TV TIMES EXTRA: Those many empty seats should be removed from the NASCAR venues

by | Aug 22, 2013 | Media, Schedules, TV Times

By Lou Modestino

With billions of dollars guaranteed for NASCAR TV rights til 2020 and 2024, discussions have now surfaced of removing those empty grandstands at many Sprint Cup venues. On television, those empty seats look Bad – Bad with a capital B. We’ve seen those empty spaces disguised with sponsors banners, and broadcast networks have been very careful about not panning the spaces with their coverage. Don’t you think that those hollow canyons must have a psychological effect on fans in attendance. They must think, “Why did I come to this race?”

By now followers of motor sports must have heard and read that removal of stands is set to begin at a number of venues. For instance, the backstretch seats at Daytona are scheduled for dismantling. It’s been announced that the removal will be part and parcel of the updating of that track in order to increase the strength of fences on the finish line. (That was the area that Kyle Larson’s Nationwide car tore down the fence, and fans were hit with debris from the wreck in February during SpeedWeeks of this year.) Yet, couldn’t there be another motive as well?
(more…)

TV TIMES: Logano Wins Michigan Economy Run

by | Aug 22, 2013 | Media, Schedules, TV Times

By Lou Modestino

The typical NASCAR Sprint Cup “economy” runs like Last Sunday’s at MIS is what turns off NASCAR fans when they are forced to dig up mucho money for a “non-economy” ticket. It appears as though NASCAR and Sprint Cup teams have not as yet figured out that the exorbitant prices for tickets, among other factors, is what turns them off. Although I’m told that if your looking for tickets for any race you can haggle over them. Lots of empty seats at MIS.

Joey Logano, who started on the pole, won that one because his crew chief was able to determine that he’d have enough fuel to go the distance. The Middletown, Conn., driver ended up inheriting the lead when then leader Mark Martin exited as his fuel tank ran dry with only four laps to go. It was Joey’s first win of the season.

But the good paying customer wants to see lively competition with two or more drivers coming down to the checkers, not the same old, same old economy runs. That also is another factor contributing to the lack of ticket sales.
(more…)