4 tracks running Friday and 3-4 tracks running Saturday you are only going to get so much at each track. I don't necessarily think that moving to Sunday is a great solution but Belleville had a decent car turnout on Sunday's when they made up rain-outs and Tri-City also had a decent turn out on Sundays. Maybe if the tracks that run on Friday and tracks that run on Saturday would run alternating weeks and have a points fund for the combined tracks that would draw fans and that aren't normally going to every track. Also maybe a discount for fans that have visited the Friday night track in the area get a discount on Saturday night at another local track and vice versa. Just some ideas!
 
I think biker had the right idea. Get the races done at a reasonable hour and more fans would be inclined to go. Personally I think the races should be over no later then 11pm. 10 would be better. No more then 4 classes of cars. No long intermissions, or gimmicks that take time. Many people work weekends and such nowadays. Tracks are losing those people who can't be out til 1am and then get up at 5 to go to work. I have been to both types of tracks and the earlier finishing ones usually have the biggest crowds...
 
Well, for a track running specials, you have to expect them to run longer because of track prep, car count, etc. Especially if you are running sprints, where they have to be push started. As for GA on weekly shows, I see no problem paying $12-$15 at most tracks. I mean, geez, how long did I-55 stay at $10 until a few years ago?
 
mpally said:
Is the $12 weekly admission really a limiting factor to attracting new fans? You would have to double the attendence just to get back to the revenue from the $12 admission. I don't think that would work.
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Yes, it's a limiting factor for attracting NEW fans. When my son was in college he'd take a lot of his friends to the races. Nearly all had a great time. When I asked if they'd return most said no because of the cost. They said they could go to a movie for $8. That's an important factor. People have a lot of options for entertainment these days. If attendance is to grow then racing needs to be priced competitively with other forms of entertainment. Another key factor is these were young people which racing needs to survive. Most of my son's friends hadn't been to a race before. When they did go they enjoyed it. There was the potential to make them long term fans but they were priced out of the market.
So can a track make it on $6 or $8 weekly admission? It would be tough. But what if the tracks offered a student discount? Maybe reduce the admission price from $12 to $8 for anyone up to age 20 that has a high school or college student ID.
 
haubstadt is good but even it aint what it used when they ran weekly on sundays in the 80s and early 90s. they would have over 30 winged sprints and late models every week
 
One way for fans to save money.....locally.....is to become a member of the St. Louis Auto Racing Fan Club. Membership is $25 per year for an individual or family (1 membership card or 2 for a husband/wife). We work with area tracks/groups to host Fan Club Nights. If you showed your membership card at the Battle at Belleville (POWRi Midgets and Late Models) at Belle-Clair Speedway in May your admission was FREE.....a savings of $20 (individual) or $40 (family).

Show your card at the July 6 POWRi Midget show at Belle-Clair and receive 50% off membership (Hoosier Auto Racing Fans and Badger Fans also receive the 50% discount that night).

Show your card at the August 11 POWRi show at Belle-Clair and its FREE admission. Come back to Belle-Clair on August 16 for the stock car show, show your membership card, and your admission is FREE.

We're working on scheduling Fan Club Nights at other events = even more savings for fans for the same $25 per year membership. This certainly makes racing more affordable and you're helping to support area racing through our 2nd is Fantastic program, promotion of events in our newsletter, email blasts, Facebook page, etc., and of course at our annual Banquet of Champions (the third Saturday of January).

Want to become a member? Send me a PM here or leave a message on the Fan Club Facebook page. Currently our website is being redesigned.

We'd love to welcome you to the club!
 
Explain this to me Mpally how come when I55 has there fan app night and its half price $6.00 it is almost always jam packed makes sense to me im not saying the $12.00 breaks the people im just saying lowering it will get more to come!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
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