Originally Posted by Matt Trulio (Post 4659221)

While I'm not sure how the numbers compare—automobile racing is frightfully expensive as well—here's a data point for you: GEICO, the company, tracks the return numbers of people who sign up for insurance during events in which Miss GEICO, the team, participates. Not only is Key West an expensive place to be for a week, it provides a poor return on investment based on that sponsor's metrics. (Englewood Beach, I was told, provided more than 10 times the return AND costs the team less money to attend.)

Though there may have been some politics involved and message being sent to SBI, that was the explanation I got from ALL members of the Miss GEICO team owners group for not participating this year.

Originally Posted by Matt Trulio (Post 4659221)

: GEICO, the company, tracks the return numbers of people who sign up for insurance during events in which Miss GEICO, the team, participates.

Originally Posted by Interceptor (Post 4658846)

In its heyday drug money, celebrities, some legit millionaires, a variety of interesting equipment and big water kept big budget offshore racing going. IMSA sportscar racing had a similar business model during the same timeframe. IMSA survived and is strong, why did offshore racing fail ?