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Renovations decrease seating capacity at Daytona, Phoenix
By Bob Pockrass - Associate Editor
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Daytona International Speedway and Phoenix International Speedway have decreased their seating capacity by 9,000 in the last year.
Spokesmen for both tracks said the changes were the result of improvements made to certain grandstand sections.
Daytona’s seating capacity shrank from 168,000 to 159,000, the result of a frontstretch grandstand project that began in August, according to DIS spokesman Andrew Booth.
The renovation project replaced lower aluminum seating in the DePalma and Oldfield grandstands (located near Turn 4) as well as the Seagrave, Keech and Lockhart grandstands (located near Turn 1) with chair seats with arm rests.
Phoenix’s capacity shrank from 76,000 to 67,000. The Phoenix changes, according to PIR spokesman Paul Corliss, came from the track’s replacing of temporary bleacher limited-view seating on the backstretch with high-end recreational vehicle and hospitality spots.
“You’ll continue to see us evolve and expand or contract as necessary,” ISC spokesman Wes Harris said. “The nice thing is you can do other things that can make a lot of sense.”
The changes were not announced, but track operator International Speedway Corp.’s annual financial filing lists the capacity for each of its tracks. None of ISC’s other tracks had seating capacity that changed by more than 2,000 seats.
Daytona still has the biggest capacity at 159,000 plus 112 suites, followed by Talladega (143,000; 30 suites), Michigan (129,000; 44 suites), Richmond (109,000; 41 suites), Auto Club in California (91,000; 90 suites), Kansas (80,000; 54 suites), Chicagoland (75,000; 24 suites), Phoenix (67,000; 46 suites), Homestead (63,000; 71 suites), Martinsville (61,000; 22 suites), Darlington (61,000; 16 suites), and Watkins Glen (35,000; 8 suites). The number of seats per suite varies depending on the track.
In its annual financial report, ISC also stated that it had more than 1,000 full-time employees as of Nov. 30, 2008 – compared with more than 1,100 it reported for the same time last year. Harris said the company did eliminate positions last year because of the economy but those eliminated made up less than 5 percent of the company’s work force.
In another part of intriguing financial data, ISC reported that NASCAR events generated approximately 87.5 percent of its 2008 overall revenues, compared with 85.8 percent in 2007.
2009 Sprint Cup Race for the Chase Standings
Driver Standings after the AMP Energy 500
| 1 | Jimmie Johnson | 6248 |
| 2 | Mark Martin | -184 |
| 3 | Jeff Gordon | -192 |
| 4 | Juan Pablo Montoya | -239 |
| 5 | Tony Stewart | -279 |
| 6 | Kurt Busch | -312 |
| 7 | Greg Biffle | -340 |
| 8 | Ryan Newman | -402 |
| 9 | Kasey Kahne | -414 |
| 10 | Carl Edwards | -437 |
| 11 | Denny Hamlin | -448 |
| 12 | Brian Vickers | -556 |
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Comments
9 responses to "Renovations decrease seating capacity at Daytona, Phoenix". Post a Comment.
Andrew Briscoe said:
Jan 29, 2009 at 8:23 PMI can see Daytona, being as huge as it is, cutting out a couple thousand seats, but not Phoenix. That track's already limited on seating. If anything I'd say Michigan needs to have the seats taken away.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportJJ Emory said:
Jan 30, 2009 at 12:51 PMThis trend started a few years ago didn't
Report as Abuseit? I'm thinking Atlanta was the first one?
Anyone know?
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» Confirm Abuse ReportMike Peterson said:
Jan 30, 2009 at 4:23 PMI think you are right. But didnt Atlanta have that tornado that practicaly eliminated thousands of seats along the backstreach anyway?
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» Confirm Abuse Reportjerry swiatek said:
Jan 30, 2009 at 4:36 PMHey! are you all nuts? they are charging enought for two seats nowadays and have to deal with less people, I betcha that there will be a day when Brian france will only need about 5.000 wealthy celebrities at Daytona, then we can watch pay per view for $199.00 at home
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» Confirm Abuse ReportEverett Suchland said:
Jan 30, 2009 at 4:44 PMEverytime I read about "high end motor coach parking" I wonder who ISC and SMI are going to cater to. It sure as hell isn't the NASCAR fans that have been following NASCAR since the 70's and 80's. It won't be much longer and it will be on pay TV and the grandstands and RV parking will be completely empty.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportGeorgia Ross said:
Jan 30, 2009 at 5:50 PMI hate to tell Pockrass but this is very stale news about Phoenix International Raceway...it was set up and ready for the race last April--nearly a year ago...I disagree about the limited view...it was a very good view of the track and was always full of fans...those seats were reasonably priced and gave fans an opportunity to go watch some racing and not break the bank...especially if bringing the whole family...take it away for the "high-end" VIP's...complete with the expensive/posh Trackside Club...it sure looks empty over there except for the fancy-pantsy people, most of which hardly ever bother watching a single lap...sure hope that isn't part of ISC's and Brian France's idea of listening to us ordinary race- loving fans that truly enjoy watching the cars go around the track...every single lap...BUT THINK ABOUT IT...it sure makes those other grandstands look more crowded for T.V.!
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» Confirm Abuse ReportBarbara Floyd said:
Jan 30, 2009 at 6:05 PMwell they are doing the same thing at Texas Motor Speedway, taking out the whole back strech of seats to make room for upscale campers???? Sure isn't me!!!! True NASCAR fans want to be in the seats, screaming and yelling for their driver, we don't come to party for the weekend, just want to experience the race. Guess those of us that help support the racing, are not considered when these decisions are made. Money talks, bull S==== walks
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» Confirm Abuse ReportWerner Boehmert said:
Jan 30, 2009 at 9:12 PMdon't take seating away...as a friend of mine said...he's like to put both cheeks on the seat...
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» Confirm Abuse ReportBob Koba said:
Jan 31, 2009 at 7:58 AMAs ticket sales fall, more tracks will remove seats so empty stand shots wont appear on tv. Then they can advertise near sellouts and keep ticket prices high.
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