gateway

[hemiman4262003]

mar had good food and nice people,loved those mar bobs

[nutup]

There was always nice people at mar . Marp is going need some face time on local tv when operational and during construction. One thing is there are less and less things family's can go do anymore so with some good public relations and good promotions maybe it can be a spectator sport again nice bleachers and shade will help with some good food and good prices and family rates on admission could help some. One big thing that would be nice when up and running is a exciting announcer someone who can get a crowd on the edge of the seat make it as painless as possible!!

[km69stang]

Mar 30, 2011 10:06:07 GMT -5 crossbonesdennis said:

For regular events, spectators had the same options as racers as far as bringing in coolers or grills. The concessions at Gateway were NOT Gateway. They were an outside company called Ovations. They are the same company that sell at other sports venues.

The biggest problem with GIR was no advertising for the regular events. I spoke with people that went to the nat's that had no idea that you could watch racing for $10 on a Sat night. I've spoke to people that only thought they were open a few weekends a year for the big events.

My brother drives a tow truck. He went to St. Louis to pick up a wonam that was broke down. When they went by GIR she told him they race horses there.
She basically argued with him when he tried to tell her different.

You may be correct about it being a different company that handled the concessions, you would know better than me, but regardless, the cost and quality were rediculous. We all know what you can go buy that food in bulk at sams for and the profits they were attempting to make on people was criminal. We are planing on doing everything that we can to keep these kind of costs down to make it more attractive to spectators/families.

As far as advertising and PR, we will do the best we can to make sure as many people as possible know about the track and come and visit it often. This website is just one of the ways that we are planing to let everyone know what is going on at the track. Any body else have any more ideas?

[slingshot383]

Sure, get the radio stations involved, human intrest stories in the papers, and TV new programs, make sure to send race results to all media outlets.

[rooster]

Back in the 70's, I found out about grudge night through a friend that was building a hot rod just like the rest of us gearheads. He had an older brother that actually raced and told us about the event. If it weren't for his brother telling us, the kids at our high school would have never found out that they had an event for us kids. I went to Gateway not having a clue what I was doing or what I was getting in to. It would have been nice if someone would have come to the school to educate us and promote drag racing. There would have been more people involved if they knew about it but word of mouth only got to a handful of us.

[km69stang]

We are planing on doing as much as we can to get into the schools and promote racing at the track with high school and junior drags series as well as allowing the communities/school clubs to work in the concession stands, etc as a fundraising opportunity for these types of groups. This should make more people aware of the track as well as promote safety and prevent as much street racing as possible. The more people we can get involved early and as a family, the better the facility will do.

[slingshot383]

Gateway...has a stumbling block. St. Clair County doesn't want to abate the owed taxes on the property, and now it's up to the individual land owners to come up with the cash as Dover Downs walked away from it. This might just wind up going to the courthouse steps at auction for back taxes if something isn't worked out.

[nutup]

Typical move next the county will try and get the land using eminent domain they want that land for something other than a race track it would seem. How many businesses and land owners have not been able to work a deal over taxes it happens all the time . And as tax payers we pick up the rest of the tab. Don't send any of the welfare checks out in Il. or Mo. for a couple of weeks use that money to pay the taxes. lets keep taking away entertainment for tax payers and entertain the ones who don't do anything with special programs or projects. Sorry about the rant just did taxes.