The Brussels government announced its “refusal to grant subsidies for the organization of the Formula E Belgian Grand Prix” in Koekelberg on July 1, according to LA MEUSE. The government said that its refusal was based on “the troubles related to mobility, the work needed to be done to make the asphalt suitable for the competition and the impossibility of closing the Léopold II tunnel during a major vacation time.” The Formula E Belgian Grand Prix in Brussels, "although announced a long time ago, is now in jeopardy, but the Brussels government confirmed that hosting the event in a different region remains a possibility” (LA MEUSE, 1/26). MOTORSPORT's Scott Mitchell reported Formula E is "working with the Brussels regional government to find an alternative venue" for the race "after logistical problems hindered the second proposed location for the Belgian round." It initially agreed to run the event in the Heysel area north of the capital, "but that was dropped due to a clashing event." Formula E found a replacement three miles south in Koekelberg, but it is believed officials "did not want to disrupt local transport links at the start of summer." Brussels Minister of Mobility & Public Works Pascal Smet wrote on his official Twitter account that the authority still agreed “in principle” to a round in the city. However, Formula E is also considering postponing the race until the '17-18 campaign "because it does not want to risk compromising with an unsuitable circuit just to host it as part of this season’s title run-in" (MOTORSPORT, 1/26).
