Marketing CLT

[LD3]

I was watching a news clip on how the NASCAR HOF in CLT has been running a $1-1.5 million deficit since it opened. They just started a gimmic w/ Coke, when you bring in a empty bottle or can, you get free sim time. That got me thinking, would it be worthwhile to partner with US Vacations and offer a decent airfare and hotel rate to drum up business for both companies. Organized tours and the Richard Petty Driving Experience could be included in a package also.

You would think the HOF would try and think out of the box by including one of the bigger employers in the area that happen to provide 600+ flights a day....Is this something that could be a venture worth pursueing?

 

[Art at ISP]

That is a smart idea, which would probably do very well....which means US would never consider it.....especially since THEY didn't think of it.

 

[Harry Callahan]

I agree with Art great idea, but as he said since they didn't think of it I doubt they go for it.

 

[ggiby]

I agree with Art great idea, but as he said since they didn't think of it I doubt they go for it.

Piedmont had a car in the nascar circuit.... with very famous drivers In the 80s. Nascar fans are very "brand" conscious. They support their
car and it's sponsors religiously ...... Nascar is huge.

 

[SparrowHawk]

Piedmont had a car in the nascar circuit.... with very famous drivers In the 80s. Nascar fans are very "brand" conscious. They support their
car and it's sponsors religiously ...... Nascar is huge.

You're right about that and it's not just NASCAR but motorsports in general. Brand loyalty is huge, which is why many companies spend millions on sponsorships.

I'm not defending or criticizing US Airways as philosophies regarding "Top of The Mind" or Brand Awareness advertising is something that some companies just don't do. It's not right or wrong, it's a fact of life. US Airways doesn't feel they get the best return on their ad dollar as they do with other types of advertising.

Some companies like to track the return on ad dollars. IOW, I spent XXX there and it led to YYY tickets being sold. This is one reason you see US Airways plastered all over the internet. It's relatively cheap and you can track it. Plus it's extremely effective.

Conversely, you spend 10 million on sponsoring Matt Kenseth for example and it's impossible to print out a report correlating the 10 million to to an increase in ticket sales.

I worked for a copier company that's a household word and they NEVER spent a dime on Brand Awareness advertising. Now they would produce commercials that their dealers could use and run locally and provided Co-op dollars based on amount of equipment bought, BUT never on TV, Sports or anything like that. Point is that it comes down to how those at the top view advertising.

 

[Flufdriver]

It should have been built in Atlanta where the idea was originated. Was to be built next to CNN, Georgia Aqurium and World of Coke...not to mention the millions of visitors each year, the record breaking visitors to the aquirium in the first year of operation...plus the sweet deal Georgia and the city of Atlanta was making to the HOF tax wise. Plus...Atlanta even has a pretty nice NASCAR followinig in Atlanta to. Atlanta even has AMS...Atlanta Motor Speedway...not to mention the worlds busiest airport 9 miles away. When Charlotte jumped into the mix when this was in a bidding stage...I thought it would be a sorry mistake if it was awarded to Charlotte....simply doesn't have the volume of visitors and other things downtown to attract what it needs. It's simply a numbers game of visitors and general population count. Not hard to figure out!!! The attraction of World of Coke, CNN, Georgia Aquirium (worlds largest aquirium) and NASCAR HOF would have been a win-win situation...CLT, you ask for it......sorry Charlotte!!

 

[700UW]

AMS doesnt sell out and lost a race, it only has one race a year. The Charlotte Metro Area is the largest in NASCAR, it was put in the right place

 

[roabilly]

Are you asking that Tempe and NASCAR actually do something intelligent? Ain’t gonna happen they both have long standing track records to adhere to!

 

[LD3]

AMS doesnt sell out and lost a race, it only has one race a year. The Charlotte Metro Area is the largest in NASCAR, it was put in the right place

If it was marketed right, I don't think that has happened....Fluf is right, ATL does have more to offer and the HOF probably would be turning positive numbers. But it is what it is...I can't believe that the HOF would not partner up with the largest airline serving this city and put in some packages that would lure people into this area...Hell, even name US as the offical airline of the HOF...

 

[700UW]

Bruton Smith is the king of marketing in NASCAR, I doubt that was the issue, his tracks and races are all successful.

Charlotte was chosen as it was the best place to build it, no where else are race fans in one city for a two week span and then for another week later in the year.

And Charlotte, was chosen for the DNC Presidential Convention, and the all the museums at the Levine Cultural Campus, Carowinds, and many other places are plenty of things for people to do.

 

[LD3]

AMS doesnt sell out and lost a race, it only has one race a year. The Charlotte Metro Area is the largest in NASCAR, it was put in the right place

You do know that SMI (Bruton Smith) owns AMS....

Bruton Smith is the king of marketing in NASCAR, I doubt that was the issue, his tracks and races are all successful.

Charlotte was chosen as it was the best place to build it, no where else are race fans in one city for a two week span and then for another week later in the year.

And Charlotte, was chosen for the DNC Presidential Convention, and the all the museums at the Levine Cultural Campus, Carowinds, and many other places are plenty of things for people to do.

You really believe that Bruton is the king of marketing....Try Humpy Wheeler, he was the one that brought all the excitement to CMS, now Marcus Smith is tasked with keeping up with what Humpy did...

Have you seen all the empty seats @ Bristol Motor Speedway the last couple of years? Another track owned by SMI....As for this last 2 week span, it didn't do didly squat for the HOF, numbers were lower than last year..

 

[700UW]

Yes I know Speedway Motorsports owns AMS, and they lost their race, the dates have changed as its a money loser, they lost the race to Kentucky, another SMI owned track.

And Marcus is doing a good job, I went to the 600 last month and the marketing was great and it was a packed house.

If you havent noticed most sports and entertainment income is down due to the economy.

 

[LD3]

the dates have changed as its a money loser,

So you still think Bruton is the King of Marketing?

 

[700UW]

Yep,

He is, he cant control the economy and how rich is he off of Speedway Motor Sports inc and Sonic Automotive group.

You saw how the City of Concord caved into him when they wouldnt let him build Z-Max, and he threatened to move CMS, and now he even has one of the major roads in Concord named after him now, doesnt he?