NASCAR has long grappled with scheduling conflicts alongside the NFL, particularly during the fall season. This overlap has led to concerns about reduced attendance and viewership for NASCAR events. For instance, in 2019, Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 at New Hampshire coincided with an NFL preseason game, potentially diverting viewers and attendees. Similarly, the 2019 Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington clashed with NFL games, raising questions about the timing of NASCAR events. And the same has happened yet again.

The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs at Kansas Speedway are facing a significant challenge as the Hollywood Casino 400, which was scheduled for Sunday, at 12:00 PM PTD, coincides with the Kansas City Chiefs’ Week 4 NFL home game against the Baltimore Ravens on the weekend, September 28, 2025, at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Both events are major attractions in Kansas City, potentially dividing the local sports fanbase and impacting NASCAR attendance.

Fox reporter, Bob Pockrass, addressed the most important question, “What city planner thought having a nascar race and an NFL game in the same city at the same time should not be planning events for that city,” explaining, “NFL teams can ask to not be home on a certain date and those who have nascar race in town can and often do include that weekend on their list but also have scheduled events (potential concerts) at their venue that are higher on their priority list.” 

This situation underscores the complexities city planners face when coordinating major events to avoid overlapping schedules. But this time, they might have made a huge mistake.

The Chiefs’ game with the Ravens was scheduled to start at 1:25 PM PTD, just before the NASCAR race, which could have further complicated fans’ decisions. Both teams entered the matchup with a 1-2 record, aiming to improve their standings in the AFC.

On the other hand, despite the high-stakes nature of the playoff race, the reduced crowd highlighted the challenges NASCAR faces in attracting fans when competing against other major events in the same city. While the tension from a 36-race schedule was already palpable, this incident heightens the criticism.

Fans sound off on scheduling conflicts

One fan asked, “Yikes, crowd looks awful. Are the Chiefs at home today?” Many also noted that weekend travel, parking limitations, and local traffic due to NFL preparations made attending the NASCAR playoffs race less appealing.

In the 2023 season, the NFL regular-season games averaged 17.9 million viewers per game, marking a 7% increase from the previous year and the second-highest average since 1995. Conversely, NASCAR’s 2025 Cup Series season is experiencing a decline, averaging 2.52 million viewers per race, down 13% from 2024’s 2.92 million.

Another fan added to that sentiment, saying, “Just looked, and yeah it’s ravens @ chiefs… gotta feel ratings are gonna be shot again too.” The disparity is further highlighted by the NFL’s ability to consistently attract large audiences, with games like the Dallas Cowboys vs. Chicago Bears matchup drawing 25.5 million viewers, whereas NASCAR’s New Hampshire race recorded a low of 1.29 million viewers. And this time, the problem is Kansas City itself.

Some fans reflected, “Kansas desperately needs to lose a race. Attendance sucks and ratings aren’t much better, despite the great racing.” Historically, Kansas Speedway has been a staple in the NASCAR calendar, hosting two Cup Series races annually. However, recent events have cast doubt on the necessity of maintaining both dates. For instance, during the May 2025 AdventHealth 400, the grandstands were notably underpopulated as well, with many sections appearing half-empty.

Others added to that sentiment, saying, “Lowest attendance ever for Kansas lol dumb idea on NASCAR the NFL or whoever NASCAR gonna learn its place real quick.” In 2023, the Hollywood Casino 400 saw a notably sparse crowd, with large sections of the grandstands remaining empty despite competitive racing. This trend continued into 2024, where the AdventHealth 400, held on May 5th, also faced challenges in attracting a full audience at the Kansas Speedway.

Another fan asked skeptically, “We’re getting a sub 1 mil rating aren’t we?” For example, the 2025 FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway garnered 1.77 million viewers on Prime Video, indicating a slight dip compared to previous years. In contrast, the 2025 NFL Draft attracted 12.9 million viewers, highlighting the significant viewership disparity between NASCAR and NFL events.

This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of careful planning and coordination when scheduling major events in the same city.