Attended my First CX Race
 

Nice! CX is fun to spectate and be a fan of. I hope there was at least some interesting noise making. I like it when brass instruments come out.

Have been lucky enough to live close to a lot of good C1 races over the last few years. in RI they used to have 2 C1/C2 race weekends that were packed because it was in Providence and one near Prov. with easy access. (unfortunately the venue became cost prohibitive and moved to the middle of nowhere CT and that atmosphere was gone). But in those years was able to meet and chat with a ton of the top pro's who are extremely nice and welcoming to fans. Jpow, Tim Johnson, Katie Keough, Ellen Noble, Steven Hyde, Emma White etc.. Hell I even saw Ted King just there to watch with the Cdale tent.

Then 2 years ago we had Nationals here in Hartford, decent amount of people but paid parking and the weather did not help get a better crowd. It was a damn good race though.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1a1e9b157d.jpg

Paid parking impedes? Every city has ballsport parks that attract thousands every weekend that all have very high prices in every regard. Same w every music concert or other show. Money is no factor. In fact higher fees usually indicate more popularity.

Sure, one demographic likes to sit in a park for free.

But marketing knows that ppl can be readily persuaded to pay a lot to go out and see something.

Football also is often very very uncomfortable -- sitting in bleachers in nasty cold weather. Bad weather is just another opportunity to sell.

Anyway, the Worlds in Louisville drew 10k paying. Not bad for a first try! I wonder if our other WC races have fees. I went to Trek last yr, no fee as i recall. it would not have mattered. I paid something to get there and while i was there. Fees irrelevant to me and also to 90% of the population.