Honda Edmonton INDY and Race Week Edmonton - Page 17

Coldrsx · #**321** Posted: **Jul 23, 2012, 8:58 PM**

Check the City section for all of my photos.

Kevin_foster · #**322** Posted: **Jul 23, 2012, 9:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

Check the City section for all of my photos.

This is such a killer shot.......

Kevin_foster · #**323** Posted: **Jul 24, 2012, 7:56 PM**

No attendance numbers yet?

SHOFEAR · #**324** Posted: **Jul 24, 2012, 8:04 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin_foster

No attendance numbers yet?

IRL doesn't realease numbers.

there was an honest 35000 there on Sunday. The place was very full.

cdnklc · #**325** Posted: **Jul 24, 2012, 8:13 PM**

i don't particularly care about "the attendance numbers" (or whether they are for one day or for three days or whether they are for every time a single person visits or discrete visitors no matter how many times they go through the turnstiles).

the "real measure" of the event's success - other than for the promoter - is in the city's and the province's national and international exposure. it's in the number of additional hotel rooms occupied (and the rate at they are occupied at) and in the number of restaurants and bars that are full that otherwise wouldn't be. it's in the number of people at the taste of edmonton that wouldn't otherwise be there or at cap-ex or visiting fort edmonton...

how many times have we all been at an event and heard the announced "full-house" attendance figure only to look around and see hundreds or even thousands of vacant seats?

if every hotel room and restaurant and bar in town is full, other than to the promoter, what difference does it make if the attendance - regardless of how it is counted - is 220,000 or 120,000 or 42,578? what difference does it make if there is a title sponsor or not and whether he paid $220,000 or $120,000 or $42,578 for what he purchased?

the value for edmonton and for alberta is what the event brings to edmonton and to the province, not in how many tickets or sponsorships the promoter is capable of selling or not selling. what is important for edmonton and the province however, is that the promoter sells enough tickets and enough sponsorships (or some combination of both) so that the event comes back in 2013 and beyond... the promoter needs to know those numbers and indycar probably needs them as well but i don't.

it’s no different than my not needing to know attendance numbers for the stampede to determine if it's a success or not. i just need to try and book a hotel room and then deal with the HOW MUCH?!?!?!? response from my wife.

hilman · #**326** Posted: **Jul 24, 2012, 8:18 PM**

Well said Ken.

Kevin_foster · #**327** Posted: **Jul 24, 2012, 8:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdnklc

i don't particularly care about "the attendance numbers" (or whether they are for one day or for three days or whether they are for every time a single person visits or discrete visitors no matter how many times they go through the turnstiles).

the "real measure" of the event's success - other than for the promoter - is in the city's and the province's national and international exposure. it's in the number of additional hotel rooms occupied (and the rate at they are occupied at) and in the number of restaurants and bars that are full that otherwise wouldn't be. it's in the number of people at the taste of edmonton that wouldn't otherwise be there or at cap-ex or visiting fort edmonton...

how many times have we all been at an event and heard the announced "full-house" attendance figure only to look around and see hundreds or even thousands of vacant seats?

if every hotel room and restaurant and bar in town is full, other than to the promoter, what difference does it make if the attendance - regardless of how it is counted - is 220,000 or 120,000 or 42,578? what difference does it make if there is a title sponsor or not and whether he paid $220,000 or $120,000 or $42,578 for what he purchased?

the value for edmonton and for alberta is what the event brings to edmonton and to the province, not in how many tickets or sponsorships the promoter is capable of selling or not selling. what is important for edmonton and the province however, is that the promoter sells enough tickets and enough sponsorships (or some combination of both) so that the event comes back in 2013 and beyond... the promoter needs to know those numbers and indycar probably needs them as well but i don't.

it’s no different than my not needing to know attendance numbers for the stampede to determine if it's a success or not. i just need to try and book a hotel room and then deal with the HOW MUCH?!?!?!? response from my wife.

I just thought the future of the Indy in Edmonton was hinging on this years numbers. I agree with everything you say though.

BLACK STAR · #**328** Posted: **Jul 25, 2012, 12:48 AM**

Good points made there.

But, a major sponsor is a big cog in the machinery that makes pardon the pun...the Engine run optimally.

I really enjoyed this years Indy. Mercer Tavern was great for beer after a Taste of Edmonton. Gawd that was Good.

Hallsy's Toupee · #**329** Posted: **Jul 25, 2012, 5:19 PM**

Journal has pics of Race Week VIP Party:
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/enter...774/story.html

bigcitydude · #**330** Posted: **Jul 26, 2012, 4:01 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin_foster

This is such a killer shot.......

i'm using this^ as my background on my screen

Hallsy's Toupee · #**331** Posted: **Jul 31, 2012, 3:55 AM**

New racetrack and executive airstrip proposed near Airdrie. Should we be worried that this could be a potential Indy site if it leaves Edmonton for Calgary?

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/...365/story.html

Coldrsx · #**332** Posted: **Sep 21, 2012, 9:05 PM**

Richard Skermer from Race Week Edmonton saying that Indy is officially over with here.

Octane's site seems to confirm it... '2 races'

http://www.octanemanagement.ca/

MalcolmTucker · #**333** Posted: **Sep 21, 2012, 9:12 PM**

I wonder if there is enough time for Vancouver or Calgary to get back in the game.

Coldrsx · #**334** Posted: **Sep 21, 2012, 9:23 PM**

ouch
http://metronews.ca/news/edmonton/37...edmonton-indy/

TimB09 · #**335** Posted: **Sep 21, 2012, 9:51 PM**

Not surprised.
I was hoping it would hang around but the novelty of it wore off and the promoters always seemed to be having issues with the city among other things.

Shodan · #**336** Posted: **Sep 22, 2012, 12:15 AM**

It was a great run while it lasted, profitable or not. A lot of good memories and pictures over the years. Indy will be missed....

RicoLance21 · #**337** Posted: **Sep 22, 2012, 12:23 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hallsy's Toupee

New racetrack and executive airstrip proposed near Airdrie. Should we be worried that this could be a potential Indy site if it leaves Edmonton for Calgary?

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/...365/story.html

IMO, this is very likely to happen. Calgary is known for its large fan base in motor sports.

cdnklc · #**338** Posted: **Sep 22, 2012, 1:42 AM**

For Immediate Release

RACE WEEK EDMONTON REGRETS POTENTIAL LOSS OF EDMONTON INDY

September 21, 2012 – Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

On behalf of Race Week Edmonton volunteers and supporters who have put thousands of hours and tens of thousands of dollars into supporting this international event to entertain local fans and to bring in race fans from all over North America the announced cancellation of Edmonton’s 2013 INDY is extremely disappointing.

With hotel occupancy for the 2012 race up to 91%, a very positive partnership with Taste of Edmonton, a record use of the International Airport for the month of July, not a rental car or a camping spot to be had in the Edmonton area over the race weekend combined with more than 50 associated events and countless private events we know there was a significantly positive economic and social impact attributable to the Edmonton Indy and Race Week Edmonton.

Our efforts and those of our partners combined with the work of many other groups and individuals saw documented media mentions and exposure for Edmonton, the Edmonton Indy and Race Week Edmonton grow exponentially and the positive messages about Edmonton were stronger than ever locally, provincially, nationally and internationally.

Although we respect the promoter’s right to withdraw their support for this event, our fear is that it might be interpreted as an example of Edmonton's inability to take advantage of opportunities that are put in front of us. While it is unfortunate that Edmonton appears to be losing next year’s INDY race, it is important to note that many of the Race Week Edmonton activities that took place outside the track were not INDY events.

The 2012 Go-Kit races are being expanded to include sanctioned All American Soap Box Derby races with the winner eligible to race in Akron, Ohio. Our partnership with the Taste of Edmonton is scheduled to grow and our music and entertainment and education pieces are poised to take on additional momentum and prominence during Race Week.

While these things will not replace the Edmonton Indy or fill the void it will leave behind, Race Week Edmonton is poised to continue to grow on the foundation that has already been put in place and we hope to replace today’s disappointment in losing an INDY race with a well recognized festival of everything racing.

Kenneth L. Cantor, President, Race Week Edmonton

About Race Week Edmonton:

Race Week Edmonton (RWE) is an annual event originally centred around the Edmonton Indy. It brings together a number of events organized by individual car clubs, various local organizations, interested parties and larger corporations under the banner of Race Week Edmonton. In its third year, RWE joined efforts with Taste of Edmonton to offer high calibre musical performances in downtown Edmonton, coordinated various family focused activities and offered numerous special events with the support of local shopping centres and Edmonton businesses. Race Week Edmonton is a 100% volunteer driven event with numerous opportunities to be a part of the excitement and to be involved.

-30-

Hallsy's Toupee · #**339** Posted: **Sep 22, 2012, 1:55 AM**

Another kick in the teeth for Edmonton if you ask me.

BLACK STAR · #**340** Posted: **Sep 22, 2012, 2:01 AM**

I think we kicked our own teeth in. Lack of a Major sponsor to me was very important in maintaining the Indy here IMO.