Since I lean towards the biz threads, money, and attendance debates,,,, I have some of the numbers from both OW series for the past few years writen down ....
2003 CART (these were on forums,, and people said higher or lower until CART fans AND the IRL fans stated they were correct!!!)
40,000 St Pete (Remember that number when ever the IRL runs there)
68,000 LB
26,000 Miami (except the promoter said 14,000 under oath)
30,000 Mid O
30,000 Cleve
25,000 RA
25,000 Mlwk
30,000 Denver
30,000 Portland
25,000 Laguna
2003 IRL (I didnt watch enough of them or lurk the boards to get the numbers. However,, everyone seems to agree that attendance has been steady at a few,, and gone up most places. )
2004 IRL
30,000 Homestead
65,000 Motegi
250,000 Indy
85,000 Texas (I think it's a few thousand to high)
42,000 Richmond
50,000 Kansas
??,??? Nashville (40's I think ??????)
38,000 Mlwk
58,000 Kentucky
??,??? Pikes Peak (High 30's or low 40's I think??????)
60,000 Chicago
75,000 Texas
2004 OWRS
65,000 LB
28,000 Mlwk
25,000 Portland
20,000 Clvlnd
72,500 Toronto
26,000 Denver (I'm not sure,,, anyone have a reaonable number?)
5,000 Laguna
??,??? Vegas (Start of race attendance or towards end attendance??)
I didnt catch a few, the 2 Canada races were in the 60,000's I assume? Monterrey was close to 75,000? Mex City over 100,000!
Where I think a lot of people think street courses look full and there are "millions" of people there,, the ovals have the large 100,000 NASCAR fan grandstand that leaves a LOT of leg room for half capacity to spread out in. Street course stands LOOK GREAT on tv,, but they only hold 2500 people, not the 100,000 like an oval does. Thats why I "think" people get mixed up with how many fans show up to a track????
Of course,, the money side,, ovals are fixed cost, a lil bump for race weekend... Where street courses take a LOT of money to set-up and tear down. Attendance can be lower at an oval and everyone can make a lil money,, where a street course takes higher attendance and sponsorship to make back the costs.
To the topic,,,,,,,
The BIG thing for street courses are the sponsors. Hospitality, signage, sponsorship, purchase tickets to give away, VIP guests, the rooms with food and bars (what are they called?) for large corporations to entertain guests, ad space in the program, etc. THIS YEAR with so many things yet to be announced I wouldnt think LB has any money coming in, except SC TOY Dealers and King Taco, and ticket sales. I havnt heard if a Mexican beer will be there??? So it doesnt look to good for impressing LB this year??
Currently the IRL has all the big sponsors, the engine mnftrs, large teams, guests, spending money at the track and in LB at restaurants, hotels, rental cars and such,, and LB can promote Penske and Andretti and Cheep and Foyt. Just like in the CART days.
So,, I dont think LB will hastily decide to do anything until they see what OWRS gets for corporate sponsors,, towards the end of the season. If it isnt looking to good,, LB would be foolish not to switch.
Good grief this was long. Sorry!