When CMS closed down, it was still popular and profitable despite the poor location. The family sold the track to Obetz because they wanted to retire, it was a good offer and their kids didn’t want to run the place. It didn’t get bulldozed because nobody was showing up.
Why didn’t the Cooper project happen? Because a bunch of mouth breathers wouldn’t like the “noise” on Saturday nights? Who gives a shit? It’s downtown Columbus, not the fucking Hamptons. Anything they build there will only HELP the area. Cooper Stadium has sat empty for a decade now, half torn down, looking like a dump.
Columbus has a scarcity of motorsports related activity, for the most part. If they would build something, I see no reason why it wouldn’t be a success. Maybe I'm just naive?