The sixth annual Verizon IndyCar Series Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix had as many as 100,000 fans in attendance for two races at Belle Isle this past weekend and "produced a good show for race fans and the curious," according to Gregg Krupa of the DETROIT NEWS. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources, which operates Belle Isle state park, is already talking to race organizer Roger Penske about "what happens to the Detroit Grand Prix" after the state’s permit "expires after the race next year." The sense is that with some "new controls and, perhaps, logistics in place, the racing will go on." One of those changes would be the need for organizers to "get on and off the island quicker." Grand Prix Chair Bud Denker said that it "took eight weeks to set up this year, and the intention is to reduce it to six" in '18. He added that the off-island goal for '17 is to "be off the island by the time of the annual Freedom Festival fireworks -- June 26" (DETROIT NEWS, 6/5).
MEASURING SUCCESS: Grand Prix organizers feel that the race is a success because it "draws money to the economy" of Detroit and "helps finance the improvement of Belle Isle." Denker said, "There is a lot of different ways to look at measuring the success for the Grand Prix, and certainly I wouldn’t say the financial outcome of our event is one of those. We would love to make a profit on an event like this, but that’s not our goal, frankly. And that’s not where we are." Krupa in a separate piece noted as long as organizers are "willing to raise financing from sponsorship and ticket sales, cover any remaining costs to finance and have permission, they will race." Tax records show equal annual revenues and expenses for the Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix Inc. from '12-14 ranging between about $12.9-13.4M. However, "liabilities exceed assets" by $1.05M in each year. Denker said, "For me and Roger, number one, it's the ongoing restoration of Belle Isle Park itself. Over $13.5 million has been put into Belle Isle since we started coming here back in 2007." He added, "Beyond Belle Isle, the second key piece for us is economic benefit." Meanwhile, the Penske organization "continues to build sponsorship." The 77 partners, a "long list compared to other IndyCar races," is up about 10% over '16, and up over '15 as well (DETROIT NEWS, 6/2).
