Free

[TYPHOON]

I read on OSO that there some fans that were told it was going to cost $10 per adult to enter the pits or VIP area on race day. They said they left and didn't want to pay. They were told the race was free to watch from certain areas but they were disappointed.
I have never gone to a car race or any other motor sport race were it was free to watch and normally a premium for the pit area. Why do people think it should be free for everything we do in offshore. Is it not good enough that there is always places to watch for free. Maybe not the VIP section. Some how the race producers needs to generate some money to put a race on. You have to pay $10 each to go to the movies. Maybe I am way off on this but I think the free show needs to stop. We have entertainment value and I don't think $10 each is over the top. When was the last time you went to a ball game or concert. Our purse could be larger and a shot at recovering our gas money would be nice.
The problem with free is it show no value.
MD

[Fast Shafts]

Agree!

[MOBILEMERCMAN]

I agree too.

[Bobcat]

I agree 10 bucks is cheap

[Buoy]

I've never had a problem dropping $10 to get into the dry pits.
Once I was in, I've usually been offered food or drink from the racers/crews that was worth more than the $10, or given a free T-shirt, or some other promotional item.
A lot of these teams put on a "show" in the dry pits.
Cost of admission is less than a fast food meal for two.

Now, It pizzed me off paying $30 to park my rental car at the Miami boat show last year, and then having to walk over a mile to get there. But that's just a personal b!tch from me.

[DAREDEVIL]

I agree also with u ,,altough it was said its free admission for all the events in Harrison.

I read it myself. So that beeing said, i can understand why people are pi$$ed.

PS.: all the SBI events are free exept KW.

[MarylandMark]

What offshore is missing is the other sports have a closed venue- only way to see it is to buy a ticket.

Kind of like a cover charge at a bar. Charge me money to spend more money? 99% of the time I pass and where I can get in free will be rewarded at least 10 fold by what I drop in there. Getting in free results in me paying to advertise for you (by wearing a shirt I buy, drinking out of koozie with your name on it, etc).

Call me cheap- believe it or not I've been called worse.

How many shirt sales did the RACE TEAMS lose because the PROMOTER wanted an extra $10? Was it worth it?


ps- If I had a race team I'd say I'd say I'd give you $10 credit towards my $25 t-shirts and turn it in to a "positive". Most can't stand to "lose" that $10 credit even if shirts from other vendors are only $15 to start with- human nature says we want a deal.

[Sydwayz]

It keeps the rif-raff out.

[boatme]

What offshore is missing is the other sports have a closed venue- only way to see it is to buy a ticket.

.

First off i greed no one should have a problem paying $10 or even $20 it is cheap at best. It is such a small amount to raise some money

As far as closed venue that has nothing to do with it.

I have written much about this over the years. but to adress the closed venue comment, just look at the Tour De France, Iditerod, Dakar Race. All have VIP seating area but most of race is seen for free along the course

Boat racing in MY OPINION should be an event not just a race and that isnt going to hapen any time soon.

St Clair and Key West have the right idea but boat racing needs to be an event every town they roll into

Getting off my short soap box now LOL

[MarylandMark]

Your right- obviously what they are doing is working?

The customer has spoken and seems enough aren't willing to pay it or we wouldn't even have a thread like this. Nevermind getting the riff raff interested in racing vs those that already are.

If all they want is who they got going in now they should make it $20- still cheap and can double their income over night!

[imco offshore]

randy your absoulty right , everybody ownes a car, but will pay 40 to 700, dollars to watch a nascar race yes 700 dollars in <vip> imagine that ,,, a baseball game 40 to 110 dollars , football the same, local stock car tracks, 25 dollars o you want to go in the pits thats an extra 20 bucks, so when a promoter ask fo 10 dollars and your in a protected area <vip> and getting an outstanding view , someone CRYS give me a break! they will pay 45 dollars to walk thru the pits at a stock car track , to look at some 1000 dollar beat up old monti carlos, their ok with that. the people that complain are the same ones that count the pickels in their vlassic jars, even tho the pickels were BIGGER there wern,t the same amount.or go out to eat ,,,,eat 3/4 of the meal then complain this isn,t what i ordered,,,,, they love to look at the million dollar boats, and as their walking away have something smug to say about the owner to their wifes. randy bottom line,,,, look at where and how they live, and youll relaize they are complaining about their own short commings and their lack of success in LIFE, I COULD GO ON AND ON ,but i,ll stop myself.

[MarylandMark]

look at where and how they live, and youll relaize they are complaining about their own shout commings and their lack of success in LIFE,

Yep- including me who lived in a trailer. Oh the horror...

Let's just make a deal- Keep paying to race vs getting paid to race (maybe not "you" but a lot do) and I'll keep my $10.

[imco offshore]

mark i,m just saying 10 doesn,t even pay for our SAFETY PEOPLE , as for getting paid that won,t ever happen in a hobby, like this, ask geico HOW MUCH they made in racing and the world loves them guys, they even have a great sponsor and i.ll bet they spent big money, it,s a hobby to racers and entertainment to the fans they < i think> should be willing to pay a little,

[Trim'd Up]

It seems to me $10 is a hell of a deal. Hell, it cost that to get into the chitty boat show here in St. Louis to look at a bunch of freakin' pontoon boats.

[Buoy]

I look at the simple fact that if I leave my house to go anywhere, I expect it to cost me at least $100.
Going to the grocery store, hardware store, auto/marine store, the gas station.
It's gonna be $100 by the time it's said and done.

$10 bucks to get in to the event - no problem.
Miami Boat show and $30-$100 to park the rental...
That's where I start having a problem.

[Pete B]

Producer should be looking at ways to charge and still keep people intrested, look at the worlds, some one has their hand in the till for everything.

Having a VIP area that really offers something make sense as well, IE the Southern Nationals in Augusta,GA have a park and both ends a blocked off, admission is $20 for $50, you can watch from the bar porch over looking the course, which is great if you arrive early. But giving spectators a chance to be close to the action is the Key.

[scottc]

Nothing in life anymore is free. A small fee to see the pits should be expected. AND CHARGED. Most sites want to charge vendors to sell their goods to people. And most vendors don't mind the fees. Even going to a state park will cost you. I did some volunteer work this past June and had to pay to use a ramp to launch my boat to be part of the safety fleet. Not a big deal. Most of the teams try to offset their expenses by selling their goodies. And some teams were asked for money to sell their stuff by the venue (in which I feel was so very wrong) So why not have a small fee to get to see the good stuff. If you can't afford a small amount then go home and find something else to do.

[TYPHOON]

The goal is not to have the fan feel abused but relize this is how we raise money to have the show come to town. I would think $15-20 per adult and kids $5-7 is more than fair to walk the pits for a weekend. We have to help raise money for the promoters. How many people are on average in the pits? 200-1000 maybe.
MD

[MarylandMark]

Keep thinking the people not paying $10 to get in the pits is about the $10 and you will keep not getting their $10.

This is from the same guy (me) that ponies up $250 just to rent a 4 person table to run a $600 bar tab and $200 food tab (plus 25%+ tip) while watching the races; each day.

$10 to get in the pits- not a chance....

I'll even toss this out there. How about $10 to get in and another $10 for all you can drink Bud Light? How many people do you think you would get?

Answer- one team did that last year and I saw 16 people there with about 9 of them part of the crew. In their defense there was a last minute scheduling change, weather was not the best/overcast/humid and the FPC party was way over on Stock Island an hour later but still...

ps- that is far from a bash at that team. Intentions were GREAT with the $10 going to an even better cause (racers families that have perished).

[DAREDEVIL]

I think u are all loosing the point !!!!!!!!!!!!!

The reason why these people where pi$$ed ,,is because it was advertised as FREE to all events.

And then u go there on a low budget family with 5 kids and 3 adults and they tell u after u already put your last 20 bucks in the car to get there,,,u need to pay 10 bucks each !!!!!!!!!!!!!

I would be pi$$ed to !!!!!!!!!

If it would be advertised that it would cost 10 bucks then this conversation would not be here.

Just my 2 c.