Davi Millsaps has been racing for 10 years.
In 2014, Supercross' schedule will feature a Giant.
Feld Motor Sports recently announced that the 2014 Monster Energy Supercross slate will include an April 26 event at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.
The 80,566-seat stadium is home to the National Football League's New York Giants and New York Jets. It is also set to host the Super Bowl in February 2014.
“This will be the closest motor sports event to New York City,” said Juliette Feld, executive vice president and producer at Feld Entertainment. “It fills a demand in the marketplace, not only in the New York area, but along the whole East Coast.”
The only events Supercross has held in the East over the past several years have been at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Ga., and at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. The Giants and Jets' old home, The Meadowlands, did host races for a five-year stretch in the late-80s and early 90s.
“There's such a strong fan base in the New York area already,” said Denny Hartwig, director of Public Relations at Feld Entertainment. “We have fans who, on an annual basis, will jump in the car and drive to Atlanta, Toronto or Indianapolis. We've had such a strong response already on our message boards and within the industry.”
MetLife Stadium has also received a strong response from riders. Davi Millsaps, who has been racing for 10 years and finished in second place in 2013, said performing in the New York City area provides exposure for the sport and its athletes.
“The stadiums we already go to are big and when we get sellouts, it's great. But the surrounding area is usually nothing compared to MetLife,” Millsaps said. “We're going to the media capital of the world. It's a great opportunity to get Supercross' name out there.”
Supercross competitors will face a unique challenge at MetLife Stadium. This will be the first time riders set their tires down on the 7,000 cubic yards of dirt being brought into the stadium. Millsaps said each venue uses locally sourced dirt for its track, so every course reacts differently.
Weather could also play a role in the event. Millsaps, who was born in Florida, is hopeful for a nice spring day. But in New York, there's always a chance of rain or even snow.
“I'm hoping it won't be as cold as it gets in January or February,” he said. “I'm hoping for mid-60s. But the weather can always be a factor when it's an outdoor event.”
“Hopefully we'll have amazing weather,” Feld said. “If we have inclement weather, it will certainly effect how some of the riders perform and some of them are really unbelievable at it. But we will be there no matter the weather.”
Outside of the gem event at MetLife, the Supercross schedule has a mix of indoor and outdoor events, but the only dates that could face weather issues are March 8 at Daytona International Speedway and April 12 at CenturyLink Field in Seattle, Wash.
Supercross is bringing Ford Field in Detroit, Mich., back after a five-year absence. And they will return three events to Angels Stadium in Anaheim, Calif. The home of Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim has become iconic in the sport like Daytona Speedway to NASCAR or Fenway Park to baseball. Anaheim has hosted more than 60 events in the history of the sport.
“Anaheim is the foundation,” Feld said. “It's where a lot of our fans are based. We start every season there and fans come from all over the country to the events there. A lot of the riders are from there and practice there. It's become an incredible tradition.”
The announcement of the new schedule comes on the heels of wrapping a 2013 season that drew 848,480 fans – more than 50,000 per event – which was a 2% increase in attendance from 2012. Feld said the fast-paced environment of races has become more and more appealing to modern sports fans.
“Supercross is a sport that is made for the way our attention spans are today,” she said. “There are a series of qualifying races leading up to the main event, then the main event is 20 laps and about 20 minutes. So, as opposed to watching a game that's two or three hours, you are really only focusing for 20 minutes, even though our total event goes around three hours. It goes far in terms of keeping fans' attention.”
With MetLife Stadium on the docket, Feld Entertainment is looking to keep their numbers on the rise in 2014 and long term by introducing more East Coast sports fans to motorsports and Supercross. Feld hinted at the possibility of more events
“We are definitely talking with other venues about opportunities,” she said.
While Supercross has been advancing since the famous 1972 Super Bowl of Motocross at the Los Angeles Coliseum, it is still a regional sport. Millsaps said he expects 2014 to be a springboard for bringing motorsports more popularity on the East Coast.
“I think the biggest step for the sport since I've been around will be next year,” he said. “It's been mostly the same venues since I started back in 2004. So going to New York will be huge for us.”
Interviewed for this story: Juliette Feld, (703) 448-4000; Denny Hartwig, (630) 566-6305; Davi Millsaps