Atlanta Motor Speedway Renovations Continue

Atlanta Motor Speedway Wrapping Up $20M Renovation Project

Atlanta Motor Speedway (AMS) has “changed dramatically” since the NASCAR Nextel Cup Golden Corral 500 in March, and “construction work likely will continue right up until the NASCAR cars arrive at the track on Thursday” for qualifying for the Bass Pro Shops 500, according to Rick Minter of the ATLANTA CONSTITUTION. The $20M project began with the Weaver Grandstand, “which was damaged in a 2005 tornado,” being razed and the embankment leveled to make way for 79 trackside motorhome parking spots. A motorhome spot will cost $3,495 for a weekend and includes ten tickets to the race. The lost seating from the Weaver Grandstand has been moved to Turn One, where an 11,000-seat grandstand has been topped by a “giant luxury suite known as Club One” that offers “fine dining and other amenities previously available only in the corporate suites.” A ticket for Club One costs $795 for the weekend or $595 for Sunday’s race. The track’s capacity was reduced from 124,000 to 113,000. AMS President Ed Clark: “It’s kind of the trend in all of sports –- fewer seats closer to the action, better quality seats.” Clark added, “We are building toward the future of the sport as it grows. One aspect is to be able to keep your event dates. NASCAR looks at a lot of things — the size of the market, the quality of the facility, how the facility works with NASCAR and fan opinions” (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 10/22).