NASCAR’s return to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval for the 2025 Brickyard 400 was supposed to be a triumphant homecoming. It was meant to be a chance to relive the glory days of a crown jewel race. But as the green flag waved, social media lit up with photos of sparse crowds and rows of empty grandstands, sparking a firestorm of concern.

Fans and media sounded off, worried that the Brickyard’s magic had faded. Yet, Jeff Gluck pushed back on X, saying, “All of you tweeting about attendance: you’re not seeing the fans underneath in the shade. It’s not Indy 500 attendance by any means but there are people here.”

Those empty seats stung because Indy’s massive 235,000-seat capacity, along with room for 300,000, including the infield, can make even a solid 50,000 to 70,000 turnout look ghostly. Back in 1994, the Brickyard 400 pulled over 250,000 fans, a NASCAR high outside Daytona, and held strong at 200,000 through the early 2000s.

But the 2010s brought trouble. Lackluster racing, the 2008 tire fiasco with endless cautions, and NASCAR’s broader popularity dip all took their toll. The 2021 switch to the IMS road course was an effort to shake things up with wilder action, but it couldn’t match the oval’s historic vibe.

NASCAR bet big on bringing the oval back, hyping it through the In-Season Tournament and earning support from drivers like Kyle Larson and Chase Briscoe, who publicly praised the move. Local fans were excited for high-speed battles on the bricks.

Still, those stark images of bare grandstands have sparked questions about whether the Brickyard can ever reclaim its past glory or if NASCAR has a bigger challenge ahead when it comes to filling seats. That’s where the fans come in, and they’re not holding back on social media.

Fans unsold on NASCAR’s oval hype at Indy after witnessing empty seats

The X posts about Indy’s sparse grandstands brought out a mix of frustration, realism, and some sharp takes from fans. Here’s what they’re saying and why it’s hitting so hard.

One fan kicked it off saying, “This is quite a cope, but Jeff isn’t interested in reality.” Fans calling out Gluck’s defense aren’t buying the “shade” excuse. Indy’s peak saw 250,000 in 1994 and 200,000-plus through the early 2000s, but numbers crashed to 35,000 by 2017. Even with 50,000 to 70,000 fans, the empty stands on TV scream decline. Critics feel Gluck is downplaying a real issue: Indy has lost its pull, and NASCAR is struggling to bring it back.

Another fan added, “Place also holds 300,000 people. It’s never going to be 20 years ago attendance.” This fan understands Indy’s scale problem. With 235,000 seats and room for 400,000 total, even a decent 60,000 to 70,000 crowd, similar to recent road course years, looks sparse. The days of 200,000 fans are gone. Market shifts and the fading cultural prominence of NASCAR have made Indy’s enormous size both a blessing and a curse. Moreover, comparing it with IndyCar’s marquee event isn’t ideal, as NASCAR has multiple crown jewel races throughout the season.

“Don’t y’all pay attention?? @Kenny Wallace told us all this week NASCAR doesn’t need to sell tickets anymore.” This fan was eagle-eyed and did not miss out on the details. This take draws on Kenny Wallace’s recent comments, emphasizing that NASCAR’s revenue now comes primarily from broadcast deals. Since the 2010s, multi-billion-dollar contracts have helped tracks like IMS remain profitable, even when the grandstands look thin. More fans are watching from home, and NASCAR knows that.

“I mean even if there’s say 70k, it’s still rough. TBH, will never, ever understand why these tickets don’t go for $25 per just to get butts in the stands.” This fan acknowledges that a 60,000 to 70,000 crowd is an improvement, possibly the first year-over-year growth since 2002, but it’s still dwarfed by the venue’s capacity. High ticket prices are part of the disconnect. While IMS may lean more on revenue from sponsors, TV, and parking, the lack of affordable options hurts grassroots enthusiasm.

Finally, a fan summed it up saying, “Jeff man, what are we talking about. This is a Cup race.” There’s an expectation that a Cup Series event should bring out the masses, especially at a historic venue like Indy. Even in 2008, with issues like tire problems, the race still drew around 240,000. But by 2013, attendance had fallen to 70,000, and competition from other entertainment has only grown. The widening gap between then and now is hard for longtime fans to accept.