Annual Events That Have Lost Some Luster

Annual Events That Have Lost Some Luster

The calendars of Americans used to be marked by major entertainment and sporting events that generally occurred at the same time each year. These events topped the news and grabbed the attention of the entire country. Over time and for a variety of reasons, many of these events have lost some of their luster. Here are a few.

The Indianapolis 500

This open-wheel automotive race is known as the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” It suffered greatly, however, from a divisive split with CART and a newly formed Indy Racing League in the mid-1990s. The race suffered from a lack of American stars, lagging attendance, and the growing popularity of American NASCAR racing. While the race still draws hundreds of thousands of spectators to Central Indiana each May, its national interest has waned.

The Miss America Pageant

Featuring women between the ages of 17 and 25. Miss America started as a “Bathing Beauty Revue” in 1921 and was a must-see TV show, hosted by Bert Parks from 1955 to 1975. The event took place each year in Atlantic City, but competing pageants, women’s rights, and changing attitudes led to its decline. Once a staple on NBC TV, it moved to streaming only in 2021.

The Rose Bowl

“The Granddaddy of Them All” became so popular because it annually pitted the two champions of the nation’s most popular conferences in one final, epic New Year’s Day battle. Due to the college football playoffs, the Pac-12 and Big Ten Conference winners are no longer committed to the Rose Bowl. The game has also suffered from the increasing popularity of other conferences, and like in 2023, it wasn’t even played on New Year’s Day. Make no mistake, the fame and surrounding events like the Rose Parade are still huge. They have just lost some luster.

The World’s Fair

While not necessarily held annually, these scheduled expositions are held across the globe. They were created to showcase human advancements and national pride. Throughout history, they left behind such noted structures as the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Space Needle in Seattle, and the Unisphere giant globe in New York. The last World’s Fair to be held in the U.S. was in New Orleans in 1984, and it was a financial disaster. The last one held across the world ended in early 2022 and was held in Dubai.

The Kentucky Derby

Derby Day was once anticipated for weeks. There were office pools, and most could name at least one or two favored horses each year. While private Derby parties have enjoyed a recent rebound, the horse race itself has lost popularity for various reasons, including animal rights issues. It is just as likely today that a mention of the Kentucky Derby may bring a response of “Oh, was that today?”

Black Friday Shopping

It wasn’t that long ago that Americans lined up at retail stores in the early morning hours of the day after Thanksgiving to take advantage of one-day deals. Black Friday sales are now held year-round, online shopping has dominated, and the pandemic has all contributed to the decline of in-person shopping on that single day.

Any day is a good day to review and price-check your insurance. An annual check of your homeowners, auto, life, and business insurance can pay big dividends. Contact our independent insurance agents today to get started.


Do you have questions about your insurance? Find an insurance agent near you with our Agent Finder

Buzz Your
Insurance Agent

Search for a local agent with our agent finder map.

Agent Finder

Search All Blogs

Generic filters
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Search in excerpt

Buzz Your
Insurance Agent

Search for a local agent with our agent finder map.

Agent Finder

Want to learn more about our blog writer?

Read more about KayLynn's background.

Click Here

Search All Blogs

Generic filters
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Search in excerpt

Beyond the Grave: Burial Insurance vs. Life Insurance Explained

Don’t Be Buried by Confusion: Understanding Burial and Life Insurance

Cracking the Code: Your Car’s VIN and What It Means to You

VIN Decoder Ring: Unveiling the Mysteries of Your Car’s Identification Number

The Aftermath: Proving Your Possessions After a Disaster

Homeowner’s Insurance Hero: How to Prepare for a Claim Before Disaster Strikes

Lost in Translation: Skills of the Past That Young People Might Miss Out On

From Fax Machines to Fancy Footwork: 6 Skills Younger Generations Might Not Have

Beyond the Box Truck: When Does Your Business Need Special Vehicle Insurance?

Business on the Move? Don’t Get Stuck Without the Right Vehicle Insurance

From Bronze Age to Boomers: How Life Expectancy Went From Meh to Magnificent

How Long Will You Live? A Look at Life Expectancy Throughout History (and Why You Might Need Life Insurance)

From Chauffeur to Cheerleader: The Teen Driver’s (and Parent’s!) Guide to Car-Buying Chaos

Teen Driver on the Horizon? This Guide Will Steer You Through Car-Buying Chaos

When Branches Become Brawls: Who Pays When a Tree Attacks Your House?

Neighborly Nightmare: Tree Trouble and Your Homeowner’s Insurance

From Pet Rocks to Pokémania: A Funtastic Journey Through 50 Years of Fads

A Look Back, and a Look Forward

Don’t Be a Sitting Duck: Essential Cybersecurity Tips for Small Businesses

Don’t Leave Your Data Unlocked: Cybersecurity isn’t just about online threats.