Fixing California from a Californians point of view
Wednesday, February 27th, 2008 12:21am CST
By Luke, Thunder Lounge
Published on Thunder Lounge.
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The Overview
It’s been said season after season. California’s broke, and it needs fixed. Band-aid after band-aid has been erratically placed over wounds which needed major surgery. We’ve harped and harped on this and that, even when it had merely a lone date in the spring amongst exciting tracks the likes of Talladega and Richmond.
Jaws dropped when that date was moved to the second race of the year, and them getting the Labor Day nod. OK, that’s pretty tame since all hell broke loose, and it’s still quite the sore spot in many a fans heart at the loss of the Southern 500’s tradition.
As everyone else is throwing their two cents onto the fire and kicking them while they’re down, I have went to the source, the California race fans, in search of why they aren’t heading out to the track. The answers are surprising, or maybe not so much to the trained eyes and ears, but my own solution is something worth your consideration.
The Observations
First, let’s see what a group of fans had to say in regards to Fontana. I’ll note that they all hail from the Carson/Gardena area, which is well inside the Los Angeles market, and just under an hour from the track. I’ll cover these from biggest consideration/problem on down. These same fans will drive a couple hours to attend an NHRA event, World of Outlaws, or drag boats. Which those events are much better attended than the Cup races in Fontana. They even go out to Las Vegas to catch a race, some 4 hours away, when they can. Yet, they won’t head out to Fontana. Work schedules aside, as on occasion it happens, here were their reasons.
“The racing just isn’t that exciting.”
This is something that has been beaten to death in the press, around the water cooler, and every place those who love racing discuss it. The track just hasn’t produced a show they want to go out and see.
“We can’t see a damn thing, even if it was exciting.”
The track is too big, and it’s quite difficult to actually watch the race when you’re there. Even if the show was good, and to its credit the new car was improved though not near a “really good” status, they wouldn’t know because they just can’t see what’s going on anywhere but really close to their area.
“The weather just isn’t good for either date.”
Football fans charge through worse, as do other race fans in other areas of the country. However, as we roll the snowball down the hill, everything adds up.
“There is just so much to do out here, there are more exciting options.”
There’s hockey, basketball, amusement parks out the wazoo, baseball, football, and more concerts than you can shake a stick at. Not to mention any special touring productions, or one of Hollywood’s biggest nights in awards.
What can we learn from these?
First is that the average Joe in California is finicky when it comes to their entertainment options. NASCAR fans or not, and these guys are, they have a certain expectation for their entertainment dollar. With the current show, they would rather take that $125 ticket price and throw it on beer and pizza and enjoy actually watching the race from the comfort of their favorite spot.
Next, is something we’ve known all along. Poor product produces poor demand, while good products produce high demand. If the NHRA can draw more on a Friday than Fontana can for a Cup race, there’s problems. And look, there are.
Something sort of surprising is the view. Well, not really. There are two tracks which are larger, and one the same length. It’s known that it’s difficult to see the entire thing. However, they’re not having attendance problems, or racing quality issues either.
So what we have here are lots of NASCAR fans, but they have perhaps slightly more definitive expectations than other areas where NASCAR ventures. Maybe not so much in style, but more how those expectations either encourage or prohibit their participation at events. Factor in the many other entertainment opportunities, and you’re in big trouble without a product.
The Solution
The solution is definitely not increase banking and throw restrictor-plates on the cars. Exec’s, get that out of your head right now.
Fontana is owned by ISC. This is not new information. NASCAR needs to be in the Los Angeles market. That’s a fact, Jack, like it or not. ISC controls two dates for NASCAR’s premiere series in the market. New tracks they may build or befriend aside (think Dale Junior, for pure speculation), it’s a pretty safe bet those dates aren’t moving. Although they sure would get some love if they gave September back to its rightful owner (themselves) in Darlington.
If ISC plans to stay in that market, even if over the long terms it is only for a single date, unless they are going to abandon it completely they need to quit screwing around and get serious about it.
The fans out there want a show. They want racing. They love it, and would have no problems heading out to see it if there were a few things they could count on. As I said, a show, but they also want to be able to see the show. Not through squinting eyes or high-powered binoculars, but with their own eyes in a normal fashion.
If there is inclement weather that effects the track, if it can be dried they want to see it completed in a reasonable time and the show continue. No Kansas disaster, or California fiasco. Deal with it, and get the show back on the track. No weepers, no wrecks of unfortunate consequence, get it done and done right.
Here’s what to do, ISC. You guys had a great idea that was shot all to hell for New York City. You have the room at Fontana, so get over getting kicked out of New York City, blow up the mess in Fontana, take your track plans out there and build it.
That’s right. Take that 3/4 mile oval you were planning, stick up to 16-18 degrees of graduated banking in the corners, make the straights about 6 or 8 degrees, maybe flat, and build around it.
Put in a solid foundation under the track which will not leak through, channeled concrete or whatever it takes, then put down some good old asphalt over it.
You have 90,000 seats or so now. Bristol, which is 75% shorter, has over 160,000. Richmond, which is 3/4 of a mile is quickly approaching 140,000. Both sell out two dates. Both sell more tickets and hold near twice as many. Oh yes, their market areas are far less in size than Los Angeles as well.
Yes, it will be expensive to do this. Yes, you may have to start on March 1st, let Darlington have the September date for a year, and open it back up the following year. Then again, it might be possible to complete in between dates. However, this isn’t something that should be rushed.
Take the time, do it right, and most of all, truly do it for the fans. They deserve it.
They’ll get the show they deserve, you’ll build back the reputation you deserve, and the NASCAR Nation will thank you for it.
Filed Under: California, Nascar, Sprint Cup, Tracks
Tagged As: California Fiasco, California Solution
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It does seem like a simple solution doesn’t it? Shorten it and stack the seats to the sky. Oh–don’t forget the casino in the infield.