(By Greg Engle)
Posted: Tuesday,December 2nd, 2008
Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage unveiled a $2 million capital improvement project for the auto racing facility Monday that will transform the upper half of the backstretch area into a lavish motorcoach area known as Burnout Alley.
In the process the permanent seating capacity will drop by about 22,000 seats on the backstretch to bring the total number of seats to 138,100. The figures are estimates until the actual removal of seats happen and the final capacity numbers are determined, but Gossage pointed out that the seating capacity would still rank among the largest sports facilities in the United States.
Burnout Alley will consist of 74 expansive sites with numerous amenities that will make it the ultimate destination for fans traveling and entertaining in their motorcoaches for NASCAR and IndyCar Series race weeks. Each gated courtyard will be 30×60 feet and include full service hook-ups for water, electric and live race feeds; concierge service that will include grocery shopping; catering options; free wireless internet and 24-hour restroom access.
The ticket package for each race week will consist of 10 VIP passes for Burnout Alley; 10 pre-race passes for each NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race; 10 pit/infield passes; two access passes for The Speedway Club; 10 souvenir event programs; and three reserved parking spaces nearby.
“Our demand for motor home space – even this year during a downturn economy – has continued to rise each and every year, and our fans have indicated to us that there was a need for this type of project,” Gossage said. “We pride ourselves at Texas Motor Speedway for providing what our fans want as well as our creativity, and Burnout Alley is a product of both. Once we got involved in the development of this project, we wanted to make Burnout Alley the ultimate RV area of any speedway race fans will ever visit.”
Each site in Burnout Alley will sell for $15,000 annually for an entire Texas Motor Speedway race season that consists of a pair of NASCAR weeks and one for the IndyCar Series. The Samsung 500 race week – featuring the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series – is set for April 2-5; the Bombardier Learjet 550k race week – showcasing the IndyCar Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series – is June 4-6; and the season culminates with the Dickies 500 triple-header race week with the NASCAR Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series from Nov. 5-8.
The project has a targeted 75-day construction period, which would have a projected completion date for Burnout Alley of early to mid-March.
“With the reduction in seating on the backstretch in addition to the special pricing we also announced today, we’re expecting those tickets to go fast and also put a premium on securing a frontstretch ticket for the NASCAR race weeks,” Gossage said.
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