Indoor track not happening

[Z28]

From Jayski

Ohio Indoor Track Project Dead: Brant Motorsports has abandoned plans to build an indoor motor speedway in Trumbull County [Ohio], U.S. Rep. Timothy J. Ryan announced Friday. Many who worked on the Mahoning Valley Motor Speedway said they were disappointed at the missed opportunity for new jobs and a major new attraction for the area. Bob Brant, president of the Morgantown, W.VA., company, cited changing business conditions and rising construction costs for the decision, said Ryan, D-Niles. "Bob Brant made a business decision,'' Ryan said. "He was not ready to make the financial commitment to make it happen.'' Efforts to contact Brant were unsuccessful. The proposed track, which would have been the first indoor auto track in the world, would have covered 40 acres and have been 400 feet tall. It would have contained a half-mile track and seated 60,000 people at first with room to expand. Brant first proposed building the track in Pittsburgh, but switched the location to Trumbull County near the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport in 2001. At that point, Trumbull and Mahoning counties jointly funded a $60,000 initial study that said the project was worth exploring further.(more at the Tribune Chronicle), this proposed track started in Pittsburgh, then moved to Ohio, has been rumored and proposed since 1999, past news on my Proposed Indoor Racetracks page.(3-18-2006)

not a real surprise

[indyracefan]

....yup, no suprise. I wasn't real fond of the idea 'then', and nothing has changed in the past 6-7 years.

[Outlaw]

The most shocking part of this to me was that it was just now dead. The last time I had heard anything about it was when it was proposed to be in Pittsburgh.

Outlaw

[R22]

From Jayski



not a real surprise

where's jerry jones when you need him???

his (and arlington's) new stadium could easily cover a 1/2 mile track........

oh, but from the chili bowl we know......

the fumes, the dust, the cleaning crew............

i don't expect in my lifetime to ever see and "enclosed" major racing facility.....

not in ohio or anywhere.......

[indyracefan]

i don't expect in my lifetime to ever see and "enclosed" major racing facility.....

not in ohio or anywhere.......

...and don't want to either!

[Fueler]

Bruton Smith and SMI have had plans and engineering drawings in hand for over ten years for putting a dome over Bristol. As most here will acknowledge, Bruton is a man plenty capable (both financially and otherwise) of getting what he wants when he wants it. So, why hasn't it been done yet?

It's not the fumes... the ventilation problems are easily solved. It's not the challenges of building a dome that big... it's been done before.

The issue is the noise. Bruton has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars, including a bunch on investigation and prototyping of noise cancelling technology applications, and yet, to date, there has been no solution to the decibel problem. While the Chili Bowl certainly is loud, acoustical studies and computer simulations indicate that a majority of the Bristol grandstands and virtually all of the infield would have decibel levels sufficient to cause major hearing loss after only 15 minutes of exposure during a Cup race.

Surprisingly, it may be more feasible to dome a larger venue, like Texas, because of the difference in acoustical dispersion. The shape, size, and configuration of the track and the grandstands at Bristol make it problematic.

The reason I bring this up is that these concerns, and some of the studies were made known to the group trying to bring this new domed track to fruition, and they brushed it off saying they would worry about it AFTER they got the necessary funding. Best guesses by those familiar with the proposal indicate that a complete dome would not have been feasible.

[SamC]

The Bristol Motor Speedway stands consist of metal grandstands on I-beams into concrete anchors, with suites on 2/3rd of the rim, supported by seperate latace works of steel, sunk into other concrete anchors. There is no way that such structures could support the weight of a dome.

Further, why would SMI spend money on such a project? The two Cup dates sell out today. The two Busch dates have both the largest gate and the largest %age of seats sold (among Cup tracks) in the Busch Series. Bristol-Kingsport-Johnson City is the 91st largest market, with less than 0.3% of the total population of the country, and already has several indoor venues for what concerts and such play such small towns. And, as we all know, it is SMI and NASCAR policy that a rained out event is run on the next runnable day, and SMI's share of the NASCAR TV pie is unaffected by such a rain out. And Bristol is an ordinary east of the Mississippi place with an ordinary east of the Mississippi climate, with no more rain than any other place.

So "dome-ing" Bristol would do exactly what, other than cost money?

Maybe Bruton thinks that he can get a thrid date during the winter?

[Fueler]

The Bristol Motor Speedway stands consist of metal grandstands on I-beams into concrete anchors, with suites on 2/3rd of the rim, supported by seperate latace works of steel, sunk into other concrete anchors. There is no way that such structures could support the weight of a dome.

Obviously, you've never seen the drawings. The design does not use the grandstands as supports for the dome. It uses a completely new dome structure that encompasses the grandstands as well as a substantial amount of real estate outside the grand stands.

Further, why would SMI spend money on such a project? The two Cup dates sell out today. The two Busch dates have both the largest gate and the largest %age of seats sold (among Cup tracks) in the Busch Series. Bristol-Kingsport-Johnson City is the 91st largest market, with less than 0.3% of the total population of the country, and already has several indoor venues for what concerts and such play such small towns.

Because fall, winter, and early spring in that area brings very unpredictable weather, and because there are other events besides concerts that could use the facility. Because an enclosed facility would allow temperature and humidity management. One of the primary opportunities is as a year round testing facility for both race teams and manufacturers located in the southeast.

Maybe Bruton thinks that he can get a thrid date during the winter?

Or maybe he thinks he can make the facility generate revenue on the other 200 days a year where the overhead exists anyway. Take a look at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway revenue model, and then compare it to the Bristol revenue model. Perhaps you'll get a clue.

[SamC]

Obviously, you've never seen the drawings. The design does not use the grandstands as supports for the dome. It uses a completely new dome structure that encompasses the grandstands as well as a substantial amount of real estate outside the grand stands.

Link please. Have you ever even BEEN to Bristol? It is in the Appalachian mountains. Very large hills are literally a few feet from the edge of the current structure. Mountains that could not be moved without major blasting that would destroy the existing structure.

Because fall, winter, and early spring in that area brings very unpredictable weather,

Which have not retarded sales of the hardest ticket in NASCAR.

One of the primary opportunities is as a year round testing facility for both race teams and manufacturers located in the southeast.

You do understand that teams can no longer test in this manner? And what track would testing at Bristol help you with? Winchester? And I do not see car manufacturers lined up to test their cars on the Bristol oval. You do understand the banking there, don't you?

Take a look at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway revenue model, and then compare it to the Bristol revenue model. Perhaps you'll get a clue.

Perhaps you are the one that needs a clue, if you see a similarity between holding a non-NASCAR event in Bristol, Tennessee and one in the adult vacation capitol of the world, Las Vegas, or between the appropriateness of the unique Bristol track for any purpose beside NASCAR.

[Fueler]

Sam C.....

Without getting into the incredibly narrow viewpoint you choose to pursue, there are other things in the SMI and the motorsports world than NASCAR. Other types of teams test, other manufacturers besides those involved in NASCAR test products (and not just vehicles), and the uncertainty of the weather applies to other activities and uses besides NASCAR. How about things like corporate games, junior Olympics, truck shows, rod meets, and the like? All of those are currently significant revenue producers for other SMI tracks... but since they aren't broadcast where you can see them from your LazyBoy, you probably aren't aware of them.

While I have no way to provide you with a link, I have seen the plans and drawings I referred to, and I have been involved in the design, construction, and subsequent operation of several race tracks of different types. I've also been closely involved with Bruton on a number of projects, both in and out of motorsports. Yes, I've been to Bristol... many times. And, as a matter of fact, I have blueprints and plot plans of the current track layout on my desk at the moment (as well as those of a couple of other tracks, including Vegas).

As a few of the remaining original posters here know well, there are, or at least used to be, a number of people who lurk and post on TrackForum who are actually involved in the industry and who have some significant credentials and demonstrated credibility. There's a reason that many of those people are posting here less frequently.

Bruton, as do most successful entrepreneurs, see opportunities outside the box, and find success where others see no possibility. (Most people couldn't imagine him spending the kind of money he is just to improve the racing at one track like Las Vegas.)

Obviously, you don't share his vision or ability. You are now free to resume your NASCAR-centric myopia.

[Saw150]

Where did Sam C go?

[SamC]

Sam C.....

How about things like corporate games, junior Olympics, truck shows, rod meets, and the like?

Why, yes, the junior Olymipcs in the 91st largest market in America clearly needs a 150K domed stadium. And a truck show. Why, every man in the metro area would probably go. Of couse if EVERY ADULT MALE IN BRISTOL went to it, that is not a full house.

Clearly the ALREADY EXISTING DOMED FOOTBALL STADIUM in Johnson City, the existing Civic Centers Bristol and Kingsport, and the existing Eastman Center in Bristol are inadequate. And clearly driving to Knoxville, almost 90 minutes away, is not an option.Bristol Tennessee needs the largest domed stadium on earth.

Maybe Bristol's second popular live gate pro sport can play there. The Rookie League Bristol Tigers, which draw crowds of up to 400 on a Sunday afternoon.

All of those are currently significant revenue producers for other SMI tracks.

You mean places like Charlote or Atlanta, which are major league cities 100s of times larger than Bristol? And none of which have domes? And all of which have about the same weather. This proves that building a dome around Bristol is a good idea because?

While I have no way to provide you with a link,

Bing.

[Fueler]

Sam C....

Obviously you are without reproach on this topic. I bow to your emminently superior knowledge and business skills. Please provide me with the trading symbol of your publicly held companies so I can invest in them, as I'm sure their ROI will be superior to Speedway Motorsports and Sonic Automotive.

Please forgive my questioning of your well-proven expertise and acumen. If you will provide a list of the facilities you've designed and constructed, I'll definitely make a pilgrimage to those shrines to acquaint myself with the proper way to do it.

Your incredibly humbled servant,

Fueler

[BlueStang]

The issue is the noise.

That was the first thing that crossed my mind. I'd figure on going deaf instantly if attempting to watch an IndyCar event at such a facility.