SMI CEO Marcus Smith "has his sights set on an ambitious renovation and upgrade" for Charlotte Motor Speedway that could include "higher-priced deck and terrace seating areas similar to what the company opened" at Sonoma Raceway last year, according to Erik Spanberg of the CHARLOTTE BUSINESS JOURNAL. The project also could see "lower-level loge boxes" added to CMS like the ones at at Bristol Motor Speedway. SMI has also "changed the design and look of some suites at its tracks, another wrinkle that could be expanded in Charlotte." Smith has "hinted for months that he wants to adopt and add to the standards set not just in motorsports but at stadiums and arenas" in the NFL, NBA and MLB. CMS currently has 86,000 seats and 75 luxury suites after removing 41,000 seats in December '14. Daytona Int'l Speedway at February formally unveiled its $400M makeover, "billing the project as the first NASCAR stadium." SMI Exec Chair Bruton Smith said that the company "will continue to focus on upgrades for fans but won’t be doing it based on Daytona’s renovations." He said, " I didn’t view everything down there, but I can’t imagine they spent the amount of money that I heard publicly. If they did, they were had by somebody because I did not see that much that was done. But they’re working at it and that’s good.” Spanberg noted the DIS renovations included "wider seats, better sight lines and entry areas that are more comfortable and efficient. The track also "doubled the number of concession stands and tripled the amount of restrooms" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 5/19).
SOLAR SYSTEM: In Charlotte, Joe Marusak notes CMS expects to save "more than 3,000 gallons of diesel fuel" over the next two weekends, which include the Sprint All-Star Race and the Coca-Cola 600, by using 79 "mobile solar products throughout the grounds.” Fans will see “60 solar light towers, 10 solar generators, four solar personal device charging stations and five solar electric vehicle charging stations.” CMS partnered with California-based DC Solar on the effort. Officials said that the products “require no fuel, and operation is completely silent, which makes the environmental impact virtually nonexistent” (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 5/20).
