I knew I was stepping into it when I wrote a post about NASCAR last week.
For those who missed it, I wrote:
I don’t know anybody who watches NASCAR. Nobody. I never have had a friend or acquaintance say, “Did you see that race on Sunday?”
That’s why it is staggering to me that NASCAR’s new TV deals with NBC and Fox will be worth $8.2 billion. That $820 million per year, beginning in 2015.
Again, if two networks would be willing to shell out $8.2 billion for a sport, you would think I would know at least one person who watches it on a regular basis. And I know a lot of people.
A large part of this is due to the fact that I live in Chicago, not exactly a hotbed for NASCAR.
I wrote that I realize there are millions of NASCAR fans who tune into the races on a regular basis. To clarify: I KNOW PEOPLE WATCH NASCAR.
It just struck me as odd that I don’t know somebody in that group, especially given the huge dollars shelled out by NBC and Fox Sports.
Naturally, I heard from many NASCAR supporters who took offensive to what I wrote. Or at least what I tweeted about the post. Not sure how many of them actually read the whole thing.
Anyway, a few of them were entertaining. I thought I would share:
@zman6987: I am Canadian and I watch and also attend races. So is canada part of the south?
@DJstatman482454: It’s just not for weird people from cities….. Do some research before you talk next time dude…
@psl1999nascar: Wow, Ed. Did you write that with one or two pinkies in the air???
@Jr88kyle: get out from under that rock u IDIOT! Go watch baseball and get 14min of action in 3hr game,maybe that’s more ur style!
@bungajane7: Big Nascar Fan, Chicago Gal, You have Tunnel Vision. #Gofast
@jharper1972: I don’t know anyone who watches soccer, but I know there is a world outside of my inner circle
@Cowboy_Witch: Maybe @Sherman_Report was better off keeping his yap shut; I wouldn’t have known how ignorant he is otherwise. #NASCAR
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And special thanks to @TheOrangeCone for several tweets on my post:
well to be fair, nothing good like beer or motorcycles or baseball comes from WI. Sherm wins again.
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Anyway, thanks to all for sounding off. I’m off to watch some golf.
Like you, Mr. Sherman, I am astounded at the size of that TV contract. Car racing is still somewhat a niche sport – but in audience size, not geographic placement. The NHL makes for far more compelling television than racing.
For example, NASCAR doesn’t have a Patrice Bergeron, who rescued the Bruins from the brink of disaster in Game 7 of that ECQF, then who played Game 6 of the SCF with a damaged shoulder, a broken rib, and a punctured lung. And as you have correctly pointed out, the NHL’s television audiences are growing, not shrinking.