Bruton Smith wants state funds for Bristol Motor Speedway renovation
Speedway Motorsports Inc. president Bruton Smith is in discussions with the state of Tennessee about receiving possible state funding to help with the planned renovation of Bristol Motor Speedway.
Smith announced two weeks ago that fan feedback has convinced him to renovate the half-mile Tennessee track back to its configuration before the 2007 construction that changed the layout to a multi-grooved surface.
Now a report in The Tennessean newspaper says Smith met with Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam late last week to discuss how the state might help with funding for the project.
Haslam called the talks, “very, very preliminary,” saying no specific proposals were discussed, and no commitments made during the meeting.
“They're an important part of the state,” he said, “so I sat down and talked with them today. Bristol is a huge part of our state revenue-wise. They didn't have any specific proposals for us, nor did we have any for them, but it's important for us to be in conversation with them about how they can get their attendance back to where they want it to be and where we want it to be, too.”
Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey toldThe Tennessean that last month's announced turnout of 102,000 fans in the stadium that seats 160,000, cost the state $500,000 in lost revenue.
Smith announced two weeks ago that fan feedback has convinced him to renovate the half-mile Tennessee track back to its configuration before the 2007 construction that changed the layout to a multi-grooved surface.
Now a report in The Tennessean newspaper says Smith met with Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam late last week to discuss how the state might help with funding for the project.
Haslam called the talks, “very, very preliminary,” saying no specific proposals were discussed, and no commitments made during the meeting.
“They're an important part of the state,” he said, “so I sat down and talked with them today. Bristol is a huge part of our state revenue-wise. They didn't have any specific proposals for us, nor did we have any for them, but it's important for us to be in conversation with them about how they can get their attendance back to where they want it to be and where we want it to be, too.”
Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey told
