Bristol Speedway to offer VT/UThug $20 million each for game

[uafootball92]

Just heard on College Football Live that the owner of the Bristol Speedway is offering each school $20 million to play a game at the speedway. They would put turf down on the infield and possibly stands on the track. I have heard of this being talked about before, but I think the $20 million each should get this accomplished.

No link just yet.

 

[Big tide fan forever]

I live in Johnson City Tn. about 10 to 15 min away from the track and yea this has been in talks for about 3 to 4 yrs now. The word around here is this is a pretty much done deal. Brutin Smith (owner of Bristol motor speedway) wants to make history with this game and he will no matter what the cost is to him. Johnson City and Bristol would love the economy boost as well. It would be a great game to go to and although I am not fan of either teams I will be there if it happens. As a fan of college football why would you not want this game to happen. I am just courious as to how the tickets will be sold. Many season ticket holders here for Bristol want this tickets but I would think this is not a race so the tickets will go out to each school first then to the public. I hope this happens it will be great history making and plenty of parking spaces.

 

[uafootball92]

Even with him going $40 million in the hole, he may break even, if not make a profit. Depending on demand, and factoring in being close to both schools (within two hours), I would think bad tickets could start at $40 and good tickets could be up to $100-$150 or so. I am sure the city would help out a little bit and concessions would help the money out.

It would be a good game to see for the attendance record and the game itself.

 

[bamacpa70]

I'll believe that when I see a link. Even if they sold 250,000 tix at $40/each, that's only $10 mil. I seriously doubt if they could make another $120/person from parking and concessions to break even. Not sure how much a network would pay to televise such a game, maybe $1mil? maybe 2?

 

[MasterShake]

I hope Alabama never considers such a game. Personally, I like my college football games played on college campuses and in college stadiums.

 

[bamanut_aj]

I guess if setting an attendance record is a big deal, then it's pretty cool.

 

[Capt. Jack]

What do you think the tooth-to-head ratio will be for that crowd?

 

[bayoutider]

Even with him going $40 million in the hole, he may break even, if not make a profit. Depending on demand, and factoring in being close to both schools (within two hours), I would think bad tickets could start at $40 and good tickets could be up to $100-$150 or so. I am sure the city would help out a little bit and concessions would help the money out.

It would be a good game to see for the attendance record and the game itself.

If I had a choice between half the gate or all the concessions I would take the concessions. Don't forget the TV money involved.

 

[Moon Winx]

IMHO, any team would be foolish not to take that kind of payout.

 

[RT3413]

I'll believe that when I see a link. Even if they sold 250,000 tix at $40/each, that's only $10 mil. I seriously doubt if they could make another $120/person from parking and concessions to break even. Not sure how much a network would pay to televise such a game, maybe $1mil? maybe 2?

They'd put 300K in there at least by the time they added seats closer to the field. The CHEAPEST ticket to the Clemson-Bama game is $55. The average is closer to $80.

SO - 300k x $80 = $24M

Then, you sell beer. That brings the concessions per cap to about $25 per head.

300k x $25 = $7.5M

Another $15 for parking = $4.5M

TV would be a huge event, call it $4M.

Total = ~$40M

So you're pretty quickly to close to the $40M in net revenue. That's before you get into T-Shirts, tax incentives, suites, etc. Most of your costs are fixed so it's not like you incur a huge cost to run the event - maybe $2M.

I totally see this happening and actually being something interesting to watch on TV (which will drive the ratings through the roof).

 

[smokies1]

Wouldn't you be able to fit about two football fields in Bristol? I did a quick photoshop just to see how it would look.

 

[Big tide fan forever]

All this talk about money!! Smith doesn't care about the money, all he wants is to make history at the race track thats all.

 

[mswiggins]

Nothing like watching a game from 150 yards away. Those endzone seats will be a long way from the 50 yard line. I am not sure I would pay money to see a game there.

 

[BAMAHD]

I can see it now Fulmer going to be in the back of a Nascar Craftsman Truck (Orange with Krispy Kreme sponsor) making laps around the track during pre game warm ups

 

[ValuJet]

The lighting there is OK for night racing, but I'm not sure about football.

In you're in the grandstand in turn three, you should have a terrific view of the action at the other end of the speedway - er - field.

Next: the barn takes on UGA at Talladega......

 

[bamacpa70]

They'd put 300K in there at least by the time they added seats closer to the field. The CHEAPEST ticket to the Clemson-Bama game is $55. The average is closer to $80.

SO - 300k x $80 = $24M

Then, you sell beer. That brings the concessions per cap to about $25 per head.

300k x $25 = $7.5M

Another $15 for parking = $4.5M

TV would be a huge event, call it $4M.

Total = ~$40M

So you're pretty quickly to close to the $40M in net revenue. That's before you get into T-Shirts, tax incentives, suites, etc. Most of your costs are fixed so it's not like you incur a huge cost to run the event - maybe $2M.

I totally see this happening and actually being something interesting to watch on TV (which will drive the ratings through the roof).

Sorry, but your numbers are way off. A few may pay $80 for those crappy seats a 1/4 mile away from the field (and on the other side of any temporary seats they will be putting in), but not many. And the seating capacity is currently 160k, you're not gonna fit another 140k in there. I was being generous saying 250. When it was brought up a couple of years ago, they were talking about having 200k available seats (capacity alone knocks 8mil off your number).

Lots of folks refuse to pay those prices for food and drink in the stadium and there will be a ton of kids there so they won't all be drinking beer, and besides it's not all profit, there's the cost of the product, labor and incidentals, so knock 80% off your concession number. I bring my own drinks into the stadium and prefer to stay away from the food, so knock 100% off for people like me. On parking, well, if everyone drove in their own vehicle, your parking number might be in the ball park, but I have a feeling at least a few will be carpooling.

Finally NBC pays a little over $1mil per game to broadcast ND games, I seriously doubt someone would pick up this game for 4 times that.


The fact of the matter is there is no way this would be profitable or even close to breakeven. If true, the guy is either stupid or crazy, and if he has $40mil to play with, he ain't stupid. Once again, I'll believe itwhen I see the link.

 

[bamacpa70]

Actually, this is the same story from 3 yrs ago. Check the date on this link: http://www.roanoke.com/sports/college/wb/xp-30642

It was never actually offered. Hmmm, I wonder why?

 

[RedStar]

I'm sure the fact that since Tennessee is being mentioned, obviously a lot of negative remarks are going to be made. But if it ever does happen in the future, I don't see anything wrong with it. If he wants to do it, and people want to show up, then let 'em.

I guarantee if this happened with Alabama we'd all think it was the greatest thing in the world, and we'd be planning 3 years in advance for hotel's and travel.

 

[bamabryan]

$40 million? :eek2:

I'm not calling anyone out, but that's kind of hard to believe. I know they would pack a crap load of people in for the game, but a $40 million pay-out between both teams????

Any school would be crazy to turn down that kind of money. Why don't we play UcheaT at Bristol for their home game? That way we wouldn't be packed in like sardines in that dump of a stadium in Knoxville. :biggrin:

Just think of what kind of crowd would turn out if we played them at Bristol.

 

[Rook]

Only way I would pay money to attend that whole deal is if a Sprint Cup race was to be run at the same time the game was played... :biggrin: