Indianapolis is My Home

04
Dec

"Speed Zone" Development Moving Forward

Author: Jason Bean, Category: Brickyard 400, Business, Business Entrepreneurs, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indy 500, Indy MotoGP, News, Real Estate, Speedway, Sports, US Grand Prix - F1

An article today in the IBJ confirmed that local real-estate developer Mansur Real Estate Services, Inc. has been chosen to lead the redevelopment of the Speedway area to increase the attraction to businesses to come into the area.

I believe they did a tremendous improvement a few years back with the new lamps, median work and other details leading into the Speedway area from off of I-465 on the west side.

I feel anything they can do to further increase the development and commercial viability of that area is going to be worthwhile. What I’m not sure about though is how the residents of the area feel about the development. I know there are a number of people that live right along the main stretch that make a killing by using their property as parking for the hundreds and thousands of race fans that come into the area each year.

With the MotoGP and talks of Formula 1 coming back to the area, I think further developing the area is a plus. I’m sure it’s quite a disruption to the residents of the area though regardless.

Do you live in the area? What do you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

02
Dec

F1 Coming Back to Indy?

Author: Jason Bean, Category: Business, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indy 500, Indy MotoGP, Indy Pro Athletes, Things To Do in Indy, US Grand Prix - F1

A recent article in the IBJ suggests they are, even saying that there’s the possibility they could be back for the 2009 Centennial Celebration of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

I still say the city of Indianapolis should chip in where they could to make sure this deal goes through. The biggest problem I see is Ecclestone in the F1 camp being a pain to work with in trying to negotiate a deal.

I wonder how that will effect the changes to the course they’re making/made in preparation for the MotoGP race starting up next year at the IMS? That race will be held for the first time at the Speedway on September 14th, 2008.

One thing good did come through F1 leaving Indianapolis for a year. My friend from Vegas who came in every year for the race and bought my ticket decided to come in 2008 for the Indy 500 and bought me a ticket. It will be the first time I’ve ever been to the 500 as well. I’m looking forward to it. Our tickets are right in front of pit row so that should be even cooler!

Photo Source: BBC Sports

08
Oct

Big Changes for WIBC 1070

Author: Jason Bean, Category: Brickyard 400, Business, Indiana Fever, Indiana Pacers, Indianapolis Colts, Indianapolis Golf, Indianapolis Indians, Indy 500, News, Sports, US Grand Prix - F1

I’ve been a listener to WIBC’s afternoon drive with Dave “The King” Wilson, Joe Staysniak and Matt Hibblen since back to 1998 or so when I first moved to Indianapolis.

An announcement today says that Emmis Communications, the parent company of WIBC is moving WIBC 1070AM to an all-sports format and changing their WNOU 93.1 FM station all-talk. The new station will be called WIBC-FM. During the transition 93.1 will begin playing Christmas music from now through Christmas.

In one of the biggest local radio station format shake-ups in recent years, Emmis Communications Corp. announced today that WIBC-AM 1070 will become an all-sports station. The station will be an affiliate of ESPN Radio.

Meanwhile, the company’s rock and hip-hop station, WNOU-FM 93.1, will change to a news-talk format, a rarity on the local FM dial.

WNOU now will be called WIBC-FM. It essentially will air the same news and talk programming that had been on WIBC-AM 1070.

The move was launched at noon today with WNOU becoming all-Christmas through December. Emmis officials said they launched “93 Days of Christmas” as a transition period.

I’ll be interested in hearing what everyone has to say about the change on the drive home today.

13
Jul

F1 Says Farewell

Author: Jason Bean, Category: Cultural Events, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Sports, US Grand Prix - F1

The news came out today that Tony George wasn’t able to negotiate a deal with F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone.

I probably could have called this correctly this year if I’d thought about it closer. I’ve never missed an F1 race in Indy thanks to a great friend. This year my wife surprised me with a great Father’s Day gift of enjoying a Cincinatti Reds game with my son and brother. It was excellent and I don’t regret spending Father’s Day with my family. The challenge was that I missed the last running of the event in Indianapolis, at least for the time being.

Much greater than my dissappointment with losing the race is the financial impact to the city. That’s what I’m not sure everyone in the local government understood clearly.

However, Schultz added, the $100 million annual loss will be offset by the MotoGP motorcycle race that will begin at IMS in fall 2008.

$100 million dollars every year it’s not here. And saying that having the MotoGP would offset it is somewhat accurate. The only challenge is we had MotoGP signed before we lost the deal with F1. We could have had both. I’m sorry, but isn’t Indianapolis the racing capital of the world? The city should have ponied up any cash Tony George couldn’t balance with Bernie.

Bernie Ecclestone isn’t innocent either though. He’s running a great organization, but he needs to understand that things need to be handled a little bit differently in the states. He’s competing with a much broader fan base of people who love racing and have plenty of other options available to them. With a little more customizing and compromise on his part, I believe Indianapolis could have begun serving as a springboard to build a huge American F1 fan base in the sport. It could have and should have led to another F1 race in the US in their season.

Motorsports experts are divided over who is the biggest loser after the announcement that Formula One will not return in 2008 to Indianapolis Motor Speedway. One observer, Tim Frost, president of the Chicago consulting firm Frost Motorsports, said the Speedway loses a global marquee event, while F1 loses one of the world’s largest markets for its teams. Local tourism officials also consider the loss a blow to their industry.

I’ll tell you who the losers are. Indianapolis. Bernie doesn’t care, he can go off and make the same amount of money somewhere else, but you tell me where Indianapolis is going to replace $100M+ annually in the near future?

Quote Source: IBJ

19
Jun

For the First Time I Missed the F1 Race

Author: Jason Bean, Category: Indianapolis Indians, Sports, US Grand Prix - F1

Lewis Hamilton sets Indianapolis Motor Speedway records in the 2007 US Grand Prix by being the first rookie, 2nd youngest driver and only black driver to win a major race at the speedway. The USGP Indy website has the details.

Hamilton, age 22 years, 161 days old, became the first rookie to win the USGP at Indianapolis and the second-youngest driver to win a major event at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Only Troy Ruttman, who won the 1952 Indianapolis 500 at age 22 years, 80 days old, was younger when he took the checkered flag at IMS. Hamilton also became the first black driver to win a major race at IMS.

All of that happens, and for the first time since it’s been coming to Indianapolis, I missed attending the F1 race, a.k.a. the U.S. Grand Prix. I’ve got a friend that lives in Las Vegas and is a huge F1 fan. He’s come in every year and has been generous enough to provide me a ticket to the race each year. I normally serve as the sherpa of camera cases and other items in exchange, which is fine with me.

This year I didn’t get to attend the race because my wife surprised me with a Father’s Day gift that was a weekend in Cincinatti with my family. The weekend included attending a Cincinatti Reds game with my son and my brother and his daughter. It was a really good time and I got to see Sammy Sosa hit a grand slam to basically seal the game as a win for the Texas Rangers. I was impressed with the Great American Ball Park, but it maybe increased my appreciation for Victory Field even more. The only thing Victory Field is lacking from the major leagues is a couple more extra decks of seats. Good times though, I think I’ve convinced my son to join me at more Indians games now.

The big question though about F1 is whether or not it will be back. Bernie Ecclestone, President and CEO of F1, has supposedly given Tony George, owner of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a figure that he and F1 needs to stay in Indianapolis. According to WIBC the cost for this year may have been somewhere around $15M to host the event.

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