Rain date attendance - what's the difference?

[Littleman]

While watching the Atlanta race, today, I see a lot of empty seats. A few years ago, we were rained out at Pocono, and had to return on Monday. The place, on Monday, was packed! So, why the low turnout at Atlanta? Is it possible that all those in attendance at Pocono, on that Monday, were on vacation? Or, might there be other reasons why there are so many empty seats at Atlanta, today?

[Doctorindy]

While watching the Atlanta race, today, I see a lot of empty seats. A few years ago, we were rained out at Pocono, and had to return on Monday. The place, on Monday, was packed! So, why the low turnout at Atlanta? Is it possible that all those in attendance at Pocono, on that Monday, were on vacation? Or, might there be other reasons why there are so many empty seats at Atlanta, today?

On Sunday, when they were lined up looking like they might get a start, there were a LOT of empty seats near the bottom. But that could have been because those seats were uncovered, and being drizzled on at the time.

Atlanta's always been fickle with attendance, even though it's such a big city. The track is quite a ways south of downtown, but that doesn't seem to hurt other tracks. Interesting point about Pocono, in that you're probably getting more "weekend trip" fans from further away, than the "one-day-trip, live-in-the-area" fans like you might with Atlanta.

[Lee Roy]

Atlanta also has 48,000 more seats than Pocono.

http://www.jayski.com/racepage.htm

[Chris Paff]

Lots of emtpy seats.. Im sorry but all is not well in NASCARland.. Yes they are doing great overall but something is happening and it needs to be addressed sooner or later.. TV ratings and attendence are down.. The question is why? I have few thoughts but i dont feel like arguing about..

[Lee Roy]

Lots of emtpy seats.. Im sorry but all is not well in NASCARland.. Yes they are doing great overall but something is happening and it needs to be addressed sooner or later.. TV ratings and attendence are down.. The question is why? I have few thoughts but i dont feel like arguing about..

Keep hope alive.

[Chris Paff]

Lee Roy.. I dont hate Nascar.. I used to be a huge fan from 1989-1998.. That all change on May 28, 1998 when i attended my first Indianapolis 500. I totally saw the difference in Indycar and Nascar in person.. From that day on i started to lose interest in NASCAR..

My major beef with NASCAR is the attitude that there series is better then Indycars or F1.. The totally lack of respect with other types of racing is what turns me off the most about NASCAR..

In my experience most NASCAR fans just watch NASCAR and nothing else.. They are not racing fans they are NASCAR entertainment fans.. If you are a racing fan you watch and enjoy more then one type of racing.. Like Indycars, USAC, F1, WOO, ALMS, etc..

[Lee Roy]

Lee Roy.. I dont hate Nascar.

Yes you do. I've read your stuff.

[Scott]

A true sign of the OW decline, an OW fan complaining about the elitist attitude displayed by NASCAR fans. I don't see any reason that a NASCAR fan should be expected to automatically be a fan of the IRL, CCWS or F1. BTW, how many IRL, CCWS and F1 fans watch NASCAR on a regular basis. It is just sad that so many people watch F1/IRL/CCWS and nothing else, they are not racing fans just OW entertainment fans. A real racing fan would watch NASCAR Cup, Busch, Trucks, and ARCA. It goes both ways and OW fans have a few decades of superior attitude syndrome to make up for.

[badart]

Chris, you obviously never attended the 1997 Indy 500 on Tuesday when it was finally run to it's conclusion. It was half full. You have to remember, most of us work for a living and are unable to take a day off on a whim (I'm my own boss, so it's not a problem for me). Having said that, there would have been lots of empty seats on Sunday in Atlanta, there are always empty seats for the races there.

[debdrake]

Note that weather channel forcast for Atlanta today was for rain - perhaps other forcasts said the same? If so, a lot of folks might have left town that would have stayed if good weather had been predicted for today.

[ClintCurtis]

My major beef with NASCAR is the attitude that there series is better then Indycars or F1.. The totally lack of respect with other types of racing is what turns me off the most about NASCAR..

You know, THAT is exactly what turned me off to Indy car racing...the attitude that Indy was the end all, be all of the motorsports universe. Fans looking down on the NASCAR folks, using term to describe them, such as, "hilljack."
I find it is sort of poetic justice that NASCAR is now the big time of auto racing, and Indy cars are on life support. The Indy 500 will remain the icon it has always been...people will recognize the name, but to most, I think it's just a four hour interlude until the CocaCola 600 comes on TV.

[Jim Wilke]

Which got the higher ratings last year?

[Rascal]

While watching the Atlanta race, today, I see a lot of empty seats.

So did I.

So what?

Those races durned NASCAR Cup races will still broadcast into my living room long after I'm dead.

Or haven't you figured that out yet, Jim?

[Rascal]

Which got the higher ratings last year?

RATINGS? Wrong forum, Wilke.

But I'd be willing to wager Sunday's rain-delay rebroadcast of last years race gets better ratings than all but one open-wheel Indycar race this season.

[brickyard1911]

Quit pi**ing all over each other.


Drop the flag and let's go racing......no matter what kind it is!

I will attend this year: ARCA, Busch, Cup, Truck, and 3 or 4 IRL races. I hope to throw in some Sprints and Midgets. I'm not a hilljack nor am I ellitist. What I am is a racing fan. My favorite is the open wheel cars but that doesn't mean I don't enjoy the rest.