Is Lowes Motor Speedway Change Names?
The short answer is no. The long answer is almost certainly not. But first, it’s important to establish exactly what is going on.
In the last year or so, the world’s largest motorsport arena, the legendary speedway, has seen a spate of renovations and change. The new name is Red Bull Arena, but that’s not the only thing that’s new. The speedway itself has been completely rebuilt, with the current configuration featuring six straightaways, two complex chicanes, and a whopping 12 corners. The track also adopted an interesting layout – called Circuit de Barcelona – that mixes up the standard oval with a couple of unusual turns like the La Traviata and Montjuic curves. There’s no doubt that this is now one of the most exciting motorsports venues in the world. And it will no doubt continue to attract the best drivers in the business. But that’s not all there is to this story.
To begin with, the redeveloped speedway is actually located in Birmingham, Alabama. Birmingham is about an hour away from Atlanta, where the headquarters of Lowe’s, the world’s largest home improvement retailer, are found. Thus, it’s not altogether surprising that the iconic American company decided to purchase a piece of real estate that they could so elegantly renovate and rebrand.
This is not the first time that the world’s largest company has purchased a track. In fact, in the last few years, Lowes has spent over a billion dollars on various sport venues around the United States, including venues in Atlanta, Knoxville, and Tampa. So that’s how you can have a world-class sports stadium in your city that bears the name of the world’s number one home improvement company. It’s quite a corporate coup.
Why Is Speed Increasing At Lowe’s Motor Speedway
There are a number of reasons why the speed at Lowe’s Motor Speedway is increasing. First, the venue enjoys a favorable location. It’s not easy to find a sports arena that you can reach by public transportation. Second, the owners and operators of the speedway, Speedway Motorsports, Inc., have done an excellent job in making the place attractive to the top drivers in the business. There are lots of amenities, including a decent restaurant and bar, a hotel, and even a campground. Third, the six-tract layout provides a unique flavor for visitors and residents alike, as different parts of the city are evoked by different sets of corners. Fourth, and perhaps most importantly, the redevelopment of the speedway was driven by an ambitious and internationally renowned motorsport designer named Foyt Williams. Mr. Williams, who passed away in January of this year, was responsible for many of the significant innovations that can still be seen at the modern day version of the legendary speedway.
The Red Bull Ring
In addition to the redeveloped speedway, Atlanta’s most famous export, Red Bull, also opened a brand new esports arena this year. As you might imagine, the company behind the international energy drink is quite the savvy and sophisticated organization, and they have quite an impressive track record when it comes to pioneering new frontiers in esports and the digital revolution more broadly. In fact, earlier this year they opened the doors to their first ever “gym” located inside their headquarters in Australia. This is a place where employees can work out, play basketball, and esports competitions can be held. Similarly, their newest location in Germany is called Red Bull Arena Sänze, and it’s a place where anyone can convene and enjoy a game or meet up with friends. And let’s not forget about their new headquarters in Singapore, where yet another esports arena resides. The list of venues that belong to the Red Bull family of companies is growing every day, as the company continues to invest significantly in the realms of esports and digital transformation.
The Atlanta Dream
Another significant development at the speedway is the Atlanttara Dream, the team headquarters for 100 miles around the arena. Completed last year, the facility houses the largest broadcast studio in North America, as well as a restaurant and bar, a hotel, and even a private jetty that guests can use to get a closer look at the cars on display. It’s an incredible feat of urban planning, and it gives the location a truly unique vibe.
New Owners, New Directions
What’s interesting about all of this is that while all of these developments have undoubtedly upgraded the vibe at the speedway, the track itself still officially belongs to one of the most iconic American companies. That’s right – not only has Lowe’s purchased numerous other sports venues around the country, but they also now own the Atlanta Dream. In other words, the redevelopment of the speedway was a coup for corporate America, but it’s also brought with it a new sense of optimism and ambition. In fact, it was recently revealed that Lowe’s had purchased the naming rights to the entire Atlanta area, and that’s a rather large region. This is a brand new direction for the company, and it certainly suggests that there’s a lot more investment to come.
It should also be noted that the iconic American company has a rather illustrious history when it comes to sponsorship deals. In addition to their groundbreaking work in the arena in which this article resides, Lowe’s has also been involved in some rather significant motorsport initiatives, including multiple iterations of the famed 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Indianapolis 500, and several iterations of the Daytona 500. Thus, it should not come as a great surprise that the conglomerate decided to purchase the naming rights to a track that has a long and storied history.
The Future Of Motor Racing
It’s important to point out that while all of this is rather interesting, it’s not altogether clear that this is the future of motor racing. There is some evidence to suggest that the crowds at the speedway are thinner than they have been in years, and there are rumors that the iconic venue is for sale. That said, it’s still one of the most significant and iconic venues in the world, and it will continue to host some of the biggest competitions and events in the industry.
What Is Next For Lowe’s Motor Speedway?
It’s hard to know what the future of the speedway holds. On the one hand, the venue could host more and more events as the company expands its reach and invades new territories. On the other hand, given the current state of the industry and the fact that the venue is still rather expensive to maintain, it could potentially become a dormant relic of a bygone era.
Ultimately, only time will tell what the future of the speedway holds. For now, though, it’s an exciting time to be a sports fan in the Southeast.