Miller Motorsports Park

[251am]

 


  Racing at Miller Motorsports Park in Utah.

http://www.millermotorsportspark.com/


  Check out THEIR gate fees for WERA and Master of Mountains endurance series; $10 and $7.50 respectively. Why is it so comparatively affordable to view a race there, compared to BFR or Rd Am?

[Ducmarc]

it's $20.00 for sunday and$25.00 weekend here in fla region

[Mongo]

The gate fees for WERA are NOT for competitors, those are spectator only and I believe per day.

[HAWK]

I think that was his point Sean, I don't know the logistics of running a race weekend so I can't say what drives those prices but I can say that when my friends find out that it will cost them $25 to come watch they usually have something else they have to do. I would bet that lowering the gate fee for non-competitors would probably result in no change in revenue (less per person but more people) but I don't know if there are insurance issues.

[Mongo]

The main issue is bills and contracts with the tracks a large number of whom set the fees. 

Lowering the gate fees has been tried as have coupons and other promotional ideas - with no increase in people through the gate.

[GSXR RACER MIKE]

I agree on lower spectator costs, I can't even begin to remember how many people have asked me how much it was to come and spectate our races and when I tell them the absolute majority pass on it. For example, I work with a guy who asked me last year about spectating, he wanted to bring his wife and 2 sons out to the races on a few Saturday's during the summer. When I told him he would have to buy a weekend pass, and that it would cost him like $100, he passed on it all together. The irony of that situation is that his sons ride off-road currently and could be potential racers themselves if they got hooked, not going to the track won't help that situation.

As far as how do you control racers not buying the cheaper spectator only passes at the front gate, why not have the person in registration confirm which pass each competitor has when they enter their races, that certainly wouldn't require any extra time or man power. If a competitor purchased the wrong pass then they would have to pay the upgrade fee to the 'racer pass' if they wanted to race (maybe even have a minor penalty fee associated with purchasing the wrong pass at the gate).

[Court Jester]

i should be there for a track day later this summer.
i can't wait.

[251am]

The main issue is bills and contracts with the tracks a large number of whom set the fees. 

    I understand where you are coming from as far as the business end is concerned. To an extent your hands are tied as the racing org. that is simply leasing/renting the facility. Also, as far as business is concerned, the higher gate fees maintain a certain image that the venue is not "cheap".

  Last year LP had a great program for it's Privateers in it's program. The coupons I was given worked great. Well over a dozen people came to help out in the pits and watch races. It was great. They had no idea what it is we really do and were fascinated with the entire thing. This year there is no LP program. That's fine. $25 for BFR, for a weekend, aint killing me. However, the disappoint of all those folks and their friends who wanna come back, is pretty sad when they hear it's $25 even for just for one day.

  How can Miller stay in business with such a low gate fee? Is it the car clubs that have already "...paid the bills" with their contracts?     

[Mongo]

With Miller I honestly don't know.  I'd guess a lot of it is to try and build the business so they're taking a loss.  I know they're doing well just on the track rental we pay - and we get none of the front gate (spectator) ticket sales.  Also with their spectator setup they can clear the place at night and that makes it much much easier to sell tickets at a one day price.

[Ducmarc]

btw that $25.00 is for everybody rider and crew.it amazes me anyone comes to watch. but they do. if we really want the sport to grow we need spectators. people will pay $10.00 to $15.00 but $20.00
I think hits a cord. I know they talk high insurance but go to the local drag strip or stock car track $10.00 to $15.00 gets you in the place is full and in drag racing spectators can stand next to the cars in the staging lane how's that work ?  3000lb cars all over the place in the dark no head lights kids and beer everywhere and they still get coverage.part of our problem in fla is that it''s flat hot and $20.00 to get in .if you want racing go to stock or drag racing it's at night (cooler)  you can see the whole race.  who in there right mind would drive 20 miles in the middle of june to the edge of palm beach county in the middle of the day spend $80.00 for a car load and only see one corner(unless you walk 10 miles)  they don't even put stands where we can watch the start. oh and it's sunday when you want to sleep late and usually have something else to do. trust me since i'm out for the rest of the year my wife and kids and I did this 2 weeks ago.wife says we should have been paid to  go. I don't think we want anyone to come .at least SCCA admits it. miller knows the money is in the spectators not us and their trying to make something happen.

[Mongo]

Like I said, we've dropped the price, we've offered the coupons and other discounts, the only people to use them were the riders that were coming anyway.  We've tried what you're asking for and it just does not work.

That and keep in mind one simple fact - people pay as much for 90 minutes of entertainment for a movie.  The price isn't that large an issue, however it makes a great excuse.

[Ducmarc]

  I don't know what if any the fix is. I do know when the gun show or home show comes to town there's an ad on TV and a little short on the morning news. we don't even get on the sports page. henry does send out a flyer to us and there are posters up at bike shops.which help i'm sure.