NASCAR Hall of Fame

[jb4563]

By the way, the NC House sent this resolution to NASCAR.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2005

RATIFIED BILL

RESOLUTION 2005-12

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 375

A JOINT RESOLUTION honoring north carolina's GREAT NASCAR LEGENDS ralph DALE EARNHARDT, sr., RALPH lee EARNHARDT, LEE PETTY, adam kyler petty, julius timothy "TIM" FLOCK and his companion jocko flocko, edwin keith "BANJO" MATTHEWS, CURTIS morton TURNER, edward glenn "FIREBALL" ROBERTs, elzie wylie "BUCK" BAKER, sr., and african?american racing pioneer wendell oliver scott, AND Encouraging NASCAR to select North carolina as the location for its hall of FAME.

Whereas, North Carolina takes great pride in its position as the stock car racing capital in the United States and the world and is the "Hub of Motorsports in the United States"; and

Whereas, motorsports events have become and remain hugely popular with the people of North Carolina, with more than one million fans attending motorsports events in the State each year, thereby substantially enhancing the tourism industry in North Carolina; and

Whereas, after World War II, stock car racing evolved in the foothills, the pinewoods, and the Piedmont, quickly becoming one of the deepest traditions in North Carolina popular culture; and

Whereas, North Carolina's motorsports industry has an annual economic impact of $5.1 billion and creates an excess of 24,000 jobs with an average income of over $69,000; and

Whereas, North Carolina is in the running to be the site of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) Hall of Fame; and

Whereas, 82% of the Nextel Cup Series, 72% of the Busch Series, and 55% of the Craftsman Truck Series teams are headquartered in North Carolina; and

Whereas, Lowe's Motor Speedway, which is located in North Carolina, hosts two NASCAR Nextel Cup Series and NASCAR Busch Series races, the NASCAR Nextel All?Star Challenge, and a number of other important NASCAR events; and

Whereas, North Carolina is the ideal location for the NASCAR Hall of Fame because it is host to the NASCAR Business Cluster; and

Whereas, North Carolina was host to the first race held in NASCAR's top division

[jb4563]

The attendance breakdown:

224,700 patrons drawn just to see the hall of fame

100,000 fans in town to attend other nascar events

81,600 visitors in town for other special events

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Seems like a low-ball number.

The NC Auto Hall of Fame in Mooresville attracts something like 300,000 a year (according to NC Dept of Commerce)....and it is a dump.

[Raintree21]

They sure did use the word "whereas" a lot.

Uhoh, they busted out the monkey Jocko Flocko. There's no way NASCAR will turn down Charlotte now.

[jb4563]

So with that being said, anybody think we'll actually meet the projected 400,000 attendance that the city is proclaiming?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I think we would seriously out-do the 400,000 mark.

1. The NC Auto Racing Hall of Fame attracts 300,000 a year. And it is just a hole-in-the-wall in Mooresville.

2. We have three major races a year...and two of them attract 200,000 people alone (so a lot of those people would visit).

3. We already have a lot of race shops that tourists visit...so they would swing down to the racing hall of fame.

[dubone]

I also think that people in charlotte or visiting will go visit, even if they aren't as much into racing that they would go to a team shop or a race...

I would certainly go, and take some visitors, especially if it is designed well, and incorporates technology displays. (racing and car tech)

[eastsider]

Tonight the Charlotte City Council voted to:

1) approve submittal of a bid for the nascar hall of fame

2) approve the use of the site accross Brevard from the convention center

3) seek a 2% increase in the hotel tax

4) approve a general financial plan

Some items from the presentation to the city council

Architect - Pei, Cobb, Freed, & Partners

Marketing Agency - Interpublic Group

Exhibit Design - Morris Architects and ESI

Listed advantages of the site

- the land is under city control

- integrates/links expansion of the convention center

- enables them to host large events

- creates economic & efficientcy with convention center operations

- excellent access & visibility from interstate

- connectivity with new arena (pedestrian improvements)

The nascar hall of fame would be a city owned facility. The cost of construction would be 137.5 million dollars for hof and new convention center ballroom.

They ran through several different attendance scenarios to arrive at the 400,000 per year figure.

[monsoon]

Looks as if public money will be used to pay for a great deal of this project. The city is seeking state approval to raise the hotel/motel tax by 2 cents which will cover, apparently $100M of the project. The rest will come from private doners. It will be interesting to see what the NC Legislature will approve.

It should be noted this tax will not affect the other towns in Mecklenburg. A few years ago they took Charlotte to court (so to speak) in front of this NC Legislature and won approval to keep the portion of this tax generated within their borders.

[eastsider]

I think there's no question that the legislature will pass the hotel tax. The only question is how much additional funding they will provide.

Easley vows support for Hall of Fame

[eastsider]

From the Observer's NASCAR writer David Poole's random thoughts

Bids from cities wanting to host the NASCAR hall are due on May 31.

Insiders say they don't expect Michigan to submit an actual bid, and there's real doubt that Daytona Beach will have one that's remotely viable. That leaves Charlotte, Kansas City, Atlanta and Richmond as the real contenders, and Richmond is likely a step behind the other three right now.

[Raintree21]

http://www.news14charlotte.com/content/top....asp?ArID=92184

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Two legislative bodies learned more Monday night about Charlotte

[cltniners]

it is going to either atlanta or charlotte.

[SmellyCat]

I think the key things Charlotte has going for it is its proximity to the racing teams and its geographically central position in the U.S. (although you could make a case for Kansas City there also). Plus the whole city seems to be behind it - does anyone in Atlanta really even care about this?

[dubone]

since the hall of fame is to honor the drivers, i agree that this area would be best, as most of the drivers over history have been from the carolinas, and many (/most?) from the charlotte metro. Also the teams are mostly around here, too, as has been said.

Also, the financial plan seems very rich, and only requires <40million from private entitieis AND the state. So if the state only puts in a couple million, it will quickly raise the rest from the teams and others around here. It has a choice and efficient location, and so does charlotte (KC may be cental, but NC is central to the east coast, and is closer to more of the us population).

by being city owned, does that mean the city could reap some money back if the operations ends up turning a profit.? that is to say that the hornets used to be a net revenue producer at the colliseum, and that helped subisidize operations at independence/cricket arena and the convention center...

[NCtarheel]

What are the advantages of Atlanta? Are there any teams/important organizations operating there?

[dubone]

people and money and people with money.

[monsoon]

Memorials in Charlotte Metro for NASCAR

I took this one before someone came by and threw flowers at his feet.

Plaque

[peaceloveunderstanding]

where exactly in Charlotte is that?

[eastsider]

where exactly in Charlotte is that?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It's in downtown..........Kannapolis

[OE-305]

dude! he looks like he's 12 feet tall!

monsoon, did you yell "JEFF GORDON!!!"?

[monsoon]

where exactly in Charlotte is that?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Charlotte Metro. I was collecting photos of the new Kannaoplis train station for an upcoming thread, and though I would snap a few of this memorial since it is across the street.

QE-305, I don't think anyone would build a statue for Jeff Gordon. LOL

[OE-305]

QE-305,  I don't think anyone would build a statue for Jeff Gordon.  LOL

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

O no, that was just a play off the mid to late nineties when the big nascar rivarly was between Earnhardt and Gordon. All the rednecks were divided on this like America was in the last presidential election

[Raintree21]

O no, that was just a play off the mid to late nineties when the big nascar rivarly was between Earnhardt and Gordon.  All the rednecks were divided on this like America was in the last presidential election 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

We still are.

[redjeep77]

yep.....gordon sucks.....go JR!

[peaceloveunderstanding]

walmart fan! I really don't like JR at all, he is quite overrated. My favorite driver is Harvick.

[eastsider]

Funny stuff from the Kansas City Star: