Nice article in the Denver Post

[Don Quixote]

Denver Post (http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~89~2337523,00.html)

The press has been 90 percent positive this year, a turn around from last year. The promoters, CCWS, and Centrix Financial, the race sponsor, did a bang up job of putting on a great event. The buzz from the fans continued long after the race ended. :thumbup:

[Rogue Leader]

Tracy said Junqueira had told him he was going to seek revenge for an incident with Bourdais at the preceding race at Elkhart Lake, Wis.................... "Bruno tells me he owes Sebastien for last week in turn one, so he says, 'You watch,"' Tracy said after qualifying.

PT ratted him out... Bruno get the point PT doesn't like you LOL....

[nrc]

And while the usual suspects debate attendance the title sponsor seems happy with what they're calling a record crowd...


[Title sponsor Centrix Financial and general manager John] Frew said estimated race-day attendance was 40,000, bringing the unofficial weekend total to a record 112,000. Race organizers estimated more than 72,000 fans attended qualifying Friday and Saturday.

Official total attendance will be announced today for the first time in the event's three-year history. Dover Motorsports, which owned the race during its first two years, did not disclose attendance figures. But Frew, who also served as GM for Dover, said the 112,000 figure represents the event's best crowd.
http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36%257E89%257E2337626,00.html

[RichK]

Looked like the CART of old yesterday, it was an exciting race. I was thinking, though: as soon as I warm up to Bourdais he'll likely be off to F1.

[nrc]

Newer story says 100,000 and "best since 2001". Presumably that's based on the official announcement mentioned in the previous story.

http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~53~2337318,00.html

[Sean O'Gorman]

Newer story says 100,000 and "best since 2001". Presumably that's based on the official announcement mentioned in the previous story.

http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~53~2337318,00.html

Exactly how many people were standing around in an empty parking lot on this weekend 2001???? ;)

[KLang]

Newer story says 100,000 and "best since 2001". Presumably that's based on the official announcement mentioned in the previous story.

http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~53~2337318,00.html

But that can't be. Defender claims it could only be 22,250. He says he was there and counted the seats. :laugh: :rolleyes:


I really enjoyed the race and the crowd looked very good on TV.

[Grunschev]

Exactly how many people were standing around in an empty parking lot on this weekend 2001???? ;)

I'm guessing the "best since 2001" might have something to do with the fact that there was a downtown street race in Denver back in 1990 and 1991.

Igor

[Don Quixote]

Exactly how many people were standing around in an empty parking lot on this weekend 2001???? ;)

Do you have something against people that stand in empty parking lots? That's what I thought, hater. :p

[nrc]

More good press in the Post.


If we can maintain this kind of quality, which we will, there is no doubt that this will be a major summer event in Denver for a long time to come," said Bob Sutton, CEO of Centrix Financial, the event's title sponsor and co-owner.

http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~89~2339285,00.html

Funny thing - the Post keeps referring to Centrix as the event's owner. The accountants over on Trackforum keep responding, "Are not," probably because they tracked the press releases where Centrix was going to buy the rights from Dover and then decided not to.

But if you download any of the PDF press releases about the event from the Centrix Finacial web site they include this blurb:

About CENTRIX Financial Grand Prix of Denver, LLC (CFGPD) CFGPD is a wholly owned subsidiary of Denver-based financial services and management firm, CENTRIX Financial. CFGPD was created, and has been contracted by Champ Car, to provide management services for the 2004 CENTRIX Financial Grand Prix of Denver.

So Centrix may or may not own the event rights, but they either bought, or were given the company that manages the event.

[Opposite Lock]

From the "Finishing Line: Great" article in the Post:

"There were 80 people in our suite, including (Avalanche captain) Joe Sakic and (Gov. Bill Owens)," Frew said. "When Sebastien passed Tracy for the lead, I went up there, and these people we're going nuts. I asked my wife, 'Have they been like this the whole race?' She said, 'We adopted Sebastien at the beginning of the race, and he's the coolest guy we've ever seen.'

"So these people were really into it, and half of them have never seen a race."

...and that is how to build a fanbase. :thumbup:

[RichK]

More good press (http://www.speedtv.com/commentary/12520/) from David Phillips on SpeedTV.com.

I wonder, can a great "event" emotionally push the drivers to make it a great race?

[Megger]

About CENTRIX Financial Grand Prix of Denver, LLC (CFGPD) CFGPD is a wholly owned subsidiary of Denver-based financial services and management firm, CENTRIX Financial. CFGPD was created, and has been contracted by Champ Car, to provide management services for the 2004 CENTRIX Financial Grand Prix of Denver

Hopefully the tracks that didn't do as well will take note and follow suit. :thumbup: