The consumer numbers debunks the popular belief that NASCAR is losing its fans

The consumer numbers debunks the popular belief that NASCAR is losing its fans

NASCAR fans at Las Veags (Images via IMAGO)

NASCAR, just like every other sport around the globe, is going through a lot of changes. Restructuring the whole sport and its culture around the new social norms is challenging. NASCAR is a sport with deep conservative history. So, the blowback from the longstanding fans will be a big constrain to overcome.

NASCAR has been called out from multiple fractions of this conservative fan base for changes that are being implemented. The ban of Confederate flag from live NASCAR events was one such decision that received huge backlash. The sport also witnessed decrease in its viewership numbers and event attendance throughout the last decade.

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But the fans are seeming to be getting behind the back of the sport once again. Though it is a long way from the peak of its popularity in the early 2000’s, the drama and uncertainty around the 2022 season has attracted a whole new mass. NASCAR COO Steve O’Donnell speaking ached of the season finale at Phoenix has given a sneak peek into this year’s consumer numbers.

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“I’m surprised that we’ve seen the type of consumer numbers that we’ve seen. Our consumer numbers are up over 20 percent — ticket sales ’21 to ’22, despite what was happening with the gas prices earlier in the year, or obviously the very true inflationary things that are happening,” Steve O’Donnell said.  

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Steve O’Donnell opens up about NASCAR’s increasing Tickets sales

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Steve O’Donnell pointed out that the tickets sales of NASCAR events has actually gone up, which the COO finds some what puzzling. This might be due to the fact that the organization has been able to keep the ticket price flat over the last five years.

“We haven’t seen a decline in ticket sales. We haven’t. We’ve actually seen the opposite. I don’t understand it, frankly. It’s a bit puzzling. We are one of the only sports that, by and large, held ticket prices flat over the last four or five years,” Steve O’Donnell said.   

Steve O’Donnell claims that premier stock car racing scene events is one the best options for fans in terms of value perspective. The organization is trying to bring up new levels of tickets so that fans can adjust their budgets.

“I think that NASCAR is one of the best places, from a value perspective, for our race fans. The opportunity to bring in coolers, trying to keep our ticket prices in a manageable place, having different options for our race fans to be able to buy different levels that will work for their own budgets,” Steve O’Donnell added.

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