The Daytona International Speedway is one of the most historic races in the world. Every year, the speedway attracts huge crowds and even bigger sponsorships. Though tickets aren’t cheap, watching a few races at Daytona is still a bargain compared to the payout offered by NASCAR’s biggest events! Let’s take a look at how much money the Daytona International Speedway earns each year and where all of that cash goes.
How Much Does The Speedway Earn?
According to information from the Daytona International Speedway, between 2007 and 2011 they brought in a combined total of over $140 million in annual revenue. Though the track’s financials are tightly held by the team owners, the fact that they’re able to bring in big bucks demonstrates the strength of the Daytona brand.
In 2007, the International Speedway brought in $27.7 million in revenue. This amount jumped up to $28.9 million in 2008 and $31.5 million in 2009. Then in 2010, the International Speedway saw a huge jump in ticket sales and increased revenues to $36.5 million. Last but not least, in 2011, the speedway saw its biggest year yet, earning $41.2 million in revenue.
Where Does All Of That Money Go?
When you’re talking about a motorsport franchise, there are a ton of interested parties. First, you have the team owners, who are the ones primarily responsible for providing all of the cars and equipment for the competition. Next, you have the drivers, who are the ones risking their necks each and every week racing for your entertainment. Then, of course, you have the spectators, who are the ones footing the bill for all of this through their ticket prices and hotel rooms.
Not only does the speedway take in a ton of money, but they also spend a ton. In fact, over the years, they’ve had to build and maintain an entire stable of race cars and equipment, which has cost them a fortune. In 2011, the track budget was $12.7 million. Of that figure, $5 million went into paying for racing equipment and car upgrades, while another $7.7 million went toward track improvements and repairs. The rest of the budget was split between the salaries of the 400 or so employees at the track and the traveling crew members who work the races there. (The Daytona International Speedway)
Overall Impression
At this point, it’s fair to say that we like what we see so far. The Daytona International Speedway has been able to turn a considerable profit over the years while still managing to keep their prices low enough that the average person can afford a ticket. If you’ve never been to a NASCAR race, then the Daytona International Speedway is definitely a place you should check out. Besides, with the upcoming switch from summer to winter racing, it’ll be even more breathtaking to watch the cars fly by on a cool October day.