Grand Prix Association of Long Beach Corporate Sales Manager Martin Bannon said that ticket sales for the Izod IndyCar Series Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach "have been brisk this season in spite of a down economy," according to Barbara Venezia of the ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER. Bannon added that sales for next month's event “are actually up from last year.” Track-side suites “range anywhere from $44,500 for Pit Row suites, to Seaside suites at $15,000 and Seaside Corner suites at $17,000.” The Vista Club, “located on the roof of the 17-story Hyatt Regency Hotel, has views of the front straightway and turns 1 through 6,” and three-day passes are $450 per person. Officials said that “only Friday and Saturday passes are still available.” Grand Prix Association President & CEO Jim Michaelian said that his organization “has looked at what competing sporting venues like Staples Center in L.A. and Honda Center in Anaheim offer in the way of luxury suite amenities to fans.” He also said that over the last four years the Grand Prix Association “has taken major steps forward in their suites and club concepts.” Michaelian: “We want to provide them with an opportunity to entertain clients at the highest possible level.” He noted that the “addition of French doors opening to track seating in the Pit Row suites make the racing experience more attractive to non-hardcore fans -- those who want to socialize in a quieter, air-conditioned environment” (OCREGISTER.com, 3/3).
ON THE EAST COAST: In Baltimore, Jack Lambert reports Downforce Racing, the new group selected by the city to manage the Baltimore Grand Prix, “must surrender the rights to intellectual property developed for the race as part of the group's contract with the city.” The city wants to “avoid what happened with the intellectual property” developed by Baltimore Racing Development for the ’11 Grand Prix race. Baltimore Racing, which lost its race contract with the city in December, “holds the registration for the trademark of the race’s logo and the phrase ‘Baltimore Grand Prix.’” It also “owns the domain name of the website for last year’s race, forcing Downforce Racing to create a new one” (BALTIMORE BUSINESS JOURNAL, 3/2 issue).
