Baltimore GP Money Quest

[ToddBenne]

Be sure to click the Next Page link at the bottom of each page, it's a four page article. IRL, ALMS and WC are slated to be there next year.

I had to giggle at the notion track designers don't know how to handle the course traversing light rail tracks. Obviously they didn't attend the San Jose event. Que the General Lee horn.

Baltimore GP

[mcman7890]

I don't really worry about this, as brazil shown earlier this season, you can wait til the last 3 months and still have a great track

[indyracefan]

I like the way Robin struggles to support his claim that sponsors are shying away from drivers such as RHR. He of all people should know that IZOD never intended to be a full-time sponsor for RHR yet he misleads those that aren't in tune by suggesting that money is drying up in the sport.

It seems the promoters are confident in finding title sponsorship and I have little doubt as the event draws nearer there will be one come onboard. I would tend to believe too that most of the work done to the roads would be done after the harsh winter months next spring.

[Tara]

One of the things I hate about Miller is his negative attitude. All comments made were negative and that's pretty much his standard.

[SandWedge]

I was just in Baltimore this past weekend for a work Conference all the work on the main streets in most areas is finishing up (Pratt/Light), I walked the track according to the latest map and most of the road work on the main streets is done while its a few smaller side streets (Conway) that just need a little more work but nothing they can't do in 10 months. As for the article as a whole, the last sentence on the first page shoots down the article's own premise.

I'm sure all will be fine and I can't wait to return for the race, turn 1 at the inner harbor should be awesome racing and scenic wise.

[downtowndeco]

When the Detroit GP failed a couple of years ago I made a prediction that no one would attempt to stage a new street race here in the US ever again. Sure, they would talk about it. Someone is always talking about staging a new street festival somewhere. But I didn't think anyone would actually talk the people holding the money bags into actually signing the contracts and putting a new US street race on to the schedule.

As you can imagine, I was suprised to hear that someone had talked a city into putting up some cash and the IRL had added a new street circuit on to the schedule. I just couldn't imagine, with the terrible track record of street circuits, that someone had found a way to make it happen. Now we find out that, "Well, we're still sort of working on the money end of the deal." Why am I not surprised?

I hope the race happens, seriously. But I wouldn't be shocked if it all started to unravel in the next 3 or 4 months.

[Z28]

I thought this was years in the planning and on such solid ground that the FIVE year contract was warranted.

I have little doubt they will have a title sponsor and probably for the ALMS as well. But since they don't have one signed while beng so connected to the Baltimore business community, having been working on this if they don't have a big name soon there's no way they get the seven figures. They could end up taking far less to put any name on the race just to save face. The benefit to even the smaller sponsors is the length of time they have to use that investment in marketing and promotions so waiting to sign them until the title sponsor signs on only increases the risk of getting less from them.

Now all that may work out but the train tracks thing makes you question if these guys know what they're doing. What made them think that wouldn't be a major problem? You can already see the temporary covering of those tracks tearing up on Friday, lengthy overnight fixes both nights and it causing a disruption in the event.

The money the city isputting into infrastructure is no problem for the city since it will last. What I want to see is some verification on the attendance. Street races continually state such big numbers but nobody can figure out where those people are. They're claiming 45,000 seats so let's see them filled before they claim 150,000 for the weekend.

[Chris Paff]

I thought this was years in the planning and on such solid ground that the FIVE year contract was warranted.

I have little doubt they will have a title sponsor and probably for the ALMS as well. But since they don't have one signed while beng so connected to the Baltimore business community, having been working on this if they don't have a big name soon there's no way they get the seven figures. They could end up taking far less to put any name on the race just to save face. The benefit to even the smaller sponsors is the length of time they have to use that investment in marketing and promotions so waiting to sign them until the title sponsor signs on only increases the risk of getting less from them.

Now all that may work out but the train tracks thing makes you question if these guys know what they're doing. What made them think that wouldn't be a major problem? You can already see the temporary covering of those tracks tearing up on Friday, lengthy overnight fixes both nights and it causing a disruption in the event.

The money the city isputting into infrastructure is no problem for the city since it will last. What I want to see is some verification on the attendance. Street races continually state such big numbers but nobody can figure out where those people are. They're claiming 45,000 seats so let's see them filled before they claim 150,000 for the weekend.

I am sitting here at work looking out my office window at part of the course.

I will be shocked if this race goes it's full five contracted years. There is no local buzz at all about this race. Even our radio sports talk hosts have shown no real interest. This is a football and baseball town.

With the promoters still look for a title sponsor this has train wreck written all over it.

[Eric Stratton]

I am sitting here at work looking out my office window at part of the course.

I will be shocked if this race goes it's full five contracted years. There is no local buzz at all about this race. Even our radio sports talk hosts have shown no real interest. This is a football and baseball town.

With the promoters still look for a title sponsor this has train wreck written all over it.

I predict this race will be a big,big success. Im sure theres a lot of businesses in Baltimore that are getting involved in sponsering the race. Its still a year away almost. Give them some time to get it all together.

[WheelerDealer]

I am sitting here at work looking out my office window at part of the course.

I will be shocked if this race goes it's full five contracted years. There is no local buzz at all about this race. Even our radio sports talk hosts have shown no real interest. This is a football and baseball town.

With the promoters still look for a title sponsor this has train wreck written all over it.

The Orioles have been imitating a train wreck since at least 2001, if not longer.

[indyracefan]

I am sitting here at work looking out my office window at part of the course.

I will be shocked if this race goes it's full five contracted years. There is no local buzz at all about this race. Even our radio sports talk hosts have shown no real interest. This is a football and baseball town.

With the promoters still look for a title sponsor this has train wreck written all over it.

I don't believe anyone here expected anything positive coming from you regarding the race. Unfortunately due to your well-known bias and continual rants against the IICS, at present it's hard to take anything you say regarding the series or the race without skepticism.

[Chris Paff]

The Orioles have been imitating a train wreck since at least 2001, if not longer.

Since 1998, but we have Buckball now!

[Chris Paff]

I don't believe anyone here expected anything positive coming from you regarding the race. Unfortunately due to your well-known bias and continual rants against the IICS, at present it's hard to take anything you say regarding the series or the race without skepticism.

There is not much positive that has happened in the IRL in years. Sorry but that is a fact. Each year things get worse and worse.

Yet come March 2011, we will have posts on here about how this is the year the series takes off and all this "momentum". blah blah blah

Look at all the marketing IZOD has done and what does the IRL have to show for it? Nothing except a ugly trophy.

It is pretty simple, its not the marketing its the product. The product has not changed. We already know which two teams will win the Indy 500 and 99% of the rest of the races. What is going to change to get people to care about Will Power or Dario Franchitti?

[Rosco]

One of the things I hate about Miller is his negative attitude. All comments made were negative and that's pretty much his standard.

There is an easy solution for your problem, Don't read what he reports.

[Rosco]

I am sitting here at work looking out my office window at part of the course.

I will be shocked if this race goes it's full five contracted years. There is no local buzz at all about this race. Even our radio sports talk hosts have shown no real interest. This is a football and baseball town.

With the promoters still look for a title sponsor this has train wreck written all over it.

Was not aware that the Department of Sanitation was located close by the track lay out.

We had Buckball here for several years, he wore out his welcome.