CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Attendance at the NASCAR Hall of Fame fell 35 percent in July compared with the same month a year earlier, according to figures released Wednesday by the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority.
The hall had 21,910 visitors in July, down from 33,452 people a year earlier.
The lower attendance led to a loss of $143,742 for the first month of the new fiscal year. Total revenue was $637,704.
In July 2010, the hall posted a small surplus of $90,000 on $818,000 in revenue.
July has been one of the hall's strongest months due to children being out of school.
The hall's budget for this fiscal year calls for the hall to break even financially, due to higher admissions revenue. But that will be difficult to reach if year-over-year attendance declines continue.
Attendance in May, June and July 2011 was more than 30 percent lower than the same months in 2010.
The hall lost $1.4 million last fiscal year. The CRVA wants the hall to become financially sound so it doesn't become a drain on the overall organization's budget.
