Highlights From Street & Smith’s Motorsports Marketing Forum

Street & Smith’s Conference Group’s 8th Annual Motorsports Marketing Forum kicked off today at The InterContinental in N.Y. Canadiens Owner and Gillett Evernham Motorsports co-Owner George Gillett in a one-on-one interview said of what surprises him about the business of NASCAR, “The amount of investment it takes to be competitive – both in people and facilities." Asked if he can be more patient as an NHL owner or a NASCAR owner, Gillett said, “We don’t think of either as a business investment. We honestly think we hold these in trust for the fans." Gillett also listed two things as the biggest threats to the business of sports, the “disposable dollar" and the “behavior of athletes."

Also today, a morning panel titled “The Next Wave in the Business of Motorsports: New Investment and Ownership Models" featured NHRA President Tom Compton, McLaren Capital Advisors Founder, President & CEO Matthew Doherty and Fenway Sports Group Exec VP/New Business Development Jay Monahan.

The issue: Will NASCAR ever move into a franchise model for race teams?

Monahan: “The entrepreneurial nature of the sport by virtue of its business model is and always will be a differentiator. I think anything that takes away from (that) is something that will be carefully considered, and I have to believe it’s a long way off."

Doherty: “I think you would eliminate people like Bobby Ginn who fly in and out of the sport. If I was [NASCAR Chair & CEO] Brian France or [NASCAR President] Mike Helton I would be more pushing for a new level of control so you don’t have situations (frequently changing ownership). I don’t see how that’s good for the sport."

Greatest hit:

Doherty: “I think, looking at the valuation around these teams today, that franchising will have the effect a lot of people think it will have on the values."