Eldora Speedway is a NASCAR racetrack located in Dover, Delaware. The track’s first NASCAR race was held in April 1973, and over the years, it has gained a reputation for being one of the best NASCAR tracks in the country. It is also one of the most historic racetracks, as it hosted the first IndyCar race back in 1973. Today, over 100,000 people come out to watch some of today’s top drivers compete in the exciting races at this historic track every year.
While most NASCAR races are run on Sunday afternoons, it is still rare for NASCAR races to be run on Saturday since the track usually closes down early on Saturday evenings. However, on rare occasions, especially when some famous driver is competing, they may run on Saturday to try and drum up some extra support and fans. If you are interested in going to a NASCAR race live, then you need to know the answer to the question, “How many seats does Eldora Speedway have?”
In this article, we will discuss how many seats does Eldora Speedway have, where you can find them, and what is the best way to find the best seating for you.
How Many Seats Does Eldora Speedway Have?
The answer to this question is a bit tricky, as there are a few different seating areas at Eldora Speedway. For the sake of this article, we will discuss the grandstands as the place to be sitting if you are wanting to catch a live NASCAR race. As you will see later on in this article, if you are looking for a place to park your car for the day, you will have a harder time finding a decent spot. The parking here is extremely limited, and mostly full-time NASCAR fans may have an advantage in this department.
The track has four different grandstands. They are called the North Stand, the South Stand, the West Stand, and the Fishbowl. Let’s discuss each one in turn.
The North Stand
Located in the north area of the track, the North Stand is the original grandstand and still one of the best places to watch a NASCAR race. The grandstands here are made of wood and canopies, and some of them hold up to 6,000 people. When construction on the North Stand began back in 1973, there was originally only one grandstand. However, back then, they did not have driver’s boxes, and therefore, no luxury boxes or upper decks. The racing fans parked along the track’s edge and watched the race live.
Since then, they have been expanded a few times and can accommodate up to 16,000 people. Even back in the day, people would come from all over the place to see a NASCAR race at this track, as it is one of the longest and one of the most historic. Due to the size restraints, the upper decks are now used for VIPs and celebrities, whereas the regular racing fans sit in the remaining three decks. The upper three decks and the grandstands behind them are all that remain from when the track first opened, as the South Stand was not built yet (it was built in 1984), and the West Stand was not yet built either (it opened in 1989).
The South Stand
The South Stand is the newest grandstand at Eldora. It holds around 6,000 people and has an amazing view of the track from the upper deck. If you watch NASCAR on ESPN, then you may have already noticed that the South Stand is where they always show the Nationwide and Sprint Cup races. Unfortunately, construction began back in April 2016, so it will not be ready for the 2018 season. If you like a good NASCAR view, then this will be the place to be during the last half of the year. It’s part of a larger project to extend the capacity of the entire grandstand by 8,000 seats, and they are still working on it.
Located along the backstretch on the southern side of the track, the South Stand is the second-oldest grandstand still in use. It was originally built in 1947 and can still hold around 6,000 people. However, in recent years, the upper three decks here have been closed off due to safety concerns, as there is no railing along the edge. If you are planning to visit here, then make sure you bring a hat and sunscreen, as the track itself is outside and it can get pretty hot and humid. Also, due to the number of seats, it is best to sit in the front rows if you want to avoid disappointment. Finally, if you are driving, then there are a few spots along the backstretch where you can pull off and park. However, if you want to watch the race without any disturbances, then the best bet would be to find a space along the track’s edge. Another option would be to find a spot at the front of the South Stand, as these areas are usually not as crowded as the rest of the grandstands during a race. If you are looking for a place to park, then the backstretch is probably the best bet, as there are usually spaces available there. However, if you want to be near the action, then the edges of the grandstands are your best bet.
The West Stand
If you are a diehard Pittsburgh Steelers fan, then you might want to visit the West Stand. It is the newest of the four grandstands at Eldora, and it holds around 4,500 people. Unfortunately, when they built it, they did not anticipate the number of people that would want to see a NASCAR race at this particular venue. During the first few months of operation, the upper three decks were closed off due to safety concerns, as there was no protection along the track’s edge. Once they put those safety barriers up, then they opened the upper decks and now have a place for around 4,500 people to see a NASCAR race live. Even now, there are times when parts of the upper three decks are closed off due to capacity issues.
The structure itself is made of wood, concrete, and steel, and has a capacity to expand to 6,000 people. Even back in the day, this was one of the largest grandstands at Eldora, and it is still one of the best places to catch a NASCAR race. It is located along the backstretch on the western side of the track, and has a great view of the cars coming down the front stretch. Due to its size, there is usually not a lot of room for people to stand and enjoy the show. If walking is something that you enjoy, then the West Stand is a good option, as the walk from the parking lot to the entrance of the stand is only about a tenth of a mile. Once you are in the stand, you have easy access to all of the exits, so you can find your way to your car if you are driving. The walk from the parking lot to the stand is a lot more comfortable than the walk to the other three grandstands due to its design and layout. If you are looking for a place to park, then the backstretch is your best bet, as there will be plenty of open spots there. If you want to be near the action, then the upper decks along the backstretch are your best option, as those are the only ones that are currently in use.
The Fishbowl
The last grandstand at Eldora is the Fishbowl. It was originally built in 1997 and can hold up to 3,000 people. The structure itself is designed in a manner similar to the other three grandstands at Eldora, but it curves a little bit to the left. Due to its size, the upper three decks are not used for seating, and instead, they are closed off due to safety concerns. If you are a fan of NASCAR and IndyCar, then this will be the place to be. It is located along the backstretch on the northern side of the track, and has the best view of the cars coming down the front stretch. If you are looking for a place to park, then the backstretch is your best bet, as there will be plenty of open spots there. If you want to be near the action, then the upper decks along the backstretch are your best option, as those are the only ones that are currently in use. Finally, if you are driving, then the best bet would be to find a spot along the edge of one of the outer tracks. Even though it is usually not crowded there, it is still safer than trying to find a spot inside the track. Even if you have a spot along the track’s edge, there will still be other cars and other drivers around you, which can make for some dangerous situations if you are not careful. When approaching the corner from the back or the front, make sure that you have clear view of the other cars and drivers around you so that you do not hit anyone or anything.