Twenty years ago we were hard-core NASCAR fans. But after the death of Dale Earnhardt, they killed the golden goose. The product became cookie-cutter corporate cut-out drivers in cookie-cutter cars going around cookie-cutter 1.5 mile tri-oval tracks to set up the inevitable green-white-checker scripted finish.
We gave up our tickets and viewing in 2008 and have not gone back. We are not alone; I saw about two minutes of the Bristol race last week while channel surfing. Empty seats galore where 20 years ago you had to fight to get in.
Yeah, watching a race a few weeks ago I noticed the seats were painted different colors, right next to each other.
Watching , the camera panning , you would think the seat was filled. But it was empty. Lots of empty.