Forum: SCRAFAN.COM Forum (go)
Moderators: ljennings

If $30.00 is to much for you then stay home and dont complain

Track owners have to pay the scantion fee no matter how many people show up and I would like to thank the PAS for providing me with great entertainment for the past 14 years

No complaining here- just a statement of fact. $30 general admission? In this economy? I'd be surprised if they get 1,000 buts in the seats. Sheesh. I thought it was a misprint. It's not April first is it?

"Advance tickets for this Saturday, which are $30.00 for adults and $10.00 for kids 6-12, are available in advance by calling 1-800-595-4849. They can also be ordered on the Internet at tix.com or perrisautospeedway.com. In case of inclement weather on Saturday, the race will be rescheduled for Sunday, March 1st." See it at http://www.perrisautospeedway.com/2009/pr090224.html.

I called the telephone number above and verified that the g/a tickets are in fact $30.00 each.

I ran a major amusement in Palm Springs in the 1980s and '90s. We raised g/a ticket prices $0.50 to $1.00 each year. Had I been told by the owner to raise the g/a ticket price by $12.00, I certainly would have been forced to respond that we could expect to go out of business fairly soon.

Okay; I hadn't seen the Cardey article and all the replies to it when I wrote the three previous graphs, and I would have removed my post had it not been for the following: Don really didn't want this show to open the season. He knew it would cause problems. Having gotten that information second-hand, however, I didn't realize the precise nature of those problems. Now I do.

But I have to suggest that Don, Kim and Scott need to make it clear what the ticket prices will be for the "regular" USAC-CRA (as opposed to USAC National) shows ASAP, because many people are going to drive out from wherever without calling first and get a nasty case of "sticker shock." I would suggest posting signs on the ticket booths explaining that this is a national show and that the normal ticket price for sprint shows will be $20.00 or whatever it is.

Went to the Copper in phoenix

Spent 50.00 per car 10.00 per person for practice ( Bet they don't get people at practice next year)

Paid 40 for pit passes for race each night

Wife spent 25.00 for general admission

Spent a small fortune on tires for a dusty i grrove, piece of crap race track

waited 2 hours to get pit passes Fri

Thought that the Western was great last year if this is how they are going to run it this year let us know so we don't waste ou money coming

No enterainment , could believe manzy sold as a special event and it was just another poorly run race

Vegas was not much different

Looking Forward to Perris

Pay a little more for tickets for national race . I am sure it will have entertaimnet other that race, good track and decent people that work at track.

Glad to be back at Perris!!!!!!!!!

Right ....to bury a %80 price increase in a feel good press release was wrong.....no senior discount/military discount [common practice for 25 years] ....have security ,cause sombodies gonna feel ripped off...bring 6/8 friends to find such a big price increase and you'll probly see a loss of attendence at the next race for sure...try this at a soccer game and the fans would tear down the stands....they should have announced the admission price a month ago ,made a separate press release,but to bury the price increase and do it a few days before the race..good luck

Before anybody goes off and accuses The PAS of hiding a price within a release or anywhere else, please visit our web site and click on 2008 press releases. Please take the time to read a handful of those press releases and tell me how many of them contain ticket prices. You will be hard pressed to find two or three. Ticket prices are seldom listed in our weekly releases with the exception of special events. This is a special event. Last week management specifially told me to put the price in the next release so people are aware. The price was listed in the same part of this release where we always have the information (phone number & web addresses) on where to buy advance tickets. The price has also been listed since day one on the web site for advance tickets. If we wanted to hide the price we would not have listed it.

This is a business like all others. When a supplier charges you more for a product, you have to raise your price as well. This show is much more expensive than a regular USAC/CRA (sanction fee, higher sprint car purse and a full extra Midget purse) races as I explained in the other string.

It is unfortunate that we are all facing a tough economic climate right now, but when a promoter has a show he has to pay more for, he has to charge more for admission. It is the same as to a concert. Bigger bands charge more money and the ticket prices are more expensive. That is a fact and this is no different.

Mr. Tedrick, your Soccer analogy could be no more than wrong. A fan who goes to see the L.A. Galaxy knows full well he is going to pay much more when he decides to go see the USA play Mexico or a World Cup Qualifier. A Baseball playoff, All-Star or World Series ticket costs substantially more than a regular season game. Like those, this is a special race.

As a kid growing up in the Midwest, I knew full well if we were going to see a USAC Sprint Car show, a show with more than one premiere division or a special event with extra laps, my parents were going to have to pay more money for tickets.

Jesus.

People sit here and piss and moan, "we dont get enough national shows, we dont get any midget shows, sure would be awesome to get those."

Now its, "OMG look at the prices! OH the economy! The humanity! How dare someone pass the increased cost on to the consumer?" For a show a lot of people have been wanting.

Why should consumers get a break during these so called "hard times"? Why do businesses have to lose their ass to not seem like big bullies? The PAS has run all kinds of get in free or cheap promotions the last few years, I didnt see anyone whining the prices were too low what if the Kazarians go out of business.

Scott, I appreciate that feeling of being in the wagons with the Indians circling, but I think you're missing the point. The PAS depends upon two market segments for the sprint shows:

One is a knowledgible fan base that reads this forum, watches the Press-Enterprise or whatever, and knows that a USAC national show is going to drive a higher ticket price.

The other is a market of occasional repeat clientel that does not (for the most part) even know this website exists, nor do they read press releases at all, let alone to the sixth or eighth paragraph. They come out every now and again, cough up $18.00, see a great show and leave happy.

The PAS probably pays its bills on the first group and makes whatever profit there is (if any) on the second.

If you fail to inform the latter people in some fashion that this is a special event with a 67% increase in g/a ticket price, you may do them (in their minds, at least) sufficient injury to turn them off for any future shows, if not run them off the property before they buy a ticket for this one.

Signs on the t-booths explaining what's going on will pretty likely help.

Now, do I have any particular experience in knowing what I talking about? The answer is decidedly yes. When we had special events at the waterpark, we very aggressively informed all of our market segments (to the extent possible) that on such and such a date, the Beach Boys, Bad Company, The Fabulous Thuderbirds, Oingo Bongo or whatever would be performing, and that the g/a ticket price would be increased to whatever. We even went so far as to put banners out on the street well before the parking lot entrance advising people of this on the day of the event.

The solution was not perfect, of course, but it solved a lot of problems. Especially with people who had driven 50 miles or more to get to the waterpark, which was reliably about half our clientel. Most of them bought tickets, watched the show, and left happy. And we heard from quite a few who said, "Thanks for letting us know before we drove into the lot, at least, what we were getting into."

I find it hard to believe that people are complaining about the price tomorrow night with both the National Sprints and Midgets on tap. I'd have been happy to pay the $30.00 for just the National Sprint series. Yeah times are tough, but we should be thanking the Kazarians instead of whining. My butt will be in a seat tomorrow night and I'll bet the place will be packed.

Raj, not missing your point at all. I agree, there is a segment whose only connection with the sport is when they get to the track the night of the event. They do not read this board, this web site, The PAS web site, USAC web site, National Speed Sport News or look for information in the papers etc, etc.. There is no way of letting them know until they get there if they are not hardcore fans who check such spaces. That is what we will do in one form or another.

I do have qualms with people who say we are trying to hide the price. That is ridiculous! If we were, we certainly would not list the price.

The whining and crying that goes on this and other boards gets old. There are people who would complain even if we paid them $50.00 to come to the races and buy their gas money to get home. That is their prerogative and their right. I usually ignore the crap as it is usually not worth responding, too. But, for someone to say we intentionally tried to hide something that is plainly there in black and white, sorry, I ain't taking that.

Scott ,feel free to call me Dan...you should stand at the box office sat.,those that weren't informed are going to be vocal.....this is a large increase over the standard pricing,when was the last time Perris charged this price,see my point....when was this race booked?when did you post pricing? As far as my analogy,have you seen the riots in europe or mexico during soccer over nothing [kick a ball into a net,'thats entertainment?',sprint car fans can be just as loyal..we're just more civil........the biggest gripe I have is why no senior discount/miltary discount [again I don't qualify for either] huge grandstands ,if it's standing room only i'd be suprised...look at all the grey hair next race,their your bread and butter.If they can move -their at the races....Why is it I'm the enemy when I disagree ...half the people I meet don't even know Perris exist...till I tell them...I try to help fill the stands,as do most fans ..please don't leave us uninformed till the last min.

Hey Scott.

Where do I sign up to get paid $50 and free gas to attend races?

I feel bad for the people that are getting hurt in this economy but this has nothing to do with this race or the ticket prices. Why people bitch about ticket prices for sprint car races is just plain stupid, come on people loook at the entertainment you are getting. For way to long the ticket prices for this type of entertainment has been to low while owners and drivers kept putting better equipment on the track and the racing kept getting better the prices never kept up with what they were spending and the time they were putting in so we could go out for four hours and watch action packed racing night after night. Now when the price is what it should have been five years ago people come on here and complain, people use your brain and think about what you are complaining about.

Grady

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You Know I feel For Everyone In this economy.... The small buisness, the consumer, The Maker, Etc.. Everyone is a broke Di*k These days... I penny pinch everytime I can..... And most of the time I get the best bargin for what ever it might be That I am purchasing.... But when It comes to SPRINT CAR racing... I try my damdest to get a good bargain... But the truth be said, I will Pay whatever is needed to see this for the rest of my LIFE... I Love Racing, And how crappy would that be if it was no more??? Come on out and support your local Dirt Track.... Please, You never know when the end could be..... And with this economy????? Well Who Knows! See You at the races...... P.S. For 10 extra dollars you can go in the pits and see everyone doin their thang.... That is a real bargain....

Everyone is a little Crazy in their own unique way...

Its the one's who Don't think they are Crazy you have
to Look Out For!!!!

I never said Perris was hiding the prices of tickets, I'm just sticker shocked. I saw 3 divisions run @ Manzy for $40. I saw the same 2 divisions that are running at Perris at Las Vegas for $18. I guess I won't ever understand why Perris is charging $12 more than Las Vegas for the same show.

As far as trying to explain to people about sanctioning fees and all that, you try to explain to a newbie to racing about it and see if you don't get the same dumbfounded look that I have. I'm trying to bring in more people to the races by bragging about how great the sound system is and how great the seating is and all of that. How can I explain that this weekend is $12 more than any other weekend? By telling newbies that the National guys are running vs. the Calif. guys? To me, that sounds like our Calif. guys aren't as good as the National guys which I don't believe.

I understand about all of the fees and insurance and all of the stuff that goes into a race. Your avg. Joe/Jane Fan, who comes to a race once in a while or wants to try something new with his/her family isn't going to understand. They are going to look at the prices and think why? I know the WoO is outrageously priced, which is one reason I didn't go to the race last night. But for those who have seen the WoO on TV, they will be willing to pay more to see them than the guys they haven't seen on TV. I think it's up to the fans to bring in extra people to try and make new fans and new regulars to the track. That's why I've been going on and on about the racing at Perris to my friends since I've been back in California and bragging about how great the sprint car shows are. I'm just afraid that it's going to be tough explaining this increase for the 1 race to them. Newbies don't understand yet. It takes time to break them in and help them to learn the ropes.

I'm sorry to sound like I'm griping and whining, but I think I have a valid point. Basic point is this: your die hards will be there and pay the price no matter what because they love the sport and don't care how much it is to see their faves. New fans do care about what it's going to cost them. Again, in Southern California, racing fights for entertainment dollars from your avg family. I agree with someone's idea to have a family pack set of tickets not just for this weekend but for the season. Didn't Perris used to do this way back in the day? Maybe it was Manzy but one of the tracks I considered to be a home track did and it really helped bring in fans.

Would I volunteer to help at the track? HECK YEAH! If the Kazarians or any track owner/promoter offered a free admission for volunteering to help paint or do something I'd be there in a second to help out. I think most racers and their families would.

Just my 2 cents worth; which I'm sure most of you will disagree with.

June

RIP Chet and Mark.  You might be gone but never will 
be forgotten.

June, I was not referring to you.

Vegas had the World of Outlaws the next night (at $40.00 I think) and a ready made audience in town as well with NASCAR. Take those two facts away and you would not have gotten in there for $18.00 on Wednesday.

You have hit the nail on the head, if the people that put this on for us to watch don't make money they won't put it on, same way for owners and drivers when the cost become to high they will stop. Is that what everyone wants no racing because the ticket price has gone all the way up to $30, if we are not willing to pay then say goodbye and goodnight. Then compare the price for eveything and tell me this is not a good deal, at $50 its still a good deal imo.

Grady

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You say they won't get 1000 people in the seats, I'm not much of a gambling man but I would gladly take any wager that you feel like you could lose on that one.

Grady

PS My limit would be no more than $50,000.00 I'm saying over 1000

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"...we could go out for four hours and watch action packed racing..."

In that 4 hours you will see less than 1 hour of green flag racing. Do the math. It's the 3 hours of downtime that prevents today's youth (and newbies) from becoming hardcore fans like all of us oldtimers. (And please don't get me started with the support classes filling up the downtime. That's just downtime with noise).

We go to the track because it's in our blood. The PAS is not just competing for the entertainment dollar but they are competing with other activities for people's time. Most people will not give up 3 hours to experience the 1 hour that we all love. I think that is why short tracks struggle today and I fear that in a few years they will be extinct. It's not so much that the tracks haven't kept up with the times but that the times have passed the tracks by. I appreciate the PAS putting up the good fight.

I could not agree with you more, on any Saturday night there is alot of down time that people don't understand. However when there is 50 of the best non wing sprint cars in the pits not to mention 35-40 midgets the night is going to be full of action. The PAS does a good job on any Saturday keeping everyone entertained, I agree and fear that the times will stop what we love. Speaking of down time how about things like a good soccer game at 0-0, yet people spend good money to go watch or a exciting woo event with one or two passes in a 30 lap main yet people fill the stands at $40 a pop.

Grady

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