NASCAR Hall of Fame November Attendance Decline Not as Severe as Other Months in 2011

November among hall's better months in 2011
By Steve Harrison
sharrison@charlotteobserver.com
Posted: Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012

The NASCAR Hall of Fame had 15,189 visitors in November, down 18 percent compared with the same month in 2010.

The hall lost $118,582 in November. A reimbursement from the city of Charlotte for certain maintenance costs reduced the loss to $65,904.

The November attendance, while down, was an improvement for the hall. In earlier months this fiscal year, attendance declines exceeded 30 percent.

In November, the hall had a number of high-profile drivers available for autographs.

For the first five months of the fiscal year, 86,196 people have visited the racing museum. In the first five months of last fiscal year, attendance was 119,576.

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/01/11/2918657/november-among-halls-better-months.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy

I refrained from saying all that... aren't you proud of me?

I will just say that 9 of those November attendees were from right here at this website, thanks to Randy Myers insistence that we visit. As I wrote at that time, it was well worth the trip and the money. I exchanged correspondence with one of the lower management guys there and we have had very cordial exchanges. I truly believe that if the HOF and RR could get together in a mutual marketing campaign, it would greatly benefit both organizations. As you may recall, I was a huge basher of the HOF BEFORE the visit, but having been there and observed what I did, I have a different opinion now. To see the pride of Randy Myers, Bill Rossi and France Flock in the exhibits on the third floor where the historical significance reigns, is enough for me.

My opinion is of a wonderful, poorly managed and marketed facility. It could have been different in the beginning if a staff had been assembled that knew what it was doing. Every day I resent further the investment by the Charlotte taxpayers in this white elephant. When the nomination and election process is handled in a manner different from today that assures pioneer hall of famers and when a staff is on board that knows what to do with a jewel, then I may pay my hard earned cash. But not until then. I know too much. Now y'all forced me to say it again.

Dave, I deeply respect your opinion and I fully realize I don't know the inner workings or any of that. But I am still very happy I went that day and went with the folks I did. I fully agree it could be managed much, much better.

I am certainly glad we are friends, Tim. I suspect it will be quite a while before we share a common opinion on this subject.

I respect your opinion, JJ. However, some folks should have been on board the Hall from the beginning who had some inkling of marketing and public relations - the two things most needed by this venture. Good broadcasters, historians and artists have their place, but the PT Barnum, Humpy Wheeler type, get the word out, create some spectacle, get in the news persona is desperately needed at the Hall IMHO before it totally sinks. I don't see that effort being made (at least publicly) to staff the place with the kind of folks who could reach the masses. I don't think that has too much to do with the City of Charlotte. However, I will grant you that the CRVA has been proved publicly to be a pretty crooked animal. The place needs a PROMOTER.

Here we go again! Every time the CRVA releases a report on the NASCAR HOF, the same old stuff comes out. I'm sorry if I ruffle the feathers of those who don't agree with the way things have been done at the HOF. There are complaints on everything from location to management to the selection process.

Last time I checked there is not a Major League Baseball team in Cooperstown nor NFL franchise in Canton and after some down years, they have survived. And if those HOF's had the same start-up costs as the NASCAR HOF in the same type economy, they would probably be posting the same kind of numbers as the NASCAR HOF. Our POTUS and Congress can tout the recovery of our economy all they want but one look at everything involved with almost every form of racing (not just NASCAR) screams differently and if you take a close look at the stands at most other professional sports, you see the same thing.

As for management and operation of the NASCAR HOF, the folks in charge there are good people and don't deserve the sometimes harsh words pointed at them. If you can do it better, volunteer your time and efforts towards promoting the place.

As for the selection process, I too think it could be handled differently but it is what it is( can't believe I said that). But if you look back at the other motorsports Halls of Fame / Museums, they haven't voted in all the folks who deserve to be in and will never vote in everyone that we feel deserves to be in. We need to honor those who have been enshrined,campaign for those we feel deserve to be there and support an amazing place that gives us a glimpse of the history of the sport we claim to love.

I, like Tim, am amazed at the looks on the faces of Bill Rossi and Frances Flock (as well as some of the guests I have watched on my visits to the HOF) and I feel a huge sense of pride myself when I catch a glimpse of a photo of my daddy or uncle or any of the people I knew and respected when I was growing up around the tracks. I am not a big supporter of the "new" NASCAR but Ido respect the past and the chance to see it displayed in a venue like the NASCAR HOF makes me proud to have played a little part in that history.

So if you truly feel strongly about the history of our sport, stop the complaining. Volunteer! Offer Winston & Buz suggestions instead of criticism! Pump it up! Don't bash it! Be proud of the part each of you played in what we love. We can't change much of what goes on at the track but we canenjoy our heritage and the friends and famlies who gave so much. We can enjoy their efforts and we can thank one another for our efforts that may someday bring a smile to some kid wandering through the NASCAR HOF.

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Not just the students Robbie. Consider the wealth of knowledge claimed by those of us regularly posting on this forum. Perhaps Jimmy has it right when he suggest a combined effort from RR and the HOF.

I certainly don't have all the answers but I have and will continue to support the "official" NASCAR HOF as well as any of the other efforts made to keep the history of our sport alive.

Randy, I have been pushing cooperation between HOF and RR since the Hall opened. This seems to be a perfect match. RR has many events where the HOF could be promoted very effectively. Columbia Speedway, Shelby Raceway, Hillsoborough just to name three off the top of my head. We really need to set up a meeting with the HOF folks and make this happen. The HOF is worth the effort and we have the folks here, as you said, the make a perfect match.

One thing I think could immensely help getting out the Hall message is if the excellent programs on the inductees had a wider distribution than just the SPEED channel. Every single one of them are excellent network quality productions that could reach a mass sports and non-sports audience. It is ashamed they remain virtually hidden on SPEED and not on an ABC or FOX network.

I am certain that the staff at the HOF is operating to the best of its ability and to my knowledge, too, they are excellent folks. That said, I will continue to maintain that the place has got to be promoted better to draw. My definition of bashing and that of some other folks differs. Constructive criticism is not bashing to me and constructive criticism is warranted in the case of tthe HOF. One of the real big surprises about Charlotte to many people is that Charlotte is not a "racing" town. Mooresville may be, Concord may be, but not Charlotte. In Richmond, you'd see cars and trucks everywhere with racing bumper stickers and a large proportion of the population attending racing events, both major and weekly - not in Charlotte. As Humpy Wheeler said many years ago, if they ever close the borders to Virginia, we'll have to close Charlotte Motor Speedway. With the millions of dollars that have been spent, I just don't see the appropriate promotional effort, whether it be advertising, news releases, tie-ins with tv and radio and newspapers and corporate sponsors or other inventive promotional efforts to lure the masses. Until someone with a background and capabilities in that area is added to the staff, I don't think the potential is being maximized. I sure want the place to succeed. But, you can't sit with your head in the sand and not offer suggestions for what is constantly being portrayed locally as a sinking ship. Promote, promote, promote. Bill France and Joe Littlejohn and Enoch Staley and Clay Earles and Paul Sawyer didn't build NASCAR with a "Build it and they will come" philosophy. They worked the angles and stretched meager resources and were inventive. The HOF has got to get inventive, too. It's not too late, but the promotion has got to get started.

Free Promo Idea for the NASCAR Hall of Fame:

HOME TRACKS TO HALL ROAD TO CHARLOTTE SWEEPSTAKES

Purpose: Build awareness & attendance at both the NASCAR Hall of Fame and the grass roots NASCAR weekly home tracks - two areas that need promotion and attendance boosts.

Grand Prize: Winner in each NASCAR Home Track weekly track market wins all expense paid trip for 2-4 persons to the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte.

Method of Entry: Entry is free, but sweepstakes ballot/entry must be picked up made in person on any race date at a NASCAR weekly track. Entries deposited weekly at the home track in each market.

Contest Duration: Entire weekly track season - from opening of track in spring to closing of track in fall. Multiple entries are encouraged - one per week.

Contest Partners: * Top rated radio stations in each weekly track market

* One overall corporate "presenting" sweepstakes "partner" - for instance, if Homelite Chain Saws is overall presenting partner, the contest becomes HOMELITE HOME TRACKS TO HALL ROAD TO CHARLOTTE SWEEPSTAKES

* One major air carrier - US Airways would be preferred carrier since Charlotte is its largest hub.

* Hotel in Charlotte area

Funding: Radio air time donated, one local radio personality in each home track market is the contest "guru" and makes appearances and live broadcasts from the weekly track. Air travel donated, hotel stays donated. Overall sponsor pays fee, each weekly track contributes and NASCAR contributes.

Promotion: Newspaper Travel Editors and Feature Editors heavily briefed on the Sweepstakes. Feature Editors and Sports Editors and Sports Anchors have specific releases prepared for them tailored to and highlighting the history of their local weekly home track and its stars. You've got to make it easy for the writers and broadcasters. Heavily emphasize any competitor who is Hall related or eligible or who may have participated at the home track or in the area. Get free stories, get free tv coverage. Give them the story. Customize it to fit the market like any good advertiser or promo person. Run wrap around national spots and have the tv "talking heads" on the racing telecasts rave about the sweepstakes. Each local home track radio station will run additional promos to boost weekly track attendance.

Outcome: NASCAR Weekly tracks and Hall of Fame receive season long exposure and promotion resulting in attendance increases at all venues.

Now, this is a 5-minute thought process of mine that might or might not work that obviously would need immense "flushing out" of all details. But, when I say promotion, this is the type thing I mean. Just one idea, but I don't see any coming from down the street.