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

So we're almost in the year 2020. Sprint car racing is in a good spot and looks to have a bright future. 

As fans, how much are we willing to spend on ticket prices, considering that we want to see bigger races with bigger purses supporting the drivers, additional safety measures, and overall nicer amenities. Keep in mind all of us on here are probably more of the hard core fans vs the casual fans. 

IMO ticket prices currently are generally low at least for the weekly events. This year I only made it to Knoxville for any dirt show, however I've thought with 3 classes of sprints and around 80 cars weekly we pay $15. With the kids getting in free it makes it pretty affordable and cheap entertainment. I'd honestly be willing to spend $20 for weekly events.

Even for special events including WOO, USAC, and the Nationals I thought prices were low considering the venue, and the event itself. 

Keep It Real

Most of us on here would probably pay just about anything within reason. The benefit of $15, and even less would probably be more beneficial is getting new people in. Like it or not, not many people outside of dirt racing looks at a place like Lincoln Speedway or River Cities Speedway and would be willing to pay more to see a race there than could pay to see NASCAR at Pocono, or IMSA at Road America, etc. That is why the prices need to remain where they are. If it wasn't for that they could probably double and 85% of the people on Hoseheads would go to the same amount of races.

15 bucks for a weekly show at Knoxville seems like a sweet deal. That place is awesome and the racing seems to be pretty good for a half mile.

There was an old farmer down the road from me growing up.  He would only go to the county fair after 8:00 at night when they stopped charging at the gate.  I asked him why?  He said "I'll pay to get in when there's something worth paying to see."   

Now that fair is gone.  

Now, on to the question at hand.  I would pay $75 to see an Outlaw race when it rolled around.  However, I would have to leave most of my family home, because I wouldn't be able to justify $300 for all 4.  I would gladly pay $25-30 for a weekly show----but, I wouldn't fork out $100-120 per week for my entire family-----and follow that up with concessions, etc.  

Everyone is in a different spot.  I would GLADLY pay more for many events I go to but I understand why some are being turned away when they want to bring their families. 

It's a tough dilemna.  These tracks and promotors are going to need to take in more money just to keep up with the rising costs of the tracks-----let alone the cry for increasing purses.  I don't know what the answer is.   

Knoxville's "kids free" rule is a good remedy for that.....

I'm single, its a great deal compared to concerts anymore

True and true.

Also a better deal than a Nascar race, college sports event, or pro sports event.  The Knoxville Nationals should be the most expensive winged-sprint car race in the world-----and it's a bargain when compared to almost any other sporting event or concert.  

Most people that live close enough to Knoxville to go regularly and don't attend races at other tracks with any regularity have absolutely no idea how spoiled they are.    Spoiled on everything, ticket prices, car counts, car quality, facilities, how smoothly the program is run, etc

Every single ticket that Knoxville sells is a heck of deal compared to nearly any other ticket for any type of event at any other venue whether we're talking racing, monster trucks, concerts, football games, basketball games, anything.

Most of our KWS 410 shows and SCCT 360 shows in CA  are $20 for adults and $10 or less for kids. We do have special shows with both 410s and 360s racing together that are $40. I usually go to one or two Outlaws races that run around $40-$50 including Trophy Cup that is around the same price. For me it is worth it because I enjoy going to races and making a day of it and sometimes making a weekend out of it. For our SCCT shows we have a Dash for Cash where my kids get the opportunity to collect nickles that are scattered on the ground. We have done this for the past two years and we put the nickles into coin rolls and recently took them to the bank and can you believe it was almost $250 worth of nickles! Going to races for my family is well worth the time and travel because it is the best form of entertainment on a Saturday night.    

Looking forward to the new Golden State King of the 
West series schedule! 

Winged sprintcars = the fastest and most exciting 
racecars on dirt! 

Out of curiosity, I decided to compare a few entertainment/sporting events to the ticket prices for Sprint car racing. I also have the advantage of only having a family of 3, where a number of you probably have multiple kids.  I'm frugal when it comes to concessions. Here is what I came up with using events I attend throughout the year.

Regular weekly shows such as Attica - $15 for adult, kids under 12 Free. $30 total for us + about $10 for concessions.

All Star Show - $44 total (kids free). Concessions $10

Outlaw Show - $58 total (kids free) concessions $10

Kings Royal - $278 total Tix for Weds -sat, $400 for hotel if needed ($44 for adult, $15 kid for sat. All other nights kids free & $29 GA)

Knoxville Nationals - $550 for Tix Weds - sat. $448 for hotel.

1 Nascar Race (Michigan) -$173 total ($70 for adults, $35 kids). Hotel needed about $200 for 1 night.

NHL game - Cheapest tickets = $140+ with service fees included. Add in $20 for parking. Have spent $20 on concessions & that's for low end items

NFL game - Haven't been to one in 5years with just my wife. We added everything up and it was $330 for nose bleed seats, parking 3miles away, concessions.

Minor League Baseball- $43 total for Tix + $5 for parking. Concessions usually around $15 but various promos.

Minor League/College Hockey - $50 total for Tix. $5 parking, concessions about $15.

Movies - $40+ include concessions, Zoo - $55 admission, regular Dinner @ restaurant - $40+ including tip.

Id tather attend the all stars than the restaurant for $45

Even though I may not know you, I 
care what most of you think!

Ticket prices at well run tracks are a bargain. And there are tracks I wouldn't got to if it was free admission. I know I've become a snob and my decision to go has become,  Could I take a newbie to the track and would they enjoy the show?

Port Royal's tickets , pit passes, and camping area prices have been creeping up and up over the last few years. I think eventually it will come back to bit them big time.

Last year Kings Royal tickets went up $6, 6 pack of beer went up from $10 to $12. I still feel like I'm stealing from Tony!! Oh yeah since Eldora bought the field north of the track parking is ?$5?

I would agree, and have made multiple posts about how good it is at Knoxville, top to bottom. 

In Iowa we should probably compare NCAA games if we're comparing sporting events. I haven't been to enough recently to get a good price comparison. 

Keep It Real

Prices to attend races locally or making the 300 mile trek to Knoxville aren't a problem.  Late night drives by myself and mustering up the ambition to go to a race after working around the house is difficult as I close in on 70.  The thing that stands out about dirt track racing are the long drives through deer country at all hours of the night.  Unlike pro sports there are no buses from local bars to any dirt tracks.  I think probably a lot of people get into this situation as we get older, especially if we're the only one in our family that goes to the races.  I have a son who is going to Eldora this summer for the Outlaws but they drink all night and I quit recently so I will probably bow out of that trip.  

Anyways, racing is one of the most reasonably priced sports there is.  The problem is getting there for us oldsters with bad night vision. 

Stan Meissner

This actually I think is what has more of a negative impact on racing than anything else with what you just described. Basically the location of race tracks for many people. A lot of people have to drive 1-2hours on most occassions and some probably 3-5+ to go to a show. The thing that helps other sports is usually there is a stadium/arena in a well populated area and the drive to and from is not that far at least if you are a fan of the hometown team. Yes if you are a Bears fan & live in Florida you have a haul but you have T.V so the sport is at least viewable. In motorsports, a lot of the people that attend typically have to go through either an added cost of getting a hotel, or travel several hours when you are tired like you stated. Yes some people who camp as a hobby can bring their camper but even that is still an added cost to some extent. Myself, I go to a lot of the Eldora & All Star shows on back to back nights a lot of the time and typically the day after I am worn out but its better than spending another $40-$50 for a hotel. I think some people who live within a 30-40min drive to a good track do not realize how fortunate they are sometimes.

To me the ticket for almost all of the  race tracks in sprint car racing is probably the best bang for your buck for any kind of entertainment. Its sometimes the other added costs that make it hard to justify. That is why I typically limit myself to going to Outlaw & All Star shows now. Yes there is great local races here in Ohio but when you start adding up miles, wear & tear on a vechical, fuel, some cases hotels all of that is what adds up.

I'm your age, but haven't been doing it as long as you, not "burnt out" yet

I'll drive 4-5 hours, but its gotta be a muli-nite show & usually helps if there's some other activity I like in the area