NASCAR Hall of Fame Announcement Monday Afternoon
Written by John Davison · March 5, 2006
Monday afternoon will see the announcement of NASCAR’S Hall of Fame location. All evidence points to Charlotte as the ‘winner’ of the new Hall, with the associated traffic, crowd control, parking and infrastructure costs involved added to the local funds already committed. Charlotte’s bid for the Hall is well documented, with a downtown location near the center of the city’s activities and about a half hour (minimum) drive from the Speedway and closest team shops. We say ‘minimum’ because, as a resident of the area, we are well aware of the traffic problems that yet another attraction will add to an already overloaded road and transit system.
Hopes abound for the announcement and the anticipated outcome. With most series drivers living within an easy commute, personal appearances will be far easier to arrange than at any of the other cities bidding for the big prize. Charlotte is the logical site for the Hall but a downtown location is somewhat against that logic. None of the shops are near downtown, the closest being Hendrick Motorsports and Wood Brothers-JTG Motorsports. Roush and Ganassi are only a couple of miles farther away, then there’s the drive up I-77 to Mooresville, at least another half hour to drive to the next shops, including Yates, Penske, DEI, MB2 and other shops.
Hopefully, free shuttles or discounted bus passes will be provided to move fans from outlying parking to the center of Charlotte. Hopefully, parking will be plentiful, convenient and affordable. Hopefully, admission to the Hall will be affordable (especially when compared to theme parks and similar attractions.) Hopefully, the displays will be educational and accurate; not self-congratulatory and promotional. Hopefully, the Hall will celebrate the entire history of the sport, not merely the superstars everyone has already heard too much about. Hopefully, some of the darker side of the sport will be revealed and discussed.
If several comments had been followed, the Hall would be planned for a location nearer Lowe’s Motor Speedway, probably somewhere along Speedway Boulevard, adjacent to an already popular tourist destination
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