Indycar looking to new Promotors for Baltimore

[Aeron]

This can't be good.

Councilman William H. Cole IV, a Grand Prix supporter, says time is running out to salvage the event.
"I think you're probably looking at a matter of weeks before it gets too difficult [for tickets] to even go on sale," he said Friday. "Time is not on anybody's side."
Sources close to Downforce say that the three members of the racing group – Indianapolis-based contractor Dale Dillon and Baltimore businessmen Dan Reck and Felix Dawson – are locked in a struggle.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/mar...,3742257.story

[Formula Indy]

It is such a shame that this is happening to what appeared to be such a great event for the fans.

[Supertuner]

Aeron,

You're quote seems rather ...stirring. Yes the whole article is posted but, I find the quote you posted rather dubious and instigating. You could have also quoted RB with his(paraphrasing), "it will happen even if we have to do it." Or RM saying if IICS says they'll do it, they will. Or thier "expert" saying it's still not to late.

While I railed on the Sun previously. THis article does seem balanced.

[sean26]

richmond anyone, or even VIR?

[in_the_grey]

It was a great event last year and I introduced three people to Indycar racing, ALL of us are looking forward to going again this year. It will be a shame if this event fails, it has such great potential, could certainly see this race become the Long Beach of the east coast.

[Grizzlor]

To me this sounds like Austin GP, where Tavo Helmund was pushed out, but now is kind of back in. And no Richmond is impossible, the Cup cars race there one week later.

[ndcrs]

http://baltimorecity.gov/Officeofthe...Agreement.aspx

not sure if this had been posted before. includes copy of the contract.

[AFColt]

The positive to take away is that IndyCar seems determined to make this event work this year, even if they have to personally step in. Hopefully, they will find the right backers to make it work.

[mdkiel]

It's May. TPTB are going to have to handle the Baltimores of the world. Wake me when it's over.

[Nigel Red5]

Well, one of the knocks I heard about Dillon was his attitude and personality. The my way or no way, whether I'm right or not isn't even a question. I don't know the man so that's heresay, but that was supposedly an issue last year after he came in, and if an attitude like that is clashing with the semi- locals who, BTW are the guys with the money... That does't bode well. After last years well known financials.. I'm sure there isn't a company within 500 miles willing to participate that isn't requiring payment upfront for EVERYTHING, and not even having a functional website, let alone ticket sales, detailed event information, anything but speculation and negative news articles.. I'm at best 75-25 of this not happening this year. I know This is primarily indycar's event, but it seems ALMS has been fairly silent on this event, and IMHO, there were just as many if not more fans saturday for ALMS than for sunday's main event. They somewhat quietly scheduled their race at VIR for two weeks later. I have to think the race date timing of that announcement and last fall was based on assuming Baltimore won't happen, and If it does, well, ok, they'll be there.

[porscheman]

Sure looks to me as if this will become an IICS promoted event. That's no bad thing IMO. This event deserves to survive. A new promoter can be found later.



porscheman

[Nigel Red5]

I sure hope you are right porscheman. It was a good event, in a great location that got a lot of attention form non racefans and fans alike for the series in this area.

[mlauman20]

This event should be salvaged for this year and scrapped for following years. Baltimore and Indycar should split the cost of this boondoggle for 2012 and move on. Indycar should not get in the habit of bilking taxpayers out of money to host events, it's not moral, nor is it sustainable.

[crispy]

Bernie would disagree with the "sustainable" part.

[mlauman20]

Bernie would disagree with the "sustainable" part.

Bernie bails with the cash, he doesn't give a Shart about the local economies he steals from. You can debate the impact studies all you want, but the ones that come from outside observers and economists always show these things cost way more than they ever generate, or you can believe the studies from the local politicians, up to you.

[in_the_grey]

This event should be salvaged for this year and scrapped for following years. Baltimore and Indycar should split the cost of this boondoggle for 2012 and move on. Indycar should not get in the habit of bilking taxpayers out of money to host events, it's not moral, nor is it sustainable.

"Organizers sold 110,000 tickets to the three-day event, which one study concluded generated $47 million in economic impact for the city."

Yes, quite the boondoggle for the city. The taxpayers are fine and nobody is "bilking" them out of anything. At the very least they got new street paving completed and a lot of positive exposure for the city, oh and a 47 million dollar boost to the local economy. The contractors and vendors however did get bilked and of course would like to be paid up front for any services this year.

This race has great potential, and whether you are a street race fan or not, this race could be a great staple of the Indycar schedule for years to come if it is given some time to succeed.

[Unzerdog]

richmond anyone, or even VIR?

VIR is my backup plan.. ALMS races there the weekend after Baltimore GP. Richmond supposedly has a chance. I had an opportunity to shoot a friend of mine at VIR, I was hanging out with an old timer track worker. I asked him if an IndyCar ever turned a lap at VIR. He told me,unfortunately, no, "the track is too narrow for the big cars."

[mlauman20]

"Organizers sold 110,000 tickets to the three-day event, which one study concluded generated $47 million in economic impact for the city."

Yes, quite the boondoggle for the city. The taxpayers are fine and nobody is "bilking" them out of anything. At the very least they got new street paving completed and a lot of positive exposure for the city, oh and a 47 million dollar boost to the local economy. The contractors and vendors however did get bilked and of course would like to be paid up front for any services this year.

This race has great potential, and whether you are a street race fan or not, this race could be a great staple of the Indycar schedule for years to come if it is given some time to succeed.

Do yourself a favor and study how these "impact studies" are written. They make massive assumptions and leave out important items, like people who would have already been in the area. They also wind up counting dollars that had nothing to do with the event. Go look out outside analysis of Super Bowls, what it cost vs what it actually brings in, most will say marginal at best, most will show more money was spent than was seen. Sorry, you're citing numbers that were thrown around by politicians to make them feel good about wasting your money to shake hands and sit in an expensive box, if it makes you feel good to, great.

[Unzerdog]

Do yourself a favor and study how these "impact studies" are written. They make massive assumptions and leave out important items, like people who would have already been in the area. They also wind up counting dollars that had nothing to do with the event. Go look out outside analysis of Super Bowls, what it cost vs what it actually brings in, most will say marginal at best, most will show more money was spent than was seen. Sorry, you're citing numbers that were thrown around by politicians to make them feel good about wasting your money to shake hands and sit in an expensive box, if it makes you feel good to, great.

YUP! 47 million is the impact Indycar had on Richmond too, with 50,000 tickets sold. Its like a default number they use. Someone told Rawlings-Blake before the first race that there would be 33 million tv viewers. She was sold a load. It is no wonder the event is in jeopardy.

[ColdSpiderGT]

VIR is my backup plan.. ALMS races there the weekend after Baltimore GP. Richmond supposedly has a chance. I had an opportunity to shoot a friend of mine at VIR, I was hanging out with an old timer track worker. I asked him if an IndyCar ever turned a lap at VIR. He told me,unfortunately, no, "the track is too narrow for the big cars."

The alms race at vir is the same day as the indycar race in Fontana. We are so late in the game I don't see how they can add another race in 2012.

[Grizzlor]

IndyCar does not want to be at VIR over Baltimore, trust me. As for Dillon, let's not forget he is part of the Fort Lauderdale package also. This situation just seems ridiculous, the money is there, he just won't sign.

[Z28]

It is such a shame that this is happening to what appeared to be such a great event for the fans.

The fans need to realize they are one of the few groups that found it to be a great event. INDYCAR got paid and the teams raced but the city and vendors that got stiffed for the $12 million unpaid, the promoter who obviously lost money, the new promoters who had a new plan, with a not for profit angle, have come apart at the seems. If INDYCAR takes over promotion of the event, oh the boondoggle that will be, they know exactly how many people will show up and how much revenue they will produce but even with a title sponsor, they'll lose money. And for what, another street race? Who in the world is clamoring for more street races?

This event has become too much to salvage. Since INDYCAR hasn't signed a sanctioning agreement, I'm for running from this fiasco. You can't throw a street race together inside of four months. What vendors are going to want to be involved after seeing the first year suppliers get stiffed and the group they thought were going to deal with fall apart? They know as well as anyone here that INDYCAR never promoted a street race and the Las Vegas model gave away tickets and has never been fully explained. It's childish for fans to ask Penske, Andretti or Savoir Green to come running to the recuse. They respectively have Chevrolet, nobody and Honda as sponsors of their races, if they were able to bring in new ones from outside the series they would for their races.

What this should do though is put an end to any and all consideration of going to Ft. Lauderdale with Dale Dillon. The fact that he can't even sign an agreement with his partners in Baltimore for an event they were brought in to save should be heard loud and clear.

This event should be salvaged for this year and scrapped for following years. Baltimore and Indycar should split the cost of this boondoggle for 2012 and move on. Indycar should not get in the habit of bilking taxpayers out of money to host events, it's not moral, nor is it sustainable.

To me that's the worst plan to follow. What point is there for INDYCAR to lose money for the one year, and face it they still haven't got a title sponsor and not even the Downforce group figured out a way to come close to breaking even until year three, then drop the event just to fill the 2012 schedule.


If they need to fill that date and they want to self promote an event they should do so without the known financial loss and at least try something else. Off the top of my head there is probably one option; Gateway. The track obviously has nothing much going on so they can put some effort into quickly promoting an Indycar race to show NASCAR, ARCA and anyone else that they can put on a good event. INDYCAR adds an oval which is at least close to Indianapolis so there's the chance to draw a crowd.

Instead of telling Gateway to cough up the full sanctioning fee try a new business model of dealing with tracks. Use this very rare chance. Both parties promote the event and split the revenue from ticket sales and other revenue. They both seek out a title sponsor, associates, signage and suite sales and by having both sides work on selling the event and understanding what it takes. Maybe whoever comes up with a sponsor takes 60% of that revenue. But try something different than the track paying up from and leaving it in their hands.


I don't think trying to stay on the East coast that weekend really works. As someone said, Richmond has NASCAR the next week, Kentucky has a NNW race three weeks later, Chicagoland Cup two weeks later. , Kansas would be out because you would have to test the new pavement and banking in advance and it will not be repaved in time to do that. I'd kill to have PPIR available.

[Parnelli64]

It was a great event last year and I introduced three people to Indycar racing, ALL of us are looking forward to going again this year. It will be a shame if this event fails, it has such great potential, could certainly see this race become the Long Beach of the east coast.

Long Beach is the St. Pete of the West Coast...

[in_the_grey]

Long Beach is the St. Pete of the West Coast...

Ok, how bout the Long Beach of the upper East coast?

[Chris8]

Had two tickets last year. We are planning on about 9 this year, if it goes off.

[Chris8]

And for what, another street race? Who in the world is clamoring for more street races?

I like Street races!

[lindaw]

Would someone please tell me what this Mr. Dillion's problem is with his fellow promoters. I understand the city and vendors got stiffed from last year but what is going on with the actual promoters--I'm confused.

[Swaze]

This whole thing just doesn't make much sense.

The place was packed last year and they still managed to find a way to lose millions and screw everything up.

If it had been done right, the place would probably be packed this year and they could actually make money.

Instead we just get a bunch of political nonsense and squabbling over who knows what to where you know it will sour the public on the race and no way they draw as big of a crowd this year. It's really a shame because the event itself had so much potential and clearly the fans were into it last year but the way things are going it's just not going to work.

I think at this point just gotta make sure this race happens one way or the other and find something else to replace it with next year (hopefully Road America or Richmond)

[pb]

I like your suggestion, Z28.

Of course, as one who would like to see Gateway back as a strong annual event the short notice would really set all involved up for failure unless, going into the agreement, there was an understanding that it would be more than a one year deal. The facilities at Gateway, such as they are, are still in place.

[indyrox@lith]

If Izod is guaranteed sixteen races, then Randy will have no choice other than to have IndyCar promote it.