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Verizon Pit Reporters Blog

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Time For An Exit Strategy

Brett McMillan
Brett McMillan

Bigger isn't always better. For evidence, we present Los Angeles. The major metropolitan area that has managed to live without an NFL team looks as if it couldn't care less whether or not it has NASCAR races there.

It's ironic when you think about it...an area that grew thanks to its love-affair with the car...doesn't turn out to watch cars race.

What should we blame? The economy? That's a factor. The weather? Be serious.

In fact, part of Auto Club Speedway's inability to draw fans has to with factors beyond its' control.

First, there's location. The greater Los Angeles area is massive. Even though Fontana is part of "greater" L.A., it really isn't close to L.A. at all. And, none of it is easy to navigate through. Speed limits on the freeways...they're often pipe dreams.

Second...when you have an area of this kind of size and scope, there are entertainment options galore...most much closer to where you live.

Look, I understand NASCAR's need to be in Los Angeles. And, I agree with it. But, the twice a year experiment has been a failure.

Cut back to one race...make it an annual event for the Southern California fans. Don't give them the option of saying, "maybe I'll wait for the next one".

Empty seats don't attract fans...they turn them off. They let them make last minute decisions whether to go or not. They also send the message to prospective fans that this is not a big event.

And, that affects not just the fans locally, but those across the country as well. It plants a negative seed that just may sprout when NASCAR comes to a track near them.

Posted by Brett McMillan | Add A Comment | Comments ( 0 )
Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Starting In a Hole

Brett McMillan
Brett McMillan

For most teams, annually, there's no better site than Daytona in their rear view mirrors. No other sport starts the year the same way...with their biggest event.

Even without the week of testing leading up to Daytona, it still gets more hype than any other race. What may be different this year, is that NASCAR can't get Daytona behind it soon enough. Much of the good that came with the start of the season was dumped down a hole.

The 500 ended up with an exciting finish...and honest emotion from Jamie McMurray in Victory Lane. But, instead of focusing on that...all the shows that spend the majority of their time on stick and ball sports...spent their time filling their Daytona hole...with the hole.

First, it was Danicamania...but, that goes under the category any pub is good pub. That old axiom does not apply to the hole.

As the Cup circuit heads west, the challenge now is going to be trying to rebuild some of the lost momentum. And, instead of a running start, it's just coming out of the starting blocks.

Any other week, it would be easy to write off the hole...but, not after Daytona. Some great racing over the next few weeks would help...unfortunately, though, the "hole" mess will stay with u

Posted by Brett McMillan | Add A Comment | Comments ( 0 )
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