Management Problems at Richmond
General
I guess the situation at my old Richmond track has gotten pretty bad. Only 90,000 seats filled last race of the 109,000 at a track we used to sell out every race and had a huge waiting list for permanent ticket reservations. Track prez, Doug Fritz (who came from NASCAR's Daytona marketing dept. when the track was bought by ISC) is out to "pursue other opportunities" and a Michigan marketing guy brought in to run that little showplace. A far cry from the days when my old boss Paul Sawyer personally met his fans at the gate to shake their hands and thank them for coming. When I was there from 1990-1999 and as an event sponsor with Wrangler and 7-Eleven throughout the 80s,the biggest problem was how to build enough seats between races to satisfy ticket demand. I see ISC is bringing Clay Campbell over from Martinsville on temporary assignment to assist with the transition. That's a smart move. At least there'll be one soul there who knows and understands race fans and racing. The day Paul sold that great little track to ISC was its death notice as far as caring for the fans who helped build it. Just what we need at our tracks is more brief cases and alligator shoes who know nothing about racing or the community running a race track. A resume that begins at the Fontana, CA speedway that couldn't sell enough tickets on Labor Day weekend to fill the Darlington Infield isn't exactly a glowing recommendation. The following story is from today's Richmond paper:
Bickmeier replaces Fritz as RIR's president
By VIC DORR JR. | Richmond Times-Dispatch Published: July 07, 2011
Doug Fritz, president of Richmond International Raceway since 1999, has resigned to pursue other career opportunities and has been replaced by Dennis Bickmeier, an energetic 44-year-old with an extensive background in communications and public relations. Fritz's resignation and Bickmeier's appointment were announced Wednesday in a release issued by RIR and International Speedway Corporation, the entity that owns and/or operates the local track and 12 other auto racing venues nationwide. The release said Bickmeier, formerly the vice president of consumer sales and marketing at Michigan International Speedway, will assume responsibility for the RIR facility "immediately." Fritz, the release said, "will transition out within the next several weeks." Fritz had the misfortune of running the track during an industry-wide malaise created by a sluggish economy. Attendance has dipped in recent years. The spring NASCAR race in 2009 drew 100,000 fans. This year's spring race drew 90,000. Adversity notwithstanding, Fritz promoted the track diligently. He was seldom reluctant to take an unusual tack. Cases in point: skydiving to herald the fall 2010 race and participation in this season's Times-Dispatch's Fantasy Racing contest. News of Fritz's imminent departure jolted the track's neighbors. "It's a shock. I don't know what else to say," said Gladys Winston, a nearby resident. "He's been so concerned about the whole community. He cares about us. He's done so much for us." As she spoke, Winston struggled to maintain her composure. "They say change is good," she said. "But I don't know. ... I just don't know. I'm so very sorry that this is happening." Attempts to contact Fritz were not immediately successful. Bickmeier said his immediate concern is "to do everything we can to sell tickets" to the Sept. 10 Sprint Cup at RIR. "I always tell my (staff): Our No.1 job, every day, is to figure out how sell tickets better today than we did yesterday." He said he believes RIR's fall race, in particular, offers enormous appeal. "It's the last opportunity to make the Chase," he said. "It's the focal point for the drivers. It's the focal point for the crews. For that week, at least, it's the focal point for the entire industry. Being in that position on the schedule should be a great advantage for us." Bickmeier said he anticipates a period of adjustment while making the transition from Michigan International Speedway to RIR. He will not be without knowledgeable help. He said Martinsville Speedway president Clay Campbell "is going to come up to give us a hand for a little while." Bickmeier has toiled in auto racing for the past 12 years, first in public relations and communications at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif., subsequently at Michigan International Speedway, a Detroit-area venue that annually plays host to two Sprint Cup races as well as Nationwide, Camping World and ARCA competition. Bickmeier assumed responsibility for the communications, corporate partnership sales and ticket sales and operations departments when he joined the MIS staff in 2007. His rsum also includes communications/public relations stops with Disney-owned Anaheim Sports, the Big West Conference and the Los Angeles Rams of the NFL. Bickmeier said he will be unable to turn his full attention to RIR until the completion of the Aug. 21 Sprint Cup race at MIS. "Which means it could be a crazy couple of months," he said.
updated by @dave-fulton: 12/05/16 04:02:07PM
