Why do people feel the need to go to a crowded venue, like the Indpls. Motor Speedway, to watch the eclipse when they

[mobeau69]

can see it from their own backyards? I don’t get it.

[JI7]

1. Maybe the people going there are from out of town

[mobeau69]

4. They could see it from the parking lot at their motel or a rest area along the Interstate.

[Ace Rothstein]

8. You're completely underestimating the number of people traveling for this.

Many are just going for the day because hotels have been booked for months.

[FarPoint]

19. You are correct ...

I am in Dayton Ohio/ I live here... at the crossroads of I-70 and I-75.....100% Eclipse totality...lots of traffic and hotels full....I can view from my house ....there are lots of activities too...food trucks ...lots of folks at Wright Paterson Air Force Base and Museum ...up north I -75 is Neil Armstrong Museum....lots of extra fun stuff

[Elessar Zappa]

15. Day visitors.

[wnylib]

36. Depends on buildings and tree cover around the motel.

[Ace Rothstein]

5. This is the correct answer.

Look at I-65 right now on Google Maps from Chicago to Indianapolis. It is a mess and is going to be 10x worse later today once the eclipse is over.

[Freethinker65]

14. And I am in one of those cars!

Better be worth it. Not going to Indianapolis, just want to get southeast of West Lafayette. A parking lot is ok with me.

[Ace Rothstein]

17. Stay safe!

[mobeau69]

18. Are you on 65? How's the traffic?

[Freethinker65]

20. Honestly, I've been in worse. July 4th weekends can be brutal getting to Michigan.

Chicagoland resident. Took smaller roads to get to I 65 as per Google when Tollway to 80/94 came to a halt earlier.
I 65 30 miles North of West Lafayette has pockets of slowdowns, south of West Lafayette looks to be a bit worse. We'll find out.

[Freethinker65]

35. It was worth it!

[mobeau69]

50. Good. I watched it with daughter, sil and grandkids. Very weird and cool!

[Elessar Zappa]

2. I'm guessing they're from out of town.

[bucolic_frolic]

3. They like to watch things that go around in circles. /nt

[50 Shades Of Blue]

12. ROFL!

(Auto racing fan spouse here...)

[marble falls]

6. Vestigial tribalism. It fades quickly after the event, especially in the parking lot. I've seen videos of past ...

... eclipses in the US and some of those folks seem transported and in a religious experience. Makes it easier for the pickpockets in the crowd.

[MichMan]

7. It's the most iconic race track in the country and treasured by millions

[Conjuay]

37. oh, oh, this is where I get banned... probably forever...

THE MOST ICONIC RACE TRACK?

Did any car manufacturer ever build a model called the “Indianapolis”?

DAYTONA has had at least two cars with that name as a badge, - one happens to be a Ferrari!

Even Sebring had a car named after it.

[MichMan]

40. Maserati Indy

The Indy 500 also happens to be the single largest one day sporting event in the world.

[A HERETIC I AM]

60. The guy that designed the Daytona Speedway....

made it a 2.5 mile track as an homage to Indianapolis and had thought Indy Cars would race there. They don't for a number of reasons, primarily because the downforce created in the banking would bottom out the cars.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is and has for decades been the home of "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing".

It has attracted manufacturers and drivers from around the world since the beginning. It was once referred to as "The International Sweepstakes".

The one auto race at Daytona that can claim a similar international roster over its history is the 24 hours, NOT the 500.

When I was working in Indy Car back in the 90's there was a T-Shirt available that said;

"Real Race Cars don't have
Roofs
Fenders
Doors
Headlights
Gunracks
Or mechanics named "Bubba"

[Silent Type]

9. Some people like crowds and festivities. I don't, if it's avoidable.

[TheProle]

10. Same here

But I'm not going to dump on others who want to make a memory of it as part of a social gathering.

[PatSeg]

23. That's true and that is okay

Personally, I don't like crowds, too hectic and nerve-wracking for me. I'd prefer to watch from at home.

[hlthe2b]

11. Shared experience, I guess. Just like I will be watching the NASA feed with my pup! 😜😜😜

But, I might venture out just before or after to see my 66% event.

[Dulcinea]

13. Some people like to feel that they're part of a big event.

To each their own. I'll be watching it from my driveway with my husband (85% totality here in metro Atlanta.)

[Sneederbunk]

16. They have a need for speed.

[HAB911]

21. Anything for a party!

[Cuthbert Allgood]

22. Looks like they have a lot of activities going on there today.

Looks like fun.

[LiberalFighter]

24. Thankfully I don't feel a need to see it.

[Unwind Your Mind]

25. I'm going to the dog park

We only get 32% here but it should be interesting

[True Dough]

26. Wonder if all them dogs

are going to bark at the moon?

[mopinko]

32. this morning on npr they said keep pets inside.

that they may look to see y it got dark all the sudden, and look up.

[former9thward]

47. Which is the most ridiculous piece of advice, ever.

There are generally two solar eclipses a year. How many dogs have been blinded by eclipses before npr started giving this advice?

[NanaCat]

48. I was in the 99.9% totality range

The animals were acting like they do if we get dark clouds without rain. IOW, they didn't act any different from how they usually do during the day. Bird were flying around and twittering, dogs were barking, cats and squirrels were messing around in trees, and etc.

[Walleye]

27. Hey let them have their party, at least they're not celebrating something mean and vindictive

[patphil]

28. The collective experience creates a emotional/spiritual high that can't be had when viewing alone.

[onenote]

44. +1

[NanaCat]

49. Well, if you're an extrovert, that may be the case

But introverts would say that experiencing things alone, without others around to cause distractions, can be even more profound.

[orleans]

29. they don't want to be alone when this happens?

[tanyev]

30. Ya got me.

I don’t understand the need to travel somewhere to experience a couple minutes of darkness. Heck, I can step outside every night and experience hours and hours of darkness!

[electric_blue68]

59. Unless you're being snarky. Because it's Not just "darkness". I'm going on descriptions since...

I've only seen partial eclipses.

The darkness is amazing bc it's Not nighttime.
You see the sort of pearly white Corona of the sun which is usually hidden in the bright light of the sun.
There's the Diamond Ring, and Baily beads of from the valleys, and crags seen on edge of the Moon as it approaches, and leaves totality.

And perhaps bc the Sun is nearing Solar Maximum some people (including poster who got a photo) saw red, orange colored solar flare(s) or promenancs as well.

If you have no interest, that's fine.
But this is what draws people.

[tanyev]

61. And I would be able to see everything you described much better

from television coverage of the event. I went outside with my co-workers and it was interesting, but I didn’t applaud, cheer or cry. I went back inside and resumed working.

Our local news talked to a couple from Alaska that flew into DFW, went up to the top floor of the airport parking garage to watch the eclipse and then hustled back into the airport to catch their flight home. There was a couple from Norway that flew into DFW and then drove to Russellville, Arkansas to watch it. Don’t get me started on the carbon emissions from all that unnecessary air travel.

[ColinC]

31. Some people like to do things with other people

Others like to do things with thousands of people.

[whopis01]

33. I'll bet far more are watching from their back yards or similar places than from crowded places.

But I get both approaches.

Some want to experience it with the energy of others around them.

Some want to observe in solitude.

And others somewhere in between.

Diversity of thought and experience is wonderful.

[obamanut2012]

34. It's like watching a ballgame at the stadium instead of at home

It's fun, people are excited, nice energy.

[Talitha]

38. Why do folks go to the local bar instead of having a drink or two at home?

Why do folks go to the Indy 500 instead of watching it on tv?

[Emile]

39. We shared our eclipse with approx 40 people

on the shore of a small lake near Terre Haute. When totality came the screams and crying were part of the show. People hollering look at the stars, wow amazing. It was a life changing event and I can't imagine experiencing it alone.

[Hekate]

41. 1) they might not be in the path 2) crowd excitement, like football games or similar

[Arthur_Frain]

42. why go to a concert?

When you can put on the cd at home? We're a tribal, social species, even the anti social among us. For all of the things that end up annoying me when I'm participating in society, it's those moments where the magic happens.

[Iggo]

58. Not the same thing.

This is more like, “Why buy tickets to the fireworks show, when all you have to do is look up?”

[Emile]

43. Indy 500 billed it as Indiana's Spectacle in the Sky

[NanaCat]

45. Why do they go to a sports venue to watch a game or match

When they can watch the same event from home?

Same reason: Some people find doing things around other people more fun.

[onenote]

46. Would you ask the same thing about people gathering in large numbers for a presidential inauguration

when they could watch it at home?

There is something about a communal experience that many people prefer.

[Groundhawg]

51. Indy is exciting. The sun and moon, not so much.

[Srkdqltr]

52. Why not? A lot of these venues had other attractions.

From what I saw some places had fireworks food trucks. Just more fun on a pretty April day.
I watched from my back yard. Boring.

[Hikerchick57]

53. I think group energy, it can be wonderful n intense!

[SYFROYH]

54. Have you ever gone to parties?

[viva la]

55. My backyard has trees...

So i went to a park with a soccer field.

[Iggo]

56. I don't know. To me, it's like buying tickets to the fireworks show.

[Tribetime]

57. It's nice to experience with others...I was with my neighbors in the front street

Fireworks going off cheering it was amazing

[honest.abe]

62. It can be a fun memorable social event.

Plus many are from out of town. My brother drove over an hour to be in the totality area.

[brooklynite]

63. Why do people like to go to a movie, play, concert, sports event with other people?

Honestly, no idea why this would be an issue for some folks.