#NASCAR - A Voice for the Fans ~ Where Have All the Fans Gone?

I can't believe this page opened! Haven't been able to get in here all week, so I'm posting while Ning will let me. This one came out yesterday, but as I said, I couldn't get it here. It's spawned some great discussion, which is why I love doing an interactive column with a lot of give and take between the readers and me, and between the readers themselves. You can see the title in the subject line, and if you click right about here, you'll be magically transported through time and space to the pages of Race Fans Forever and my latest "literary" effort. Thanks for reading!
~PattyKay

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Permalink Reply by Mike Kenyon on April 9, 2016 at 4:58pm

Comment by WJM on Tuesday

Martinsville breakdown by age group demographic:
12-34: 0.48
18-34: 0.56
18-49: 0.94
25-49: 1.24
50+ : 2.66
fun facts via WJM, also his comment
This is consistent for NASCAR the past few years. It's the old diehard's that help prop up the ratings and that's a problem. Where are the new fans going to come from? The 18-49 group is the most coveted by advertisers and the age group of the drivers, yet it doesn't cross over to the fan base.

First idea Remove any and all Waltrips from the premises, Same goes for a Wallace or Larry Mac. They obviously have not helped ratings.

I thought the Martinsville race was a waste of my time, This was a more entertaining race IMO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rDvtFJxgAw

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Permalink Reply by PattyKay Lilley on April 9, 2016 at 5:10pm

I wouldn't argue with those numbers in any way. I almost could have written them myself.. Do you know the source of the breakdown? I have written my fingers to stubs with suggestions of things that would make it better, beginning in 2004, when BoZo put the handwriting on the wall, and I still fight that losing battle today.
BUT...
Those old fans that didn't stick it out, should go find somewhere else to play and stop telling the world how they are race fans. They are not! They are detractors that do nothing for anyone's cause and merely like to hear themselves whine. Some of the loss of fannies in those seats today can be attributed directly to those folks telling the former occupants of them how crummy the racing was and how everything was so sweet and rosy when "they" were racing. It wasn't, and in their hearts, they know it, but they've set their minds and their stance and will not change.
I love folks that offer suggestions. Losing the brothers Waltrip would be a grand start! For my money, Losing FOX would be even better. We might then actually get to SEE some racing!
I can't agree with you on Larry Mac. He has more knowledge in his pinky finger than Darrell Waltrip has in all 6'4" of his frame. :)