-
Home
-
Latest Headlines
-
- TV Shows
-
TV Schedule
-
SPEED Showcase
-
- NASCAR
-
Formula 1
- Auto Racing
- Moto Racing
- Cars
- Bikes
- Store
- Social
- Games
- Mobile
- Deals
- Videos
- Photos
- Home
- TV Shows
-
TV Schedule
-
SPEED Showcase
-
- NASCAR
- Formula 1
- Auto Racing
- Moto Racing
- Cars
- Bikes
- Store
- Social
- Mobile
- Deals
- Videos
- Photos
IndyCar
INDYCAR: Milwaukee Return In Doubt
“The crowd was pretty disappointing and I don’t want to give up on it yet," said Randy Bernard, "but I’m also not willing to say we’re going to bring it back.
The return of Indy cars to the Milwaukee Mile was an aesthetic success on the track but a financial flop at the box office.
Sunday’s 225-lapper had everything we have come to expect on that flat, tricky, one-mile oval: Good hard racing, plenty of passing, a few crashes and the handling of cars going off like Jack Nicholson in a Few Good Men.
Unfortunately, there were too few people in attendance to appreciate the drives of Dario Franchitti, Graham Rahal, Oriol Servia, Will Power, James Hinchcliffe, Helio Castroneves and Tony Kanaan as only an estimated 13,000 turned out on Father’s Day.
“It was a great race, exactly what everyone told me it would be,” said INDYCAR CEO Randy Bernard after watching his first race at the nation’s oldest track. “Obviously, the crowd was pretty disappointing and I don’t want to give up on it yet but I’m also not willing to say we’re going to bring it back.
“We made some mistakes and learned some lessons and now we need to do some evaluating.”
Bernard’s biggest mistake may have been going with AB Promotions, the company that debuted this past weekend at a track that chews up promoters and spits them out.
To be fair, AB Promotions didn’t have the best date (Father’s Day) or starting time (3 p.m. local) nor did it have the luxury of Marlboro (8,000) and ABC Supply (3,000) buying 11,000 tickets for their customers like the last show in 2009.
AB also couldn’t secure a title sponsor, which is pretty much death for any race nowadays.
And it also rained on Sunday morning.
But, despite getting a reported sweetheart deal on rent from the State Fair Board, AB showed it really doesn’t understand race fans or what it takes to get them back.
The folks that showed up Saturday were rightfully pissed off after being told no coolers, no pass outs and it cost $10 to park. A pit pass was $40 and a grandstand seat $25. Those should have been the prices for the WEEKEND, not to watch practice, qualifying and a pair of USAC races that didn’t start until 6: 30 p.m.
Oh, and several Indy car mechanics who weren’t issued parking passes had to pay $10 to park each day. Wish they’d have tried to charge A.J. Foyt.
Sure, there was a 2-for-1 ticket offer but it wasn’t put into place until last week when box office panic set in. It needed to be 2-for-1 since Christmas time.
If Milwaukee gets another chance, Bernard could be contemplating a doubleheader, possibly going back to the old August date during the State Fair or running the traditional week after Indianapolis.
The bottom line is that Milwaukee was a bastion of Indy car for eight decades, packing the house twice a year in USAC’s heyday and drawing 50,000 in CART’s prime during the ‘90s.
But selling 30,000 tickets at $40 apiece wouldn’t even cover the sanction fee so without a title sponsor, sharp promoter and a discount from INDYCAR, its likely going to be difficult to keep on the schedule.
Especially with Elkhart Lake and Chicago back in play.
Bernard went to see Road America’s George Bruggenthias last Friday and said: “It was a great track, I liked it, and it will get strong consideration next year.”
Chicagoland Speedway, dropped from the INDYCAR schedule this season after 10 years, is also lobbying hard to get back on it. “I’ve had several good conversations with Scott Paddock and if we can work out a deal that makes sense for both of us we’ll go back,’’ said Bernard.
Keeping Milwaukee and adding Elkhart Lake would be ideal for most of us, but, sadly, it’s got to make cents.
Would You Like To See IndyCar Return To Milwaukee? Share Your Thoughts Below.
Sunday’s 225-lapper had everything we have come to expect on that flat, tricky, one-mile oval: Good hard racing, plenty of passing, a few crashes and the handling of cars going off like Jack Nicholson in a Few Good Men.
Unfortunately, there were too few people in attendance to appreciate the drives of Dario Franchitti, Graham Rahal, Oriol Servia, Will Power, James Hinchcliffe, Helio Castroneves and Tony Kanaan as only an estimated 13,000 turned out on Father’s Day.
“It was a great race, exactly what everyone told me it would be,” said INDYCAR CEO Randy Bernard after watching his first race at the nation’s oldest track. “Obviously, the crowd was pretty disappointing and I don’t want to give up on it yet but I’m also not willing to say we’re going to bring it back.
“We made some mistakes and learned some lessons and now we need to do some evaluating.”
Bernard’s biggest mistake may have been going with AB Promotions, the company that debuted this past weekend at a track that chews up promoters and spits them out.
To be fair, AB Promotions didn’t have the best date (Father’s Day) or starting time (3 p.m. local) nor did it have the luxury of Marlboro (8,000) and ABC Supply (3,000) buying 11,000 tickets for their customers like the last show in 2009.
AB also couldn’t secure a title sponsor, which is pretty much death for any race nowadays.
And it also rained on Sunday morning.
But, despite getting a reported sweetheart deal on rent from the State Fair Board, AB showed it really doesn’t understand race fans or what it takes to get them back.
The folks that showed up Saturday were rightfully pissed off after being told no coolers, no pass outs and it cost $10 to park. A pit pass was $40 and a grandstand seat $25. Those should have been the prices for the WEEKEND, not to watch practice, qualifying and a pair of USAC races that didn’t start until 6: 30 p.m.
Oh, and several Indy car mechanics who weren’t issued parking passes had to pay $10 to park each day. Wish they’d have tried to charge A.J. Foyt.
Sure, there was a 2-for-1 ticket offer but it wasn’t put into place until last week when box office panic set in. It needed to be 2-for-1 since Christmas time.
If Milwaukee gets another chance, Bernard could be contemplating a doubleheader, possibly going back to the old August date during the State Fair or running the traditional week after Indianapolis.
The bottom line is that Milwaukee was a bastion of Indy car for eight decades, packing the house twice a year in USAC’s heyday and drawing 50,000 in CART’s prime during the ‘90s.
But selling 30,000 tickets at $40 apiece wouldn’t even cover the sanction fee so without a title sponsor, sharp promoter and a discount from INDYCAR, its likely going to be difficult to keep on the schedule.
Especially with Elkhart Lake and Chicago back in play.
Bernard went to see Road America’s George Bruggenthias last Friday and said: “It was a great track, I liked it, and it will get strong consideration next year.”
Chicagoland Speedway, dropped from the INDYCAR schedule this season after 10 years, is also lobbying hard to get back on it. “I’ve had several good conversations with Scott Paddock and if we can work out a deal that makes sense for both of us we’ll go back,’’ said Bernard.
Keeping Milwaukee and adding Elkhart Lake would be ideal for most of us, but, sadly, it’s got to make cents.
Would You Like To See IndyCar Return To Milwaukee? Share Your Thoughts Below.
2013 INDY 500 Practice
LATEST HEADLINES: AUTO-RACING
-
GRAND-AM: Valiante Joins 8Star For Mid-Ohio
Daytona Prototype ace to sub for Stephane Sarrazin in next month's… -
MILLER: My Annual Indy 500 Quiz
It’s time for Robin Miller's annual Indy 500 quiz. -
INDYCAR: Miller's Mailbag, 5.23
It's time for SPEED.com's weekly IndyCar Q&A with Robin Miller's… -
INDYCAR: HIPPINO.com To Sponsor Kanaan At Detroit
Just a few weeks after announcing the KV Racing-SH Racing entry of… -
PHOTOS: Indy 500 Practice & Qualifying 2013
Enjoy a huge collection of photos from practice and qualifying while… -
LE MANS: BoP Adjustments For GTE Announced
GTE-Pro Aston Martins handed extra weight, larger restrictor for… -
LE MANS: Jim France Named LM24 Starter
GRAND-AM founder and NASCAR Vice Chairman to wave tri-colour flag… - More News
