Comments on: Digger Fans? And Where Are The Hospitality Tents?

By: Shirley Harris

Shirley Harris — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 22:33:45 +0000

Corporate (hospitality) tents are MUCH TO EXPENSIVE for the common folk……. this year $150 per person at NHMS!!! Way too much…..

By: Tommy

Tommy — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 04:31:48 +0000

Over the last few years, the tracks have been trying to make up their lost ticket revenue by increasing the prices for corporate hospitality.

That strategy has backfired and as those multi year contracts (that the sponsors were forced to sign) begin to run out, you’ll see even less tents at places like Chicago and KC.

ISC and SMI have killed the goose by being way too greedy and overcharging their customers for hospitality.

By: Kallie

Kallie — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 06:24:32 +0000

Hi Guys! Love the blog and don’t know why I chose this post to comment on first, but too late now!

At the California race, they had more of a little shack style Digger booth that I admit I wanted to get a look at, but not to buy things. I hadn’t seen that they turned the cute 2-D cartoon Digger into a 3-D cartoon yet and so all these new characters seemed like overkill to me. It could be that this mass of people just wanted to get a look at what they had to offer, but that sure seems like a big crowd out of curiosity. I have to agree with everyone else that it would be a great gift for the little ones.

Keep up the great posts! Love them!

By: Adam

Adam — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 03:35:42 +0000

I think there’s a different demo that hits the trailer vs. the one online. It’s sad to me since I’m of the “who the F likes this junk” side, but I fear that’s the case.

As for the corporate tents, it seems to be like that at all the tracks. I actually work for a large corporate sponsor, one of the few left still activating on the hospitality. And I was surprised how few companies were at Las Vegas and Atlanta. Daytona was smaller than usual, but still OK because it was the 500. At Vegas, however, it was a ghost town. Atlanta, where you normally have a couple of dozen sponsors, there were 6 tents. Crazy.

But it makes since. Advertising is usually purchased way in advance, as is sponsorship. Hospitality, though, can be fairly easily dumped. Even if you have the eat the costs of some tickets you still save money by not purchasing catering and other add-ons.

Like Digger, said but true.

By: Newracefan

Newracefan — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 00:04:39 +0000

I can only guess those of use who blog or avidly seek info on the web see Digger as an annoyance, those fans who are not as fanatical (for lack of a better word) think he’s cute, and lets face it perhaps the perfect gift for the little ones that haven’t picked a driver to follow.

By: Lauren

Lauren — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:15:38 +0000

I think Digger just might be bringing the child out in everyone. I think it’s lame, but I love it. haha If that makes any sense. [[Considering I am 18 years old and still watch the Disney Channel.]] I think that the Digger cam can be pretty cool at times. But I think NASCAR should have just left it as a cool shot of the race, they didn’t need to create a cartoon with it.

And as for the hospitality tents, that’s just sad. I’m sure that the sponsors loved that. And it kinda sucks for them that they get thrown on the back burner. Sponsors are what make up NASCAR, I think that the tents should have been one of the last things taken away.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 21:05:09 +0000

Nasacr continues to ruin its image with this Digger crap. This, combined with the professional wrestler garbage for the all-star race, how’s anyone supposed to take it seriously? Sad, just sad, I become less interested in Nascar everyday.

By: Zieke

Zieke — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 18:32:39 +0000

I wonder if the people at the Digger trailer are buying for their grandkids. I certainly hope so as the cartoon thing makes sense for anyone under 5. But then those 5 yr. olds might like DW too, which could be a stretch even for them.

By: Bobby#7fan

Bobby#7fan — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 14:53:34 +0000

I don’t get all the Digger hyper personally. The shots from the “digger cam” are dark, dirty, and pretty much pointless. At the Iowa speedway they have camera’s embedded IN the track so you see the cars going right over the top, now that is cool. I’m not sure if it’s the racetrack that did it or if it’s ESPN, but I like it.

I don’t even watch the Fox pre-race show anymore. It’s way to long and pretty much pointless. When Fox took over the broadcasts it was the best coverage Nascar ever had, they need to go back to that. I really wish the network would drop all the crap and let the boys talk about racing, that’s what they know, and it used to be great. I’m tired of all the Aflac crap, the Claritin clear to drive crap, allstate good hands crap. It’s become a joke.

One thing I give Fox though, they had the foresight not to hire Wally “fallenback”. NBC race coverage is the biggest joke in broadcasting.

By: Neon

Neon — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 13:18:21 +0000

Maybe fans want to secure Digger Gear as collector items before he is exterminated. As far as Digger’s lack of popularity and other TV broadcast gimmicks in general on this site, I attribute that to educated blogger’s need for racing in its purest sense. More racing and less fluff.