Facebook "Live", Hurting Our Sport?

[DirtWv77]

Over the past few months, I've noticed that the "live" feature on Facebook is becoming more and more prominent as folks begin to use this relatively new tool. While I've seen the "live" feature used by tracks for promotional purposes, I'm beginning to notice a not so great trend in the amount of fans who are streaming these races on their personal or even media/company pages. With this becoming more of a common place, I'm also seeing fans request others to stream races online for their entertainment purposes which I believe will begin to hurt track attendance? I understand the whole point of keeping those connected, but I'm afraid this cool feature will become abused and ultimately hurt our sport.What are your opinions? Should tracks intervene with this as fans are ultimately stealing your show for others who are not helping your track economically?

[CIRF]

As a current fan and one who at one time was involved in a racing operation I enjoy seeing "live" racing as much anyone due to our longtime love of the sport. But the reality is such that if a product that is intended, supported and sustained solely by a preset cost to the viewer is somehow available at no cost it is to the direct detriment of the promoter and indirectly to the participants.

I am very surprised that there hasn't been a move, especially by promoters and track owners, to find a way to put a stop to the free offerings of their product to virtually anyone who has the equipment to broadcast and receive it.

I'm not at all versed in the law regarding this situation but wouldn't common sense dictate that there is at least some illegality to these pirated broadcasts?

I have several friends who are avid race fans and they regularly view races via Periscope as an alternative actually attending. That situation is only hurting the tracks and sanctions and more indirectly the sport as a whole.

To answer your question directly, yes, tracks and sanctions should intervene and put a stop to the pirating of their racing.

[dirtyboy]

I just dont see a whole lot of dirt track fans sitting at home hoping someone goes "Facebook Live" from a track they are interested in. Some maybe, but not an amount that will make a huge difference.

[Cardirt0]

say you got 15 people that watch at home 15 x 12 = 180 x 16 = 2,880 a year... Say a track is losing 2000 a year so they say there done.. and close.. But if they go and pay the track made 880 that year so they go 1 more year...May not be much but it may be just enuff to stay open or close....
There is more seating at home then you THINK...
24 bucks to get in for two 15 bucks in gas 20 bucks for pop and food.. Or pizza and set at home cause its free..I know some people that love racing but there broke. give them it free and they stay home ..They like too be at it live BUT...FREE

[gman17]

You are also forgetting the fact dirt on dirt if u wait has a lot of races yes u pay but personally nothing like seeing it live. I also think people that post races from the night before the next day on youtube is kinda crappy. Times have changed and we just have to accept it no matter how much we hate it. I remeber as a kid if u werent at a track by 6 ur @$$ was sitting in a crappy seat. I also remeber having to read the paper (which i wrote for at one time) or call a friend.

[Cardirt0]

Have a friend who is in his 20s ..Asked him the other day if his right hand gets tired .. he goes why.. I said in 8 hours you put you phone down for a bout 10 min... Most young people dont go now they watch it on there phone...

[old fan]

didn't someone want the dream to be on live stream or some free streaming just saying

[CIRF]

I personally know, and am friends with, a half dozen guys that check Periscope and Facebook for racing being broadcast "live" every chance they get. They check late model, sprints and midget racing alike.

One such instance was just before Memorial Day. We were at a race in Terre Haute, Indiana and I was sending a few texts updating the racing action to 4 friends. 2 of them said don't bother, we're watching on Periscope. The same thing happened at the Indy Fairgrounds Mile the next night.

Two weeks ago we were at Macon on Saturday night. Ran into a friend the next day and brought up the racing we saw the night before and my friend started telling me what had happened. I asked how he knew what I was talking about and he said he'd watched the A-main on Periscope.

There is more of this going on than some may think. And, more likely than not it's having a detrimental effect on the economics of some tracks.

[dirtyboy]

Yep, and they still wont go even if they can see it on Facebook Live. No sure what you gain there.

[zyoung25]

I use DoD to catch up on the national races around the nation. It's normally a Sunday morning deal for to see what went on. I attend races every weekly.

As far as this live thing goes. A person has to use a wifi or their own personal phone data to play these races live. I've yet to see a whole race night live. Unless it's a person related to the race track in someway, I don't see any one person playing a whole night of racing live over facebook, talk about racking up data, which would lead to a enormous phone bill.

[old fan]

SMART MAN http://www.4m.net/images/smilies/smi...lies/smile.png

[CIRF]

Yep, and they still wont go even if they can see it on Facebook Live. No sure what you gain there.

The guys I speak of actually WOULD attend some of the events they find a way to watch for free.

It's a sure thing that the cost of admission is gained in those instances.

[Cardirt0]

I am on T moble and I can watch movies and news,Streams, U tube all day and It all part of my Family plan.. If you know how too do it Dont cost a thing....

[Just The Tip]

I can see both sides. Tracks could really use it to their advantage if they do it right. Run a timely show and prep the track for good solid racing and show those fans at home what they are missing out on.

Being able to see other tracks like that also makes fans like me want to go to tracks I may have never thought to go to. Such as FALS, Atomic, Williams Grove, Etc. I feel there is a place for this kind of promotion in this sport. Hell, some tracks do Free general admission night just to get people who may have never been to a track before to come out. They are doing it on the chance to get new blood into the stands the following weeks.

I would be encouraging it if I ran a track. Show your friends who don't come out to the track what they are missing. Just my opinion.

[Cardirt0]

Younger people today if they can find a way too do or get it free over paying.. Even over LIVE they will do it for Free.. They think it all should be FREE....And they dont think it stealing.....