To the Editor,
I’m an Iowa Speedway season ticket holder and have been since the track opened. I’ve never missed a race at the track, and our group has grown from 10 the first year to 26 currently.
For the last few years, we noticed the speedway will have 10 to 15 stands selling Miller and Coors products, and I’m lucky to see anyone buying from any of them.
There’s only one stand selling Budweiser produces and it seems to be constantly busy.
Trying to force Miller products on customers is not a good idea. I’ll bet at least half of us in the stands prefer Anheuser-Busch products. The speedway is alienating about half the customers. But on a positive note, I would like to thank you on behalf of our group of 26 season ticket holders and Bud/Bud Light fans.
Iowa Speedway succeeded in saving our entire group at least $1,560 in beer sales at the last race weekend alone. This is a conservative number, because we all have many friends who also attend and we will often buy them beer, too.
Under the current arrangement, we will no longer be buying our beverages inside the track. We will simply spend more time in the parking lot and less time inside the track at sponsor’s booths and so forth. Do the math. We are only one group. I know a ton of other people outside of our group who were equally as upset. I think the speedway is making a huge mistake that could cost dearly in the long run.
I mention this because I love racing, and I love Iowa Speedway. I think they are doing an awesome job on almost everything until now. I attend races all over the U.S., both large and small. I’ve seen tracks sponsored by any number of different beer (or even pop) companies.
I’ve never seen a track do what you are trying to do. They may not advertise certain brands due to sponsorship agreements, and certain brands may only be available at limited (and unadvertised) locations at the track (like you guys used to do).
The speedway is not doing a good job catering to all paying customers, If they choose to continue do this. Don’t forget who truly pays your bills. You guys have a lot of great things happening, but you will never be too big to fail.
Kevin Delk
Colfax