Having Second Thoughts About Las Vegas For NASCAR’s Awards Banquet
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How does that old saying go, “You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone”?
That’s kind of the way I’m feeling right now. In less than a month, NASCAR will celebrate its latest Sprint Cup champion at the annual awards banquet. But instead of New York City, where the banquet took place for the previous 27 years, this year’s ceremony will be held for the first time in Las Vegas.
While I like Las Vegas, the aura there just can’t match that of Manhattan. And while the Wynn Hotel is one of the classiest in Sin City, it’s no Waldorf=Astoria.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not putting down Las Vegas or the fine folks at one of my favorite race tracks, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, which is playing host to several events during the Cup champion’s week, particularly a free fan fest.
But for the previous five years, I always looked forward to heading to New York City, a city I previously hated for a reason I can no longer remember, but one that I since fell in love with.
There was something about flying into either LaGuardia Airport or Newark Airport and coming into center city Manhattan. Seeing the tall buildings, the huge crowds and then pulling up in front of the Waldorf, with the huge Sprint banner flying from the flagpole, it literally gave me goosebumps.
There were also the fabulous parties during the week, the wives and girlfriends of those affiliated with the sport getting a private shopping tour of world-famous Tiffany’s, the annual Thursday afternoon luncheon at Cipriani’s, the victory lap around Times Square. I can go on and on about some of the memories I hold dear.
And while I know everything eventually changes, I have to wonder how much of a shock to the system it will be the switching of venues from NYC to LV this year. Sure, Vegas is a world-famous city, but it doesn’t have the cosmopolitan flair and international feel that New York has.
I mean, you could spend a week in New York and barely see anything. There’s just that much to see.
In Las Vegas, though, frankly, I divide what’s to see into two categories: big-name shows of celebrity performers and five zillion slot machines and poker tables. And after maybe a couple of days, one casino or showroom looks pretty much the same as the next.
Las Vegas doesn’t come close to matching culture with its counterpart nearly three thousand miles away. Nor does it have the same kind of special feeling that you get in New York.
Frankly, Las Vegas is neon, glitter and glitz, while New York is much more substance. Vegas borders on tackiness at times, while New York, for the most part, is all about classiness.
The irony of all this is that so many people spent the last four or five years complaining about being in New York for the NASCAR banquet, with criticisms ranging from outrageous prices on hotel rooms (they were, admittedly), to $20 hamburgers.
There were also complaints about occasional weather problems, the oftentimes arduous journeys to nightmarish tales of traveling to the Big Apple, the tons of traffic and people, the inability of walking down the sidewalk near Rockefeller Center on the same night the city’s Christmas Tree is lit as some of NASCAR’s top events take place.
I admit, I was guilty of some of those same critical transgressions. Still, as much as I advocated NASCAR moving the banquet to somewhere else – and I mentioned Las Vegas as a great choice – I now wish NASCAR was once again going back to New York rather than going to Las Vegas.
Some people would like to see the banquet held in Charlotte, in the heart of NASCAR country, where most teams and drivers live and or are based. That idea has warmed to me of late, particularly with the upcoming opening of the NASCAR Hall of Fame and Museum next year.
But for at least the next few years, I guess it’s hello Vegas, and thanks for the memories, New York.
Again, I have nothing against Vegas, but it’s a night and day difference between it and New York. As the song says, if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere. But if you make it in Las Vegas, all you have to show for your efforts is maybe a few plastic casino chips or an autograph from one of the hundreds of Elvis imitators around town.
So for all you folks who criticized coming to New York, or you native New Yorkers that didn’t appreciate NASCAR’s annual foray into your fine city – not to mention the millions of dollars dropped into the local economy – we’ll miss you next month.
While some attendees will get in the spirit and say “Viva, Las Vegas,” I have just one thing to say in response: “Sure, you can say “Viva, Las Vegas” all you want, but you’ll never be able to match what New York meant and brought to NASCAR for more than a quarter-century.
Not even close.
Posted by Jerry Bonkowski on 11/10 at 10:31 PMFirst Mr Jerry you are wrong it doesnt belong in either. Its needs to be moved to Charlotte ,yes i know this will throw off the big budgets of “columnist” but it aint fan friendly Now take Charlotte one of the “nicest” cities in the world we could open up the speedway get about 200 grills ,cookers get the ribs,dogs cookin and soda and beer cold We could gather like the community we use to be friends by sight and lovers of racing Can you imagine the “buddyness” that would previel, a liitle fireworks in the evening have Alabama sing the anthem then for the hell have bout ten cars do the victory spin out all at one time.
What a gatering and jerry just so you wouldnt lose all your expenses id let ya buy me a coule dogs and a beer
Jerry,
As I see it, the ONLY reason that the NASCAR banquet was EVER kept in NYC was to pay homage to the millions of dollars that are spent by the agencies that call NYC home. Yeah, there was the hope that NASCAR could energize NYC and the ‘lap around Times Square was always written about by columnists like yourself.
BUT, here’s the reality.. My sister works in NYC, right down the street from Times Square and well within what should be ‘promo central’ for such a fiesta. She’s also a ‘fringe’ NASCAR fan in the sense that she thinks it’s kind of neat and might want to go to a race sometime, but never really got to experience the awesomeness of an event.
Ya’ know what? Every year I called and said, “Hey, did you go see the cars this morning?”, her response was the same… “Was that today!?”
For a sport that wanted to grab NYC attention, it seemed more like a manufactured publicity event to pay homage to sponsors and spoil writers and team members than anything else…
NOW, it’s off to Las Vegas… the ONE PLACE in the nation where Anyone Can Become Someone (America’s got talent anyone?) and the common fan can now access the Banquet.
In my opinion, NASCAR has made a good choice as I see it because now it’s actually a BANQUET for the fans now, not just a bloated, incredibly expensive Thank You party for sponsors.
Just think, for all the columnists/reporters/media who go, do you think their bosses are happier paying $100 to $150 a night for a hotel room in LV or $300 to $400 a night in NYC? Same for the fans, I’m sure!
How many true race fans Racingin do you think will show up in LasVegas The heart of racing is still in the southeast as defined by all the demographics This is not to put down Jerry or You but there seems to be a feeling by columnists and some[not me]racing site operators that the true fan doesnt matter anymore or isnt who they truly are What is a true fan ,the one that watches every race be in person or on tv the person that says hes enjoyed every race although he still bitches a little the one diehard that will comment about NASCAR but dont You dare,the one that always stands behind it all the time not just when everythings fine and dandy. these are the people that sweat and save to go to the races buy the hats and tee shirts the 8 dollar beer Take a count at Vegas Jerry and tell me how many there are and dont count the stars or the paid way columnists
Just the average ole joeThe True Fan
Paul,
I’m not saying that there will be hundreds of thousands or maybe not even thousands… but the reality is, it is MORE ACCESSIBLE now to the true fan than it was before.
Would Charlotte be ‘the right place’? Who really knows… but at least Las Vegas provides a better stage for engagement for FANS who MIGHT CARE than New York City.
As I see it, at least with THIS CHOICE, NASCAR chose an alternative that made it more accessible to the masses if they choose to go.
As for those ‘true fans’ who sweat and save to go to the races, etc..., the real question is, are those #s of fans diminishing because of the bad economy or because of the diminished appeal of the sport in general to maintain their interest? We might do better to argue what came first, the chicken or the egg.
