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Thinking of checking out the NASCAR race? Be prepared to pay up

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* Neil Steinberg took a look at ticket prices for the NASCAR Chicago race and his mind was blown…

Did you, like me, see that page and think: “They CHARGE for this?!?!” We shut down the heart of Chicago for a month so a bunch of speed freaks can chase each others’ tails and regular Chicagoans are expected to PAY MONEY to watch the proceedings? […]

Not a little money, either. “General admission” ranges from $269 to $353, which covers the two days, in the mad assumption that someone, going downtown, could then conceivably think: “Gee, that was fun; I think I’ll go again tomorrow.”

Ticket prices sail off into the stratosphere from there. Reserved seats start at $465. Something called the Pit Road Terrace begins at $1,265. And what is the Pit Road Terrace? “Open Air deck with GREAT VIEWS of Pit Road and the Start/Finish Line.” Which makes you wonder where plain old General Admission gets you. The same open air, one hopes.

OK, the tickets do give you access to a place where you can buy food — it’s as if they found a way to make Taste of Chicago even MORE expensive and inconvenient by adding a road race.

The President’s Paddock Club, which is billed as offering “The most LUXURIOUS race weekend experience” is $3,015 per person…

Enjoy the beautifully decorated Paddock Club, a two-level elevated deck with sweeping views overlooking the Start/Finish Line and thrilling Pit Road. Indulge in air-conditioned comfort, impeccable food and beverage service, and access to premium bathrooms

* NBC 5…

NASCAR pays a $500,000 permit fee per year, a guarantee of 15% of net commissions on concessions and merchandise, $2 per admission ticket and a $50,000 security deposit for damage to Grant Park.

The city also collects a 9 percent amusement tax. But sheesh.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jun 20, 23 @ 4:13 pm

Comments

Back during the pandemic, you could watch some really interesting racing downtown and it was all free. Those were the days.

Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Jun 20, 23 @ 4:17 pm
If you’re a tourist who cannot have fun at the Blues Fest or Taste of Chicago, maybe we don’t want your money anyway.

Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Tuesday, Jun 20, 23 @ 4:22 pm
They do have volunteer opportunities, too;) Only “shifts” left are Saturday and Sunday evenings. though. https://www.nascarchicago.com/volunteer-opportunities/

Comment by Anon221 Tuesday, Jun 20, 23 @ 4:27 pm
traffic nightmare.

Comment by Amalia Tuesday, Jun 20, 23 @ 4:28 pm
I generally enjoy Neil Steinberg, but come on- he thought it’d be free to watch like the one time he went to the marathon?

Wait until he finds out people pay to go to Lollapalooza- and horrors- go more than one day.

I’m not a NASCAR fan, but cities are going to have to do whatever they can to increase tourism. Office workers and the retail tax money that comes with them isn’t coming back. Unless residents feel like ponying up more property taxes that is.

Comment by jimbo Tuesday, Jun 20, 23 @ 4:30 pm
You can get seats for as little as $49 for the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona in August, and you can see the entire race course.

Indy cars at Road America last weekend were $90.

The problem with the Chicago street course is that spectators will only be able to see a bit of the course and will have no clue what’s happening in most of the race.

Road course and street course racing is much better on TV where there are cameras at every corner to catch all the action.

Comment by John Parker Tuesday, Jun 20, 23 @ 4:31 pm
- I generally enjoy Neil Steinberg, but come on- he thought it’d be free -

I’m not a big Steinberg fan but I think he was engaging in a little hyperbole.

The point remains that public resources are being tied up and the general public is being inconvenienced for something the average family could not afford to attend even if they wanted to. Hopefully Johnson cancels this going forward.

Comment by Excitable Boy Tuesday, Jun 20, 23 @ 4:41 pm
Seems as if it’s priced like an F1 Grand Prix event, which have a not-insignificant base of “see and be seen” fans. I’m not a NASCAR person, but those I know who are don’t strike me as the type looking for an F1 experience or to pay F1 prices.

If I’m wrong, fine by me, city should do okay. If not, maybe both the city and NASCAR will say “well, we tried, but it didn’t work, so we’re mutually terminating the contract” and then we don’t have to deal with this mess again.

Comment by Anon324 Tuesday, Jun 20, 23 @ 4:43 pm
As a resident I am supremely ticked off. They have ruined the best weekend in the city. Just can’t say enough bad stuff about this race.

Comment by Allknowingmasterofraccoondom Tuesday, Jun 20, 23 @ 4:48 pm
A bargain compared to Taylor Swift tickets.

Comment by Um, No Tuesday, Jun 20, 23 @ 4:55 pm
This is what happens when you watch too much cable news. Your ideas to help the City are just derivative of what cable news tells you about Chicago.

Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Tuesday, Jun 20, 23 @ 5:16 pm
And like the Swift concert, you’ll be able to hear for free outside the fence.

I suggest finding an open air bar in the south loop with a TV where you can hear the roar of the cars while watching the entire race and enjoying premium food, drink and bathrooms for a lot less.

Comment by Suburbanon Tuesday, Jun 20, 23 @ 5:19 pm
The buildings on south Michigan will have great views. Potentially the entire track if on a high enough floor.

Comment by Henry Francis Tuesday, Jun 20, 23 @ 5:36 pm
I do kind of want to see Ricky Bobby though

Comment by Frida’s boss Tuesday, Jun 20, 23 @ 7:38 pm
Ohhh, did someone say premium bathrooms? Worth it!

Comment by JSI Tuesday, Jun 20, 23 @ 9:11 pm
While the tickets may seem high, I think it is notable in considering that the prices come with four different concerts that come with the GA tickets including Miranda Lambert playing for an hour and a half.

Comment by allluck Wednesday, Jun 21, 23 @ 2:08 pm
While I’ll admit I might be missing something here, the prices for the 2-day GA tickets listed here are roughly equivalent to a single nosebleed seat for the opening game of the Bears season at Soldier Field. So the same price for a 2-day ticket gets you, what, about 4 hours, max, of game day at the field?

Most professional sporting events have ridiculous price tags. This is an inaugural (from the sounds of it, possible a one-time) event, so of course it’s going to be pricey.

Comment by Mike Sorensen Wednesday, Jun 21, 23 @ 3:27 pm