Is the Indianapolis 500 still considered a major sporting event?

[DaLittle B]

There was a yahoo sports article,thing that asked that..

Is the Indy 500 still a major sporting event?

[Phishfan]

This is personal opinion as I have never been there. I think for people around that area it is still a big deal. As for other parts of the country, I don't think people consider it such a big deal anymore.

[CF DolFan]

Yes ... absolutely. There are about 350,000 who attend the event and numerous millions who watch. I read an article yesterday that gave some statistics compared to other major sporting events and they were pretty impressive.

-More people than attended the last four Super Bowls — combined. It's almost five times bigger than Indy's Super Bowl.
-Nearly twice as many people as attended the record-breaking 2015 Kentucky Derby.
-Over 100,000 people more than attended all the games of the 2015 World Series.
-More than double the attendance of the last-reported Daytona 500 attendance in 2012.
-On Sunday, one person out of every 1,000 people in the U.S. will be at the Indy 500.

The Daytona numbers are skewed because that was a bad year for travel when gas was upwards to $5 a gallon. I think I heard they had 250,000 this past year in the new stadium but either way ... the Indy 500 is still a big, big deal. Anytime you can reach speeds of 230 MPH people are going to want to watch!

[masterfins]

Yes ... absolutely. There are about 350,000 who attend the event and numerous millions who watch. I read an article yesterday that gave some statistics compared to other major sporting events and they were pretty impressive.

-More people than attended the last four Super Bowls — combined. It's almost five times bigger than Indy's Super Bowl.
-Nearly twice as many people as attended the record-breaking 2015 Kentucky Derby.
-Over 100,000 people more than attended all the games of the 2015 World Series.
-More than double the attendance of the last-reported Daytona 500 attendance in 2012.
-On Sunday, one person out of every 1,000 people in the U.S. will be at the Indy 500.

The Daytona numbers are skewed because that was a bad year for travel when gas was upwards to $5 a gallon. I think I heard they had 250,000 this past year in the new stadium but either way ... the Indy 500 is still a big, big deal. Anytime you can reach speeds of 230 MPH people are going to want to watch!

I think it's still a major event, but not what it was back in the 70's.  NASCAR has taken the popularity away from the open wheel racing segment.  As to your discussion of attendance, sure more people attend BUT that's only because it has that much more capacity.  I'm sure if you added in television viewing the Super Bowl would blow away the Indy 500, as would the Daytona 500.

[Dave Gray]

I still think it is.  I don't watch it, but it's kinda like one of those big horse races.  It pulls in non-racing fans.

[DaLittle B]

I feel like like it's an event that has shifted so far to the edge,to the point of just teetering on being a "major event. I feel like the numbers of viewers,are probably like the viewers in the demographic of MLB,or people who watch Saturday afternoon golf. I see it slowly becoming less,and less relevant,especially with the younger kids,that don't have attentions spans to watch it.

I couldn't tell you 1 name of a driver that is in it,the most I've heard about is from John Green on Twitter,because he loves this (And 4th tier,playing to be 3rd tier english soccer team that he sponsers)

Just my thinking.....Is it a major event in 2016...Barely...It currently the between being the Kentucky derby,and the Preakness with there still a chance of being a triple crown winner.In 10 years or so I think it will be the Belmont stakes with no chance of a triple crown. (meaning) There will be a segment of the population that hypes it up,but the average person probably wont care unless something amazing,or horrific happens.