Has anyone every been? Is it a big event? Are the crowds large like at Long Beach?
Has anyone every been? Is it a big event? Are the crowds large like at Long Beach?
It was a big event. Not anymore. Used to be 85K, now maybe 25K. Still a great show though!Originally Posted by Bahg
porscheman
@porscheman121 on Twitter #+200HP!
237.498/241.428/242.333 Speeds from the olden days!
Sorry but 25k? What are you smoking.It was a big event. Not anymore. Used to be 85K, now maybe 25K. Still a great show though!
porscheman
Went there in 2009. It was awesome. It was still a big event. Although the crowds aren't as good as they were, tons of people were talking about it. We'd go to restaraunts and people would ask if we were there for "the indy." The crowds weren't even close to 25k. Pretty sure the Gold, Silver and The turn ....whatever turn thats after the long straight... were all full plus all of the people standing around. Get a paddock pass and meet some drivers. It gave us stuff to do outside of watching indycars and the indy lights on track.
My friend, been going to that race every year since 1986. Except for 2008, when it was not run. Trust me ... it's 25K if you count the gophers twice each. With the exeception of the front straight (Gold), which has been massively lowered and an entire grandstand removed alltogether as well as at least 2 others (T2 & T5-6). The remaining stands are high school bleachers at best. All of them used to be very steep and reach to the sky. I believe there is seating for 18K now if they sell every seat, which they do not. Sorry to burst your bubble son, but them's the facts. Having said that, it's still a great event and a real fun time. Thank you for your support of it.
If you'd like to know the main problem with the event ... one word, PROMOTION. Or, in this case, a total lack thereof. 1st practice is exactly 3 weeks away ... not a peep! That's no way to rebuild a once, near iconic event. Thank you not so much Green Savoree. Don't worry, the city, province and federal governments will continue to line your pockets. You don't need to do a thing!
porscheman
If only Molson would have stuck around as long as Toyota has at the LBGP... Toronto might be a different story attendance wise?
I always enjoyed the event... I would really miss the old Blue Jays stadium, it provided epic viewing & photo ops!
Do you NEED a car this fast...? NO, but do you WANT a car this fast?? YES!!! -Tom Hnatiw
Race CARS Not DOGS!!! Adopt or foster a retired greyhound -Me
They stopped advertising in the Niagara Frontier, that has hurt and with the Glen being off the schedule they should be hitting it hard this year.
Yes, if Molstar had stayed ... whole different story. They just got out ot the entire sports promotion bizz when the Coors merger/takeover happened. That stadium met the wrecking ball a decade ago. Fortunately, it's been replaced by BMO Field, home to FC Toronto in just about the same place.If only Molson would have stuck around as long as Toyota has at the LBGP... Toronto might be a different story attendance wise?
I always enjoyed the event... I would really miss the old Blue Jays stadium, it provided epic viewing & photo ops!
porscheman
It seems the angles of the new stadium are different... it doesn't seem to hang over the track as nicely as the old stadium. Probably better for the network TV cameras though? IIRC, my last Toronto Indy was 2000??Yes, if Molstar had stayed ... whole different story. They just got out ot the entire sports promotion bizz when the Coors merger/takeover happened. That stadium met the wrecking ball a decade ago. Fortunately, it's been replaced by BMO Field, home to FC Toronto in just about the same place.
porscheman
Come back, we miss you. We are very hospitable! T10 beer garden is the spot to be and be seen! Unless you have team hospitality that is. That is even better!
porscheman
I attended two consecutive events in the early 2000's when da Matta and Tracy won respectively. I have not returned since. Seeing the "Thrill From West Hill" win in his hometown was the best imaginable outcome.
Come back, we miss you. We are very hospitable! T10 beer garden is the spot to be and be seen! Unless you have team hospitality that is. That is even better!
porscheman
Thanks... nice to be missed & I did enjoy Toronto. Molson Indy Vancouver was even better, but the Olympics & downtown expansion stopped that race?
Yes, I had a hard card & in select years team hospitality too back then...thats how I got up into the old stadium!!! One day I should get back there... I remember a naked guy using one of the beer garden tents as a trampolineHe wasn't too drunk... he escaped the clutches of the Toronto Police
Ahhhh porcheman. No turn 9 bud garden this year. Worst kept secret there Is going to be a huge Invitational Kart race going to be there this year in that spot. And yes my kid PT's new protege will be racing there. It's going to be a battleground there. Even have the spare chassis ready to go lol!!!
What!!! Oh the humanity! In the name of all that's holy . . . why? Now I don't feel so bad about missing the race Sunday. Out of 365 days, my son chose July 8th as his wedding day! Go figure . . .
I'll probably show up for practice on Friday to have a look around the paddock and experience the new cars running some hot laps. Good luck to your son in the kart race. Wouldn't have minded seeing that too!
porscheman
I haven't decided if I want to go to the Toronto race again this year. I've been considering saving the money and going down to Baltimore instead.
I used to live in Toronto and am now only about 5 hours away, that being said i've gone twice in the CART-Champ Car years and once in the IndyCar years, the event is significantly smaller than it used to be under both CART and Champ Car. Many grandstands have disappeared. Even the off track stuff is smaller. Having the year off the schedule didn't help. Terrible local promotion - and even regional - I live less than 5 hours away, watch Toronto TV stations, and haven't heard a peep. I also find that the ticket prices are much higher than most other street courses which really doesn't help them draw a crowd.
In terms of beer gardens disappearing - this year, the entire event is licensed, so you will be able to walk around the entire Indy grounds with a beer in your hand. Translates into less "Beer Gardens" and more "Beer Stands" around the track.
Also - a couple of small microbrewers have the beer rights this year - no more Labatt/Budweiser!
Ah a Toronto virgin eh. We'll be gentleSeriously though, you should go on FRIDAY as it's FREE. What you can do then is walk around the entire track and sit in any grandstand you want. You also get in to the paddocks free too. You can figure out where to sit from that so when you buy a Saturday/Sunday race ticket you'll feel set. If you want to see people overshoot a 40mph (at best) turn and the drivers coming off a 190mph straightaway sit Turn 3. It's popular. For the Pit stops you want GOLD for bird's eye view. Start/Finish go with Silver. If you're on a budget Turn 9/10 is great but because of the Go-Kart Track and Victory Circle the TV monitor is GONE.
If on a budget instead of Turn 9/10 I recommend people go $25 more dollars over the $90 9/10 prices for Dr. Pepper seats. They're opposite the Suites and a sweeping turn where they'll align for the start/re-starts. They also pump you full of soda all day too cool down. Good looking girls hand it to you too. I sat in Pit IN grandstand ONCE and hated it. It's opposite Dr. Pepper. I didn't like the angle of the TV monitor that's why. At this course your cell phone and a data pack to view Indycar.com and a view of a TV monitor unobstructed is KEY. You can't see or know what's going on in the other turns. Be sure to bring empty water bottles (spring water) to refill at the water stations and or washrooms indoors because that's the only way you'll get any kind of beverage past the gate without paying them for it. No coolers either. Very strict rules there.
P.S. If you send me a private message with a cell number I'll personally help guide any newbies around on Free Friday. I know the track and event like the back of my hand as well as all the policies.
Last edited by Back On Track; 06-16-2012 at 04:23 PM.
Toronto is a tough market. It is sophisticated in a worldly kind of way and being a great circus when you come to town doesn't guarantee success. Case in point - we currently have Cavilio in town. Cavillio is a Cirque du So lei type of show using horses. Cavillio is about 100 bucks a ticket and worth every penny. Last month we had about 15,000 turn out to the Rogers Centre for a badly organized Cricket All-star game. Recently we hosted the Bollywood Academy Awards show (it tours around the world). This year in Montreal the hotels downtown didn't even sell out for the F1 race.
I have long thought to get people out to the Toronto Indy they have to up their game. People expect a first class experience for their money. They don't want grand stands - they want private boxes with concierge service. I think they need to develop the race around first class vistas with unique seating. I had pitched the old Grand Prix association on developing some unused corners but nobody was listening and nothing has changed...
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