Hey NASCAR! Take Stock in Us!
Dear Mr. French & other NASCAR leaders:
Now that you’ve delayed choosing which city will be home to the Hall of Fame, I hope you’ll do the smart thing and give Atlanta’s bid another look. We want to be your host, and now we can put our money where our mouth is.
When you last visited our fair city, the expanded High Museum of Art was not yet open nor was the Georgia Aquarium. The aquarium is averaging over 15,000 people per day in attendance! Nothing in any of the other cities draws that many people more than 10 times a year. Here there are 5 other attractions that do.
Moreover, we’re the only community with the infrastructure to handle the million visitors a year you say you want. We have the hotel rooms, transportation infrastructure, media companies, and cultural attractions to draw people to the city. We’re not just a regional metro area, we’re national city known all over the world, and isn’t that precisely the image NASCAR is trying to project?
Locating in Atlanta assures you the people, the coverage, and the long term sustainability to keep a successful Hall of Fame in operation. Go ahead. Give Daytona more time. Visit Richmond, Kansas City, and Charlotte again. Then come here. See what we’ve already done. Then you can harness the energy and successfully build your sport among the faithful and in new markets.
November 23rd, 2005 at 11:17 pm
Congratulations for being named the 2005 best blog in the city by Atlanta magazine.
November 24th, 2005 at 12:16 pm
Admittedly, NASCAR ain’t my thing but I can’t imagine NASCAR fans, wearing Chevrolet and Ford caps, cooing over a Renoir painting at the High Museum.
Is this guy serious about the High Museum as a magnate for NASCAR fans? NASCAR fans cooing over a Corvette—yes. NASCAR fans cooing over a Renoir painting—no. NASCAR fans cooing over a Kia—no. NASCAR fans cooing over Wolfman’s Furniture Gallery–yes. Is the Wolfman still doing those dumb TV commercials?
Tractor-pulling contests at the Phillips Arena might be a big draw for NASCAR fans. Does anyone know if Phillips Arena has tractor-pulling contests? If not, the Phillips Arena mananger sure needs to get his “pedal-to-the-metal” on that one. Forget Elton John, forget Madonna concerts!!!
Subconsciously, NASCAR fans must be thrill seekers and no doubt seeing high-speed accidents must bring a few jollies to them. Hey folks, high-speed accidents on 285 would definitely be a plus for Atlanta. Chalk that in the plus column. Deadly accidents on 285 are about as rare as seeing someone drive 55 miles per hour!!!!!!!! It’s a virtual demolition derby.
An aquarium as an attraction? I don’t know. One thing is for certain: Dale Earnhart Jr. would be an attraction. Two years ago he made a personal appearance at Lenox Mall. He attracted more people than when Macy’s went out-of-business.
Chad
November 24th, 2005 at 12:40 pm
Oh! The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is located in Cleveland, Ohio. Yes, Cleveland of all places. Well, I guess Cleveland is better than Podunk, Nebraska. Not by a wide margin, but a little better.
Don’t despair, folks, on this Thanksgiving day. If Cleveland landed the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, maybe there’s hope for Atlanta with the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
I’m starting a NASCAR fund. Please send a few dollars my way. You can essentially think of it as a bribe to the higher-ups at NASCAR.
That’s how business in conducted these days. Money sure talks–doesn’t it.
Chad
November 24th, 2005 at 10:13 pm
Having worked the booth for ACPA at public events, I have met NASCAR fans who happen to also have season tickets to the Atlanta Symphony. Most of the Atlanta establishment — from the media to the urban growth coalition in general — are about five steps behind in understanding how culturally sophisticated the people of Atlanta have become. I wouldn’t doubt for a moment that there are more than a few NASCAR fans who could also go for other forms of entertainment and culture.
November 26th, 2005 at 1:58 am
Joe, I think you’re probably right. As I mentioned in my earlier post, I’m unfamiliar with NASCAR, and certainly with that unfamiliarity exists a few engrained stereotypical-thinking tidbits which are probably a little off-the-mark.
I am sure there are a few highly-educated people who do indeed enjoy pit bull fighting, and then on the opposite side of the sprectrum are people, with very modest incomes and educations, who do indeed enjoy the High Museum.
Somewhere, I am sure there is a multi-million dollar Buckhead estate on East Paces Ferry Rd. loaded to the rafters with GALLERY FURNITURE. Most likely not many, but a few. Let’s face facts: The Wolfman is quite a salesman and could sell a freezer to an Eskimo, and that Donna ain’t bad herself.
For all I know, the Wolfman and Donna have sold tons of $39 glass tables to Sonny P., in the Governor’s mansion. I hope that’s not the case with our Georgia tax dollars, but with Sonny anything is possible.
I don’t expect an invitation in the mail anytime soon for a dinner party from the Governor, but I would be very disappointed seeing $39 dollar glass tables. Mucho disappointed!!!!
If I should ever attend a dinner party at the Governor’s mansion ( highly doubtful ), I would expect to see at least a modicum of taste. Henredon and Baker furniture would fit the bill. A bill with lots, and lots, and lots of zeros.
Chad
December 4th, 2005 at 12:54 am
I was unaware that the Wolfman had died, apparently, in January of 2004.
I seldom watch TV now, so I was out-of-the-loop there. I probably stopped watching TV around the time he died, and I missed seeing his death in the paper.
I am sure most of you out there knew of his death. I didn’t, and I wouldn’t have made the references and comments in this thread had I known that he had passed away.
I am glad the thread is still here, because the threads have a shelf-life for about five or six days and then that’s it.
He was a fixture on the tube for many, many, years. As far as I know he was doing TV commercials when I moved to Atlanta in 1992.
He was quite a character, and I will miss seeing him.
Chad