Speedway Classic

[Cowtipper]

They should never have even played. Instead of doing what they did, they should have just moved the whole thing the next day. They saw the weather coming—it had been forecast for at least a week—and though at times it was iffy it seemed certain we were going to at least get some rain. I've been to enough outdoor concerts that if there is a hint of delay-worthy weather, they'll delay it.

I'm not going for Part II because I went for the spectacle, not to see the Braves and Reds play, per se. I was amped about the whole thing yesterday. I left as early as I did because I wanted to see some of the pre-game festivities (there were multiple concerts). If I want to see major league baseball, I'll drive to Cincinnati and go to an actual good ballpark.

I hope the stands are completely empty today just out of protest.

In what other ways can I dig the knife in even more...the "shuttling" was actually two parts. I ended up having to park 1.3 miles away, took a shuttle to a stop "near" the speedway, then the next "shuttle" was people taking you on the backs of golf carts the rest of the way. I just walked.

To make it even more insulting, as everyone was all bummed and dejected, they did a weak and tepid little three minute fireworks display to wrap it up. Thanks guys!

Concessions ran out and from what I heard they were serving bunless hot dogs and cheeseless nachos. Lines were 1-2 hours.

The pre-game "fan zones" were apparently all lines, too.

Clearly they read my comment on another website or a lot of people complained, because they sent an email THIS MORNING specifying what "Lot SP" actually was. There's actually SIX or so "Lot SPs," mine was #6, still about a mile away, on a back road. Thanks y'all, would love to have known that yesterday! None of that was previously specified. I ended up spending $44 on parking that would've cost me just $10 had I gone to the campground to begin with.

I didn't buy my ticket, it was a gift, but for what I got it cost $230 apparently. $230 bucks for what is the upper deck in some ballparks. At the Reds ballpark, seats pretty close to behind home plate will run you about $100, and that is including the all-you-can-eat hot dog and soda package! (I may not have the numbers exactly right, but I think that's what I spent last time I went to Cincinnati).

Because the game actually started at 9:40and folks didn't want to wait, the people on the left and right of me had both left, so the row was basically mine. The saddest thing was the guy right behind me. He was with his two sons and when they called it it's like he couldn't get himself to stand up. Like he was just blankly staring ahead. This clearly meant something to him and it all fell apart.

And then on the drive home, because the local municipality totally didn't know there'd be 85,000 people coming into town on a single day, there were active construction zones that shrunk some of the highways down to one lane on either side.

What a joke. But this is going to go down in history like Disco Demolition Night and I'm sure we'll be talking about it 50 years from now, so at least I can say I was there and that I technically did see the first regular season major league baseball ever played in TN.

[Edgy MD]

Sorry to hear how little upside there was to be had.

I tend to think off-site event things like this need to be done in series, rather than a one-game one-off. Baseball is played in series, and having three games at stake gives everybody a high incentive to get it right. Another option is to set a race the same weekend, and sell package ticks.

[Frayed Knot]

You wouldn't know there were ANY problems from watching/listening to Davis & Smoltz in today's intro.

One the one hand they were likely shuttled to and from their 5* Hotel and may not even know about logistical issues.

On the other hand, if they do know they're probably under strict orders not to mention them.