What do you think is causing this year’s record high fan turn outs in (some) Pro Motocross Races?

Probably a combination of people finally getting over the COVID bs and wanting to travel along with the increased cooperation between Feld and MX Sports with a playoff. These races have a larger meaning than they ever have. 

Its the old "I was there when Jett went 22-0" syndrome. Everyone wants to be part of history.

Lots of new faces out there making headlines, Deegan, Vialle, Masterpool & the privateers, plus Jett and Hunter. It kinda feels almost like a reset of sorts.

people cant afford to ride anymore so they just watch now lol

Comes and goes in cycles, like everything else. 
There has been a lot of “back into motocross posts” on here the last year, so maybe that is broader than we think.

A higher number of population within driving distance is probably the best help..

I’m just glad the wsx and the great outdoors can coexist. 

A shift in social consciousness that dirt bikes are COOL!

I think it's a bit of new life since COVID still (like mentioned above), but I also think Jett and Deegan have put a lot of new eyes on the sport, so that is some of it. Being around either of their team's semis in the pits, is just insane. Ppl stand there all morning just to see them or get an auto etc. Also, I think last year was great racing and maybe it was a good experience enough for people to return this year, even with the depleted field. Last year's attendance was pretty solid at most rounds too. It's good to see that it has continued for most of this year's rounds again.

YouTube/ Instagram videos that show how gnarly and cool dirt bikes are. So many videos go viral these days and eyes are seeing dirt bikes that never did before. 

Jett fans with inflatable donuts?

I completely forgot about the Deegan effect, great point. Jett may be worlds better as a rider still and is drawing a heck of a lot of fans but Deegan is most of the new fans. 

If you step back, it's cheap entertainment. It's a full day of practice, qualifying, and racing for a spectator. If you don't buy the overpriced carnival food, t-shirts, beer, etc it's a 'cheap' day for how much you get to watch. I go to Redbud every year and this year there was a lot of spectators. The sea of campers and toy haulers was impressive. I may be way off too. I'm just speculating the dollar versus what you get. 

Whatever it is, this is good to hear, cheers for sharing 👍

I'm surprised to hear it was near record attendance at Spring Creek this year. Was up from TX in 2021 and again this year. Looking at the spectators from my pics from that year to this year, looks virtually the same, but I can tell you, leaving the grass parking way out in the boonies this year was way easier than in 2021 to go east on highway 60. And in '21 I was stuck on highway 60 for more than an hour to reach highway 63, and this year I got to highway 63 in around 40 minutes from the same parking. 

Everyone wants to see the FRITHOMX have a perfect season. 

Jett and Danger boy

All of the above. Joint promotion, a couple young stars, better tv coverage, wanting to see a possible perfect season continue or end…

Just imagine if Tomac was out there battling at the front! Either way it’s great to see tons of fans coming out. The sport at a professional level seems to be quite healthy right now 

I’m betting it’s the social media presence of the newer generation of riders danger boy hunter jett etc 

It's all this danger boys fault...and who's deegan...

Jett and Deegan is my guess. 

Its the megatrend: 2-3 years ago, people had time and money, so they bought bikes and rode.  Now they are back to work, and have less time but still thinking motocross, so they go to nationals.

Probably not Jett. He has less than half of the Instagram followers that Deegan, Tomac, Kroc has.

The attendance at amateur events when I was racing in the mid-late 90's was huge.  It was also the McGrath era and MX in general was quite popular.  Then came career, family, kids and I stepped away from it.  Now motocross is very nostalgic to me and I'm taken interest again the last few years.  I don't race, I'm too old now but I'm definitely a fan and supporter.

I think this is part of why you're seeing a surge in attendance.  This phenomenon is present in a lot of things.  It doesn't matter if it's 60's muscle cars (my dad bought the car he had in high school during his midlife crisis) or Nintendo games that resurfaced in popularity a few years ago.  I think there are at least a few other people like me attending the races.  

Well, it's not the 450 racing...that's for sure.

I'm hoping people are showing their support for outdoors with w(annabe)SX  aiming to kill the series.

Matty B on the YZ250!

Hmmm.  I love me some Martin boys but I am skeptical about "record" attendance anywhere at this seasons nationals.

The last time I've seen or attended a packed race was when Thunder Valley re-opened.

We should consistently see 50k plus in order to be considered "good" attendance.  I'm gonna guess we average less than 30k average.

It's probably a good thing we don't have huge attendance numbers.  I haven't seen a track on the circuit that has enough food/drink vendors or port-o-pots to handle a huge crowd.  Ironman is closest.

I think the playoffs for SMX has done a lot, There is some big money on the line here!! And how we look back now about the money that was around 04-08 period, in another 10/12 years we may be saying dam! There was some good money got made then with the SMX! 
 

Riders are Hungry, theres a buzz around the sport, you also got to factor how much a lot of riders are willing to actually do with fans right now! Because there’s a huge value in interaction with the fans because it translates to social media followers! people are able to have experience’s at the races that they could not have in the Reed/Bubba/RC days! They are more accessible than ever now.

I remember a podcast I think with Reed saying when they had the big entourage and so on they wouldnt talk to anyone, he hated his rivals and where so private, and going on to say how it almost seems like guys are rooting for each other now and riders are willing to shake hands with a guy who beats them! The sport as a majority is a friendly place to be right now, The place a father wants to take his son!!

Long live moto!!
 

I remember when Hannah came on the scene.  He "acted" like he hated everyone.  (Not sure it was an act).

Before that, the racers seemed to get along with each other pretty good.  Lots of hanging out and having fun.

I never hated my comp...if you beat me...I needed to be better.  If I beat them...they needed to step up.  It was ALWAYS me and the bike against the track.  

If the attendance is actually higher this year, then the main draw would be Deegan and his million+ followers/subscribers. Nothing else is drastically new this year, same as it ever was. 

I did notice an increase in "young" girls the last couple of years.  Jett or Deegan probably is a factor.

No...my old ass wasn't creeping.  I make sure I'm not that guy.  Just an observation...like waiting 45 minutes for a bottle of water that they ran out of 2 hours ago.