Quote:
Originally Posted by jjvincent
Sebring 12h is a destination event. You can't compare it to an event at CoTA. Just like Lime Rock, you could have a wagon race around the track and the place would be full of campers and spectators. A track like that has a built in audience. CoTA does not. Even though it's right in Austin, it just doesn't get the spectators. It was built for F1.
The facility depends on local vendors to come out and supply the food for everyone (just like you see at Sebring). Austin is full of those vendors and food trucks. They are literally everywhere, yet at the track, there are two or three. So, if you want to go over to some stands far away, you will be all by yourself. These vendors will not go any more because they lose money at the facility. Unless you are at the few specific areas, where any types of services are, you are on your own. Unless you do the F1 race, it's like a private track rental day by the services you get.
CoTA also looks like a ghost town because it can easily hold 150K but when 10K show up, it looks like nothing (there's a reason why they do a fan walk and the respective series takes tons of PR pics because all of the spectators are in one spot for 30 minutes and it makes the event look packed). The most people I have ever seen there being physically at the track, was when GA ran there the first time in 2013. I think that was because the race was in April/May. Then for PWC, not so much. Then for the September WEC/IMSA event, even less than PWC in March.
For the WEC, they spend about $5 on local promotion for the event. If it wasn't for the local morning show on Thursday interviewing Ed Brown being the local boy racing at CoTA in the WEC, there would be literally no way of knowing there was an event at CoTA at all if you lived in the area. They even cut down or eliminated the traffic control by the local cops outside the track because they found out, there was no need for them due to no traffic.
In the end, you'll find many people willing to travel 12 hours to get to Sebring. 3 hours to get to Lime Rock, yet barely anyone making CoTA their destination event and travel great lengths to get there.
|
You can compare Sebring and COTA. Both facilities are the most recent hosts of "world sportscar" events, along with Road Atlanta, which attracted people / teams rapidly with PLM. However, to your deeper point, I do agree; COTA simply needs more cowbell or something.
Could another lack of appeal be something that most older tracks have and newer tracks do not and that's some sort of infield or trackside camping? (if I am correct about COTA having never been and taking a cursory view of track maps) I don't want to drive 2.5 hrs to camp at Barber when I have to take a tram to see a car whiz past. I don't like staying in hotels either....so I am picky
Quote:
Originally Posted by ATLFalconsFAN
I thoroughly enjoy every time I visit Sebring. The 12 hours of racing, the party, it cannot be beat by many other races.
However... at least at COTA there are several locations to watch from where you get to see a view of more than just one turn. My biggest beef with Sebring, not the best track to view at when there in person as a spectator.
|
Sebring does kinda suck in that regard, especially when compared to Road Atlanta. On top of an RV in Green Park near the hairpin is pretty cool. Gurney (big bend) through the hairpin down past Fangio can be seen.
The highlighted line is why a lot of race fans I talk to prefer speedway spectating over road course (not that we have to get into that). From all the new F1 circuits, COTA is one of the more interesting ones and I've heard several others say they enjoyed their visits there; the place just needs a little more shade.