[vincesanity82]

Lowe's Motor Speedway is cutting ticket prices and adding other incentives in a comprehensive program to hold on to its fan base. Marcus Smith, the track's president and general manager, unveiled plans Tuesday to make all aspects of attending the Bank of America 500 more affordable. The plan includes discounted ticket prices, concessions and souvenirs for the Oct. 11 race. The track also has negotiated an alliance with area hotels to remove the traditional three- to four-night minimum stay. "We have a fans-first initiative," Smith says. "This is part of that. We want to be the most customer-friendly entertinment company in the world, and this is part of that effort. We recognize that gas prices are high, but at the same time hotel prices have been high." -- Charlotte Business Journal


http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/stories/2008/07/21/daily20.html?b=1216612800^1672544

[LSC9901]

This will be a very interesting concept. Having to reserve a motel for 3-4 nights was a big rip off by the industry. Now that everything else is getting out of touch with reality it's good to see them make some common sense moves. Hope it pays off for everyone.

[bob101]

Too bad Daytona won't try this. Try and get a decent hotel near the speedway for the Feb. race and some of them require a 7-10 day stay for the entire speed week

[Racer Duck]

ya can probably find some decent places down the road at New Smyrna. And they have great short track racing during Speedweeks!

[PenelopePitStop]

Hotels aside, I was watching the Red Sox the other day. They were commenting on all the empty seats (wasn't Fenway). They stated that the lack of ticket sales only means that TV viewership will go up.

How does that offset ticket sales? If you're not at the game, you're not buying food, beer, souvenirs, etc. That hurts the vendors. I don't "think" there's any money to be made based on TV viewership.

Same can be said for CUP. I've noticed a lot of empty seats again this year. Hat's off to Lowe's for what they are doing to try to increase ticket sales. I hope it works. Still, I think it's the economy just as much as it is team and/or driver dominance that impact ticket sales.

[thunderfoot]

Originally Posted by PenelopePitStop

Hotels aside, I was watching the Red Sox the other day. They were commenting on all the empty seats (wasn't Fenway). They stated that the lack of ticket sales only means that TV viewership will go up.

How does that offset ticket sales? If you're not at the game, you're not buying food, beer, souvenirs, etc. That hurts the vendors. I don't "think" there's any money to be made based on TV viewership.

Same can be said for CUP. I've noticed a lot of empty seats again this year. Hat's off to Lowe's for what they are doing to try to increase ticket sales. I hope it works. Still, I think it's the economy just as much as it is team and/or driver dominance that impact ticket sales.

I bet that was the Seattle game eh? Why do we want to pay to see the Mourners lose again? But a race is more of a crap shoot. And most fans go to see the wrecks. Ever seen a wreck at 200 mph at a baseball game?

[PenelopePitStop]

Originally Posted by thunderfoot

I bet that was the Seattle game eh? Why do we want to pay to see the Mourners lose again? But a race is more of a crap shoot. And most fans go to see the wrecks. Ever seen a wreck at 200 mph at a baseball game?

Yes, I'm pretty sure it was the Mariners. I know it was this week, so that would be the series.

I disagree that most fans go to see the wrecks. They must be pretty bored this season because the COT spoiler seems to limit "the big ones".