Another perspective:
*** Bristol with 150,000+ seating capacity, " If " 80 + or - % filled = 120,00 + or - attending. The average attendance per game at other sporting events:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...sports_leagues
*** Is it the racing, or the economy, or a combination of both ? Until there is a sustained economic recovery with unemployment below 5 % rather than 9.8 % , minimal foreclosures/bankruptcy/use of food stamps and growth in the business/industrial base for taxes, the impact of contributing factors regarding track attendance ?
Seems the infield/outfield RV spaces continue to do well. While still a challenge at the Sprint Cup level, but there are sponsors, i.e. the 2010 Census commenting on the needed exposure it received for NASCAR advertising, must be good if the US Gov does it...........( smile )
To me, a better indicator at year end will be the TV ratings for the entire season , compared to both last year and the peak years, will there be the start of a positive trend ? Then, look at the non-racing factors for track attendance. The best seats @ New Hampshire Speedway remain at $110/ea, still surprised at the number of families attending in 2009 not considering food, travel and sometimes the lodging cost.