I’ve been covering the Indianapolis 500 and the Brickyard 400 for more than 30 years and never thought we’d see the day the Indianapolis Motor Speedway closed grandstands because ticket sales were so poor.This is one of the biggest and richest races on the schedule, but not many people are feeling rich these days. And those that are know Obama has a target on their backs. Doesn't make for a pleasant environment.
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway never releases precise attendance figures. It says ticket sales for the Brickyard 400 will be well over 100,000 at a facility that has an estimated 250,000 seats… Other NASCAR races are having similar attendance drops.
The economy is one reason. A lot of fans are out of work or short on cash. At the same time, there are more races.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Empty Seats at the Brickyard
NASCAR is running at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway today, but the usually packed racetrack won't be full. From Rich VanWyk of WTHR::
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You have a point, but I think it goes much deeper than just the economy. The Speedway used to be the center of Indianapolis' eye, many there now treat it as an embarrassment. The state has turned away from high school and college athletics to professional. Attendance at the once legendary high school basketball tournament is almost non-existent. Butler achieved the near impossible two years running in the NCAA and the state yawns. Butler's season ticket sales have hardly moved.
They want to be seen as "sophisticated" in Indianapolis now and racing and "lower" level sports just don't fit that image in their minds. What would be interesting is to see a break down of local versus out-of-town attendance and how it has changed in the last few years. (Of course they have a point when it comes to NASCAR;-))
I've known Rich since he started working at Channel 13, and I know some of the Hulman/George family. I'll see what I can find out.
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