HoseHeads.com | HoseHeads Classifieds | Racer's Auction
Home | Register | Contact | Verify Email | FAQ |
Blogs | Photo Gallery | Press Release | Results | HoseheadsClassifieds.com


Welcome Guest. Already registered? Please Login

 

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


Records per page
 
Topic: Sprint Car Racing with no fans Email this topic to a friend | Subscribe to this TopicReport this Topic to Moderator
Page 1 of 1   of  15 replies
pasprintfan
April 06, 2020 at 07:36:10 PM
Joined: 07/15/2014
Posts: 24
Reply

According to AARN Williams Grove Speedway, along with those at local and national series tracks around the country during the Coronavirus shutdown that enters its fourth week. Some speedway operators have discussed having races without spectators;




broadslider
April 06, 2020 at 07:47:29 PM
Joined: 04/16/2018
Posts: 21
Reply

isn't money from the fans paying for admission and buying food and drink where the race purse comes from? If Earl needed to sell just one more hotdog to break even, having no fans can't be good.


Racer X

Speedbump
April 06, 2020 at 08:06:34 PM
Joined: 11/30/2004
Posts: 1461
Reply

There was a southern stock car track that did that exact thing 2 weekends ago.  No spectators/concessions,  invite only with a limit on crew members, pits spread out so nobody was within 20 feet of anyone else, etc. 

One of the small benefits of back gate promoting where the racers pay for their own purse + insurance I guess. 




fairlane
MyWebsite
April 06, 2020 at 08:56:32 PM
Joined: 09/28/2005
Posts: 50
Reply

Local drag strips pay the purse thru entry fees and buy backs? I wouldn't think they could pay huge purse though 



egras
April 06, 2020 at 09:25:44 PM
Joined: 08/16/2009
Posts: 3913
Reply
Reply to:
Posted By: fairlane on April 06 2020 at 08:56:32 PM

Local drag strips pay the purse thru entry fees and buy backs? I wouldn't think they could pay huge purse though 



Some of these drag strips pay huge purses-------but the entry fees can be huge as well.  I have heard local drag racers in my area have paid $2500 to enter in one day of racing before.  

I can't see this working with most of the sprint car teams



Kingpin2014
MyWebsite
April 06, 2020 at 09:31:43 PM
Joined: 06/20/2017
Posts: 498
Reply

Not gonna happen unless there is some kind of tv deal to come along to televise them live (which I guess could be feasible with the lack of programming on sports channels). Empty arena games are a potential viable option for NBA/NHL because ticket sales are a small portion of revenue, unlike dirt racing that depends a large amount on ticket and concessions to be profitable.




Murphy
April 06, 2020 at 09:58:44 PM
Joined: 05/26/2005
Posts: 3262
Reply

What's the phrase? "Heck! I'd pay $10 just to watch a sprint car standing still". Smile



dsc1600
April 06, 2020 at 10:50:29 PM
Joined: 05/31/2007
Posts: 4373
Reply

I'd assume they'd have to rely on increased pit passes, lower purses and online streaming revenues to make that work. 



hardon
April 07, 2020 at 12:23:43 AM
Joined: 02/20/2005
Posts: 485
Reply
Reply to:
Posted By: Kingpin2014 on April 06 2020 at 09:31:43 PM

Not gonna happen unless there is some kind of tv deal to come along to televise them live (which I guess could be feasible with the lack of programming on sports channels). Empty arena games are a potential viable option for NBA/NHL because ticket sales are a small portion of revenue, unlike dirt racing that depends a large amount on ticket and concessions to be profitable.



That's exactly my thoughts.  Honestly if I owned a racetrack, I think I would cancel racing for the year now.  Even if something happens to where they would allow racetracks to open to full capacity May 1st, I don't think anyone would disagree that crowds are going to be down just because of paranoia.  How much will they be down?  Who knows?  But as tight as race tracks are run these days (budget wise), I don't think I would take a risk, this could bankrupt several tracks.




revjimk
April 07, 2020 at 12:53:07 AM
Joined: 09/14/2010
Posts: 7594
Reply
Reply to:
Posted By: Kingpin2014 on April 06 2020 at 09:31:43 PM

Not gonna happen unless there is some kind of tv deal to come along to televise them live (which I guess could be feasible with the lack of programming on sports channels). Empty arena games are a potential viable option for NBA/NHL because ticket sales are a small portion of revenue, unlike dirt racing that depends a large amount on ticket and concessions to be profitable.



Exactly



Chet C.
MyWebsite
April 07, 2020 at 06:25:06 AM
Joined: 08/02/2015
Posts: 71
Reply
This message was edited on April 07, 2020 at 06:26:21 AM by Chet C.

One of the last live broadcasts we did was on March 13 at Silver Dollar and it was run with no fans allowed. Turns out, fans get angry when they're told they're not allowed to attend. We, the broadcasters, received a lot of flak about that event so I can't imagine what the track had to deal with.

Drag Racing works on back gate because payout is limited. 200 racers show up and you only pay the top 16 or in some cases the top 8, if you pay them at all. Many divisions are trophy classes. 



RRodda
April 07, 2020 at 07:55:55 AM
Joined: 06/08/2014
Posts: 52
Reply
Reply to:
Posted By: Chet C. on April 07 2020 at 06:25:06 AM

One of the last live broadcasts we did was on March 13 at Silver Dollar and it was run with no fans allowed. Turns out, fans get angry when they're told they're not allowed to attend. We, the broadcasters, received a lot of flak about that event so I can't imagine what the track had to deal with.

Drag Racing works on back gate because payout is limited. 200 racers show up and you only pay the top 16 or in some cases the top 8, if you pay them at all. Many divisions are trophy classes. 



On March 13 Chico was limited to 250 in the stands, the CA procedures at the time.  I was there, staying mostly in the pits, and did not see any angst over the limit.  I asked security midway through the races how many were in the stands and he said 230 so nobody was turned away.   It was made clear prior to the race about the limit.  Luckily there was no case of someone showing up and being declined admission.

 

I-37 Speedway in Texas raced March 28 with empty stands and strict procedures in place regarding distancing.  It went well and the show made a profit because the PPV company, Race On Texas, gave all their profit to the track to support the event.

 

I-37 paid a higher purse than the 2020 standard payout, but appeared to pay only top 12 as opposed to top 20.  This worked financially for the track due to lower expenses and the support of the PPV company.  I do not see it working for a sprint car show or any other that pays a much higher purse than what the limited modifieds and factory stocks raced for at I-37.




Keyboard Jockey
April 07, 2020 at 08:53:08 AM
Joined: 04/16/2014
Posts: 430
Reply

Risk is not worth the reward; safety crew... fire crew... if a bad accident happens... 

I dont like it but part of this social distancing, mitigation, stay home ect... is helping lower "stupid shit" from happening to allow more focus on the issue at hand. 

We will get back to racing. When? I dont know, but a lot of people are going to be really excited! I'm excited! But for now we just have to wait.

 



revjimk
April 07, 2020 at 12:09:18 PM
Joined: 09/14/2010
Posts: 7594
Reply

Racing on TV or video doesn't even begin to compare to live racing

Just be patient & it will be back



Nick14
April 07, 2020 at 01:57:27 PM
Joined: 06/04/2012
Posts: 1734
Reply
Reply to:
Posted By: Kingpin2014 on April 06 2020 at 09:31:43 PM

Not gonna happen unless there is some kind of tv deal to come along to televise them live (which I guess could be feasible with the lack of programming on sports channels). Empty arena games are a potential viable option for NBA/NHL because ticket sales are a small portion of revenue, unlike dirt racing that depends a large amount on ticket and concessions to be profitable.



Bingo. Big time T.V contracts and naming rights are the reason why empty/no spectator events can happen in other sports. The ticket revenue is a very small chunk of the pie for those leagues.

Only way I can see it happening at some tracks is if some have a way to stream their races online. But with how the monthly subscription fee that Dirtvision, Speed Shift, and Flo racing for the amount of content you get, I do not see how that could be profitable either. I know some people are getting the itch to see some racing but, is anyone going to pay $15-$20 for a regular weekly show. The profit margin is next to 0 for a lot of shows for some promoters, and shows that profit like the Outlaws or All Stars add additional costs. Only way for them to get up and going is, as good ole JR from WWE used to say, if there is an ass every 18inches in the stands.




Kingpin2014
MyWebsite
April 07, 2020 at 03:45:41 PM
Joined: 06/20/2017
Posts: 498
Reply
Reply to:
Posted By: Nick14 on April 07 2020 at 01:57:27 PM

Bingo. Big time T.V contracts and naming rights are the reason why empty/no spectator events can happen in other sports. The ticket revenue is a very small chunk of the pie for those leagues.

Only way I can see it happening at some tracks is if some have a way to stream their races online. But with how the monthly subscription fee that Dirtvision, Speed Shift, and Flo racing for the amount of content you get, I do not see how that could be profitable either. I know some people are getting the itch to see some racing but, is anyone going to pay $15-$20 for a regular weekly show. The profit margin is next to 0 for a lot of shows for some promoters, and shows that profit like the Outlaws or All Stars add additional costs. Only way for them to get up and going is, as good ole JR from WWE used to say, if there is an ass every 18inches in the stands.



I didn't mention the subscription services because there's no feasible route to use them to pay purses and everyone makes a profit. A one time big PPV could potentially work, like a world finals type event with all the big names- probably could sell that for $20-25 a pop and get enough people to buy to make it work. Otherwise the only way it would happen is if like FS1 said we need live programming, here's X amount of dollars





Post Reply
You must be logged in to Post a Message.
Not a member register Here.
Already registered? Please Login





If you have a website and would like to set up a forum here at HoseHeadForums.com
please contact us by using the contact link at the top of the page.

© 2024 HoseHeadForums.com Privacy Policy