Fan Commentary

The Other Side of ISC's Cooler Policy

by Grandstand Bob

Despite the stereotypes, there are sometimes huge differences among NASCAR fans. That fact was reinforced for me through the feedback I received from last week’s column on ISC’s new cooler policy. I thought that few would disagree with me, but feedback was about 50/50, and that was truly a surprise.

Make no mistake – I’m not backing off my original assertion that ISC is using September 11 as a reason to restrict coolers. I still believe that they used terrorist attacks to justify a policy that they’ve wanted to institute for years, and I still believe that this is misguided and an affront to many fans.

On the other hand, there are a number of fans who seem to be bothered very little by the new policies and some who even welcome them. Yeah, that was a surprise to me too.

Two things seemed to influence the pro-policy group: lack of legroom around seats and the boorish behavior of some fans who overindulge.

If you’ve attended a race at one of the circuit’s older tracks, and especially if you sat in the older portions of the grandstands, you’ve surely experienced the discomfort of sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with fans (some on the heavy side) and having very little room to stretch your legs or even stand up. Grandstand seating at many of these places was kind of an afterthought. Some have even retrofitted the cement slabs of yore with aluminum bleachers – a move that, by nature, takes away from legroom, because there is not room under seats for stashing things.

The first time I went to Darlington, I had such seats. My dad and I sat on the frontstretch about 10 rows up, and there was absolutely no room for our cooler or scanner bag. Plus, we were squeezed between fans on both sides. We sat with our feet on top the cooler and bag, and, if we wanted to stand, we had to either pick up the cooler or bag or awkwardly straddle them. The problem was amplified if anyone needed to leave their seats. Those unfortunate people needed to highstep coolers and what not, squeezing between already cramped and irritated fans.

That brings me to the second point of the pro-policy crowd: some people overindulge, thanks in part to the cooler rules, and they act like idiots. The least-offensive behavior of these fans is their frequent trips to the restroom, when they inconvenience everyone by shuffling between fans and the racing action. A trip or two is understandable, but when Bubba gets on the one beer/one leak cycle, look out.

Some drunks take it a step further with loud, profane behavior. These are the people who think nothing of throwing ice at someone for wearing the wrong driver’s colors or issuing profanity-riddled diatribes, regardless of the children around. We’ve all seen them, and a few of us have even been them, and I can see how liberal cooler policies can contribute to this. As always, it’s unfortunate that the actions of a few can affect some many.

That said, the fact remains that coolers really aren’t a large problem in most situations. Most of us are capable of enjoying a few brews and a sandwich or two, without getting out of control, and we appreciate the privilege of bringing in refreshments. And, to be fair, that hasn’t really been changed by the new policy.

Pro-policy and anti-policy people alike have figured out how to live under the new rules. Once purchased, the soft-sided cooler is adequate, if all you want to bring are a few canned drinks and a sandwich. Even if you skip the sandwich, one cooler should still give you enough room to pack in a more-than-sufficient stash of brew (as many as eight 12-ounce cans). The clear bags can be used to pack in scanners and headsets, so in most situations, this set-up should be OK.

On the other hand, few could deny that sport bags, with zippered compartments, provide a better storage and transportation option. In addition to a scanner and headsets, I bring frequency sheets, extra batteries, an extra splitter, sunscreen and outerwear for whatever the weather of the day. I don’t feel really comfortable carrying that in a plastic bag, and I would be really worried if it started to rain.

The anti-policy people, and I am firmly on this side, also responded to last week’s column. The overall theme to this group is that they feel like they’re being taken advantage of AGAIN. From parking to ticket prices, the assault on a race fan’s wallet is really extreme, and many wonder where it will end. Fans just want to feel like someone is listening and cares about them more than they care about dollars. Until that starts happening, many long-time fans will continue to leave the sport to be replaced by new fans who have yet to develop a deep sincere affection for the sport. In my opinion, that’s a damned shame.

Grandstand Bob Profile and Past Columns

note: This opinions expressed in this column are those of writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or positions of ARS Racing Outlet or its parent company, amI, Inc.