Can a track be profitable?
 

I've been dreaming of building a track. Are any in the US profitable? Trexlertown is a non-profit, do you think there is a market to make money with a track? I have been eyeing the northern Virginia market.

you need to build one in reno. think, man- betting! you can be the bugsy siegel of the velo world! revive the six-day! of course, it would be close to me, which is most important, and there are plenty of rubes- i mean roadies, in the area to build a foundation from...

http://sprintclub.twothreesix.com

under 'richmond sprint club' then to 'sprint club in a magazine'

looks like there is some talk about it in richmond. which would be GREAT! (and close to me.. well, so would NoVA)

"Humpy" Wheeler, owner of the Lowes Motor Speedway near Charlotte is planning to build a velodrome there. He is doing it under a non-profit association.

The projected cost is $1.5 million. They are hoping to accept private and corporate donations and take in money from a bond referendum to help cover some of the cost.

I agree with the betting angle it seems to work in Japan.

it's hard to get a track to be used constantly. You need a big market to have riders in and out every day paying to use it. It would have to be indoor and be maintained well but that should be minimal cost. The building of it and interest on your loans would be the major cost.

from the SMH paper about the Dunc Gray velodrome in Sydney.

i think that humpy may have to move the decimel point...the new issue of road magazine states that 15 million has been spent on the adt center in los angeles...and i dont think they are done yet. however, if he goes w/ concrete, not covered, and other tertiary facility items are in place with the speedway...then that figure would be reduced.

i actually think that stock car racing and velodrome racing are a great match...thank god im not in the tree hugging advocasy forum! all of the principals and strategies of stock car racing apply to bike racing on a velodrome...including watching spectacular crashes!

nascar is one of the fastest growing marketable sports in the world right now, if somebody like humpy wheeler can tie that kind of fan base into showing up for fri night velodrome races for inexpensive family entertainment that would be awesome and i would kiss him full on the mouth.

well, no, not really

The $15 M price in LA might explain why there's not much happening in NC right now. The Carolina Velodrome Assn are shopping for a site and sponsor. They are trying to get a city to build the Velodrome. Last I heard, Rock Hill, SC was contacted and they are exploring the idea.

build one where there are a lotsof cyclist. A indoor track in SOMA San Francisco would be awsome. Maybe a old wearhouse or down by the water. Tons of fixed gear riders and big bike culture in the bay area. Have it open to the public most of the time for training local races etc charge a small fee. I have been to the new carson track, very NICE! but Carson...they had the worlds there and all the riders stayed in Carson Inn, its not like you can just walk around that area and see the sites, do some eating and shoping...having one in SF would be sweet. Carson....and I hate driving to LA. They got one(outdoor) in sanjose so maybe some day. If i hit the lotto im buildin one.

Dream on

Where is fixed gear riding most prevelent? Urban areas....However, the property in these areas is so hideously expensive. A rural track would not work as well since you would have to have some sort of transportation to it. Urban dwellers are increasingly becoming "Car Free".

sure.

Track or Velodrome? you need 4 or 5 Tracks in a city to develop and supply a Velodrome with riders.

Hey All,

The best place to start researching would be the new ADT center in Caron, CA. That is the first official velodrome built in the US in over thirty years. It cost around 15 million and I believe Home Depot put up most of the money. I think the key is to get some big name sponsors. But it's also location location location. In NYC for example Kissena is pretty far out there in Queens but still gets good attendance. The Olympic Committee plans on building one in the Bronx. As a NY'er the best place would be the BK navy yards, especially since Manhattan is too expensive and yet its central enough to draw enough riders. I think you can build a Velodrome and make it break even, but profitable is tough. But like I always said, if your goal is to make money, take it to Vegas and have people bet on the racers.