The inaugural Pennzoil 400 weekend at Homestead-Miami
Speedway is expected to generate a $116M economic impact for
South FL, according to a report by FL-based Sports
Management Research. Homestead-Miami Speedway President
Curtis Gray called the report's estimate "conservative."
Gray added that the study indicated that 37% of ticket
buyers would come from outside FL, which marks a "contrast"
to the 18% who attended tennis' Ericsson Open and 13% who
went to the Marlins World Series games in '97. Homestead
has sold tickets for the weekend's events in "every one of
the 48 continental states" (MIAMI HERALD, 11/11).
DO NASCAR'S MARKETING LINES GET BLURRED: In Palm Beach,
Charles Elmore examined whether NASCAR sends "mixed
messages" to children, as the series has some youth-oriented
partners, but also has many sponsors that make "products
that are supposed to be for adults only." Northeastern
Univ. professor Dick Daynard, who was a consultant in FL's
lawsuit against the tobacco companies: "It's outrageous that
these sponsorships have not been banned." But Time Warner
spokesperson Jim Babcock said that the No. 9 Cartoon Network
Ford "will carry no supplemental" ads for alcohol or tobacco
products. Babcock: "That would not be appropriate for our
audience." NASCAR Manager of Marketing Services Jeff
Dowling said, "I don't think there is any worry about mixed
messages. We're only allowing companies that sell legal
products" (PALM BEACH POST, 11/11).
SUNTRUST BACKS HRT: In Ft. Lauderdale, Cesar Brioso
reports that Saturday's BGN Hotwheels.com 300 marks the
debut of the Hispanic Racing Team owned by Mike Vazquez and
Rudy Rodriguez and sponsored by SunTrust and "several"
associate sponsors. Vazquez: "Many Hispanic businesses had
never considered NASCAR" (SUN-SENTINEL, 11/12).
