Originally Posted by Millsvideo:
Personally, I've never felt that live streaming should EVER be an alternative to actually going to an event. I hope that my fellow race fans were never to say to themselves, "Ya know, I'm just going to stay home tonight, save my money and drink a beer in my easy chair while I watch the races on my computer." That should never be the case. It simply cannot hold a candle to actually being there. However, if a person simply cannot make it, or lives in another part of the country (or another country altogether), then I think it's cool that we can bring some events to them. Maybe it will inspire them to visit a racetrack, region, or possibly become a fan of a racer they might not normally be exposed to. That, in my mind, is the benefit of live streaming.
Unfortunately, I think it's the future of the sport. In time, it will be harder to get people to come out as gas prices continue to rise and traveling becomes more costly. I think you will see a more concerted effort in moving toward live pay-per-view streaming. And while it's not the same as actually being there, it's better than nothing.
That said, I still would encourage everyone to go to as many races as they possibly can get to.
DM
Can anyone imagine the increase in track profit, payout purse, and point fund revenues if live and delayed pay for view on a computer streaming was to become a reality at Kokomo, Gas City, Bloomington, Lawerenceburg, Haubstadt, etc.? Once the word gets out that Indiana non wing sprint car racing is streaming on the web, money from the US, Canada, and Down Under would funnel into Indiana to support and globalize our beloved non wing sprint racing and tracks. If staying home is a concern, block the feed to subscribers within 150 miles (300 mi round trip) of a track ($42 of gas @ $3.50 a gallon). You can block the feed during payment by requiring a zip code for the charge or debit card transaction. If the zip code is within the radius, the charge is denied and you must travel to the track if you want to watch. I am 160 miles from Gas City but I travel multiple times on Friday nights and would continue to do so. Also, real race fans will view great racing and want to travel to see the tracks, stars, and cars in person. The real question now is who will take this step and ***** those with less courage?
