NASCAR looks to Boost Vegas Economy
- Economy Boost
- Vegas Racing
- NASCAR
Knowing that the recession has most people making less and spending less, local tourism officials are holding out hope that this years NASCAR weekend will bring in more people who will spend more. In 2009, the biggest event of the weekend, the Sprint Cup race Sunday, drew about 140,000 spectators. That was down from about 152,000 in 2008 and the record of 156,000 in 2007.
Ticket prices were reduced for this year’s race, so organizers figure that should help bring out some people who otherwise would have not attended. NASCAR weekend also involves more than just the marquee event, the Sprint Cup Shelby American on Sunday. The dirt track next to the speedway had races Thursday; the speedway has qualifying runs today and the Sam’s Town 300 on Saturday.
All told, attendance for the four days should add up to about 300,000, predicts Chris Powell, president of the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Powell is fond of noting “that’s four times what they had at the Super Bowl.” To read more of this article click the link to go to the Las Vegas Sun.