Daytona Offshhore Races may move out of Daytona
 

Of interest from the News Journal:



http://www.n-jcenter.com/NewsJournal...2SPD041803.htm

The hardest part of running a race is raising the money. Everything else is simple.

The problem is that no one business can feel the direct benifit of having the race in town. I was on the beach and most people had no idea the race was taking place while a small minority had the radio tuned to the AM station that had a live broadcast of the race.

If they could charge people to watch the race, that would help, but would people pay to watch?

So the circle goes...

That article is really a direct slam at the promoters/marketing group.

I wonder if that councilperson attended any meetings.

I and many others have been saying for years that boat racing growth is hurt by lack of marketing.

Hell I'm just a fan and tried to get he Orlando Sentinel sports reporters (including the fat Jerry Greene) to attend races and write some stories. I had three responses and all three mis-spelled Hydroplane and the fat one said they don't cover boat racing and gave no reason.

If we had better marketing we definitely would build a larger fan base. (IMHO)

When we rolled into Daytona the only thing race oriented was the dry pits....no racers welcome signs, race fans signs or anything. Even my wife took note of this. I don't know who is the blame but you have to promote this stuff....Wardey

I know the pits were a lot more convenient this year, but it seems that when it was at the track last year a lot more people took notice.

This seems to me to be one of the problems with alot of race sites. The cities feel like the sanction is going to have the race there weathere they give up the cash or not so they just don't. THIS IS THE REASON WE LEAVE RACE SITES! Becuase the cities or town don't give the neede support to bring our dog and pony show to town. BIGGER towns don't respect it because the claim it doesn't effect the economy either way. I know that we'ld like to be in these big cities NY, Chicago, Cleveland, Daytona but the truth is they'ld rather have a football game or a car race. I think it would be a better deal to go to new Symerna where the appreciate us being there. I'll say this I don't know how much the town kicked in and I know it wasn't the best race site but the Businesses and hotels in BILOXI Miss were awesome towards the racers. Just my .02

"Truthfully, I was not even aware we were having a boat week until I got complaints about parking being taken up," said Commissioner Darlene Yordon. "Somebody is not promoting the event very well."


Ya think this might be some of the problem???
:eek:


Promotion is a business that takes very talented, dedicated people, not someone just trying to make a buck. Just one sideline observers opinion.

Ryan: I agree completely with you, but the cities might be more willing to offer some help if they knew there was a race in town.:rolleyes: :rolleyes:
Cities don't have unlimited budgets either, so they will put their money where they think it will payy off the most. Obviously, if no one knows about it, it won't pay. Ever.

Hopefully they will work harder at it next year, the water is some of the most challenging around.

I know when the Miss Budweiser Group come to Norfolk Va we here about it 150 mile away weeks before the event, TV, News Paper and all Radio Stations but when the US Offshore had their Races in Hampton even boat dealers in the area had know Idea.
Cape Cod and Savanna last year were the only events that the whole town seem to know we were coming and looked forward to hosting the Races

all the site are looked at for possible suitablity, once that has been completed the marketing team should arrive armed with posters, fliers, banners and take this stuff to the local media.
Harley davaidson is the sponsor for this race, meaning it should be huge. marketing a race is no easy task but they need people that can get the job done.