The sweeping changes -
known as the Fan-Fueled Evolution - come as a result of recommendations from
the Texas Motor Speedway Fan Council and extensive fan surveys of former season
and individual ticketholders. The speedway executive team, led by Gossage,
examined and evaluated all of the recommendations and survey results to
construct an all-encompassing package to further enrich the fan experience
while making it even more economical to visit the largest sports facility in
Texas during its three major race weeks.
"These fan-fueled
changes are 12 things we're doing to change the sport," Gossage said.
"Sports teams, both locally and nationally, have been announcing ticket
price increases, but we have come up with a dozen dynamic changes for our fans.
From price cuts to children's ticket pricing to a new rainout policy to race
friendly hotel listings on our website and more will make attending our races
easier and more fun. We are committed to over delivering to our fans once
again."
Gossage was joined by
Texas Motor Speedway Fan Council members Brenda Baxter and Robert Rich for the
announcement. The two council members are part of a 22-member group that meets
with speedway officials during race weekends and the offseason to address a
variety of aspects related to the speedway and its racing activities.
"I've been
regularly going to races at TMS for three years, and not once have I ever felt
like they were resting on their laurels and not thinking about how to
improve," Rich said. "The Fan Council is an extension of that
mindset. This isn't a marketing ploy or a half-cocked plan, they're serious.
Eddie Gossage was at every in-person meeting and on the phone, asking pointed
questions, begging for criticism, and giving honest insight into the thought
process behind everything he does. Nothing was off-limits for discussion. I
truly felt like I could say anything and it would be not only heard, but acted
upon.
"I think these
changes could put us back in the days of complete sellouts at the track, and
that's great for motorsports. TMS is the premier race facility in the South,
and the Fan Council allowed me and the rest of the group to truly have our
voices heard and ensure that the facility doesn't just look great, but
functions great as well in every aspect."
The majority of the
changes will go into effect immediately while others will be in place when
Texas Motor Speedway opens its 2013 season with the Texas 500 NASCAR
doubleheader weekend on April 11-13. The changes and
enhancements that will go into effect consist of:
·
New Children's Ticket Program. While many sports
entities limit reduced pricing on children's tickets to specific, lesser
expensive sections, Texas Motor Speedway will have the pricing available in all
sections and available to both individual and season ticket holders. Children's
pricing (12 and under) will begin as low as $10 on the backstretch and $25 on
the frontstretch in designated sections for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, but
a reduced pricing structure also will be in effect for all sections and all
series competing at the speedway. Children's pricing in designated sections
also will start as low as $10 on the frontstretch for the IZOD IndyCar Series,
NASCAR Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series races. Those who
already have purchased tickets at full price for children will have the option
on a refund for the difference or credit for future purchases. To take
advantage of this new program, please contact the Texas Motor Speedway ticket
office at (817) 215-8500.
·
Adult Individual Ticket Restructuring. The ticket pricing
model for the frontstretch has been restructured to provide more price points
for fans, including sections that will be lower than previous years. An
individual ticket for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races in April (Texas 500)
and November (AAA Texas 500) will start as low as $49 on the frontstretch. This
will be the lowest-priced individual frontstretch ticket (outside of special
promotions) ever offered for a Sprint Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway
since 1998. Individual tickets will start as low as $35 for the IZOD IndyCar
Series and $25 for the NASCAR Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series races.
Those who already have purchased tickets at a previous, higher price will have
the option of a refund for the difference or credit for future purchases by
contacting the Texas Motor Speedway ticket office.
· Unique Race-Related Perks For Season Ticketholders. Beginning in
February, Texas Motor Speedway will roll out a 38-week program in which current
season ticketholders will be randomly chosen to receive a unique enhancement to
their race week experience. The perks include riding in the aircraft that will
perform the pre-race flyover for the Sprint Cup Series race in April; riding
with NASCAR and INDYCAR drivers during pre-race parade laps; free use of a Lone
Star Tower condominium for the Firestone 550 IZOD IndyCar Series weekend;
special passes to the Sprint Cup Series drivers' meeting; and many more.
· Revamped Rainout Policy. If a season or individual ticketholder is unable to attend a
rained-out race on its rescheduled date, they will have the ability to redeem
that ticket for a future event at equal or lesser value for up to one calendar
year. Tickets under the previous policy were only valid for the rescheduled
date.
· Non-Smoking Grandstands. As a result of overriding sentiment
in the surveys and Fan Council meetings, Texas Motor Speedway will no longer
permit smoking in the grandstands. This move follows in step with all the local
major sports venues and the majority throughout the country. While this move
will serve as a benefit to many, Texas Motor Speedway also will be responsive
to its fans that smoke and set up designated smoking areas throughout the lower
concourse area.
· Upgraded Fan Tram Service, Golf Cart Assistance And Parking
Experience. Texas Motor Speedway is compiling a detailed plan for its fan
tram service and golf cart assistance program, including designated pick-up and
drop-off areas, to ensure optimum service throughout race days. Regarding
parking, the speedway will offer fans additional free paved parking near the
gates and better educate its parking attendants in the interest of the fans.
·
Upgraded Backstretch Seating Experience. Ticketholders will now
have the benefit of a 17x27-foot Jumbotron screen in the center of the
backstretch as well as an upgraded sound system to enjoy the NASCAR race
weekends (Note: The backstretch is closed for the INDYCAR race weekend).
· Flexible Season, Individual Ticket Payment Plans. Texas Motor
Speedway's ticket office will work with both season and individual ticket
purchasers on a layaway plan that works best for their budget.
· Premium Seat Options Available Through Texas Motor Speedway And
Ticketmaster. Fans will no longer have to deal with inflated ticket prices of
online ticket brokers to secure premium seating for major races at Texas Motor
Speedway. For the first time in Texas Motor Speedway's history, the speedway
ticket office will make individual chair back seats available to accommodate
fans seeking premium seating while supplies last.
· "Code Of Conduct" Text Response System. Texas Motor Speedway
will incorporate a texting system where fans can alert speedway officials of
conduct unbecoming during a race week and allow them to address the issue
immediately.
·
Fan Friendly Hotel Listing. In addition to its preferred hotels, Texas
Motor Speedway will produce a list of hotels on its website that does not
require a minimum stay and a maximum price hike of 10 percent or less during
race weeks. The list will have pertinent hotel information and links to their
websites.
· New Reactive Website, Mobile Lite Site. Texas Motor Speedway
will unveil a new, dynamic and more fan friendly website on Feb. 18 as well as
new mobile lite site. The reactive design will allow the site to read what
platform one is using to access the web and adjusts content delivery
accordingly. The mobile lite site possesses a different wireframe and requires
very low bandwidth, which is extremely beneficial during race weeks.
The 2013 racing season
begins April 11-13 with the Texas 500 NASCAR doubleheader weekend. The opener
is followed by the Firestone 550 INDYCAR/NASCAR Camping World Series
doubleheader June 6-8 and AAA Texas 500 NASCAR tripleheader weekend on Oct.
31-Nov. 3.
Tickets, including
season ticket packages beginning as low as $270, are available by calling the
Texas Motor Speedway ticket office at (817) 215-8500 or by
visitingwww.texasmotorspeedway.com.
Edible hot dogs would be a decent start
ReplyDeleteIf Texas Motor Speedway wants to sell me a ticket, they need to make the face of the speedway someone besides Eddie Gossage. I will never buy a ticket from someone who is such a pompous, self-aggrandizing jerk. He does more harm than good to the public image of that raceway. Does the unique racing experience include him wearing a stupid cowboy hat and waving fake six shooters? SHUT UP AND RACE!!!
ReplyDelete