Daytona 500 by the Numbers: Cars, Crowds and...Solar Panels? | Sports Destination Management

Daytona 500 by the Numbers: Cars, Crowds and...Solar Panels?

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Feb 22, 2017 | By: Mary Helen Sprecher

Forget robins, Easter baskets and little pastel-colored flowers. The first sign that spring is around the corner includes the roar of engines and the screeching of tires at the foot of a screaming crowd in Florida. The Daytona 500 is Sunday, February 26, and as always, it can be counted upon to bring some solid (and awe-inspiring) numbers. Our friends over at WalletHub compiled these factoids:

65: Percentage of spectators who will travel in from out of state to attend the race

Five: The average day-stay of a visitor, arranged around the race

$95-$495: Price range for seats at the 2016 race. (A $495 seat? It better have cup holders.)

$2,575: Cost of a five-day Daytona Club package

$55: Cost of parking on race day (Hope the car gets cup holders too)

100: Hours of broadcasting coverage planned last year around the Daytona 500, across multiple platforms

25: The ranking of the Daytona 500 in 2015, among non-NFL sports events

$1.6 Billion: Total economic impact of the race in 2015

13.4 Million: Number of TV viewers for the race in 2015

13.73 Million: Average number of viewers per year over the past five years

5,375: Gallons of racing fuel used in each race

…but that’s more than likely balanced out by the eco-friendly improvements to Daytona unveiled last year, which include:

7,100 solar panels that will prevent the emission of 2,220 metric tons of CO2 per year (the equivalent of a car driving 2 million-plus laps)

Drivers, start your engines.

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