shiners780

Any recent developments?

Torontoworker

As per usual this too will be dead in the water. Every track developer around here wants a 'letter' from NASCAR that they have a 'date' they can take to the bank to get the money to build the track. NASCAR don't work this way and the default setting is always go to the Govt after they find this out. Right now that is a non-starter as the funds have been spent on keeping car building companies in this area! They had pie in the sky ideas of a multi purpose use track with an oval/road course/drag strip and a NASCAR date would pay for it all - or so they hoped. The greatest issue other then NASCAR or lack of... is land use issues and the Greenbelt/Fruitbelt protection laws. It could take 10 years and or a change of governement to figure out that mess.

The other issue is the sale of the Glen by ISC. They can't sell this track without a NASCAR date to any new owner and without those dates into the near future - no one is going to buy the Glen WITH another track three hours away that also has a NASCAR event. Catch 22 mode.

Bryan Henry

Where was this to be located?

Torontoworker

Niagara Region - Fort Erie off the QEW. The City of Fort Erie wants it of course - no surprise there - but the Province has already said the Federal funds have been set aside for other projects and Ontario's cash is tied up right now. The 'off shore' money is 'supposed' to be funding this but Dubai has had it's own economic issues lately so that may be a pipe dream as well. I can't see the ROI quite frankly without Governement money (yours and mine!!!) and Fort Erie CANNOT float a bond for this type of development - it's against the law so all they could do is sewers and such. The QEW is an Ontario highway so they can't even build the on/off ramps for free.

Bryan Henry

That is too bad that its a no go.My wife and I love touring the back roads around Niagara and wine country. Would have been one more reason to make the trip. Maybe they can get some money from Casino Niagara

Bill N

This is only 10 days old...have there been new developments?
http://www.forterietimes.ca/ArticleD...aspx?e=1621168

Beginning of article:

The people behind the proposed Canadian Motor Speedway want the public to know what they have in mind.

Last week, a public information meeting was held at Town Hall, hosted by Jay and Jesse Mason, a father and son who initially proposed the idea for the 65,000 seat facility to be located on over 700 acres of land along the east side of the QEW, with Bowen Road to the north, Bertie Street to the south, and Ridgemount Road to the west.

Also to be included at the site is an automotive research and development centre, in partnership with McMaster University.

"We're only in the middle of the planning," Jay Mason told the Times this week.

Torontoworker

The problem bryan is that whos share would the money come from? The Province? From the US company that runs Falls View and the orginal site? I think no from both groups - they won't share the slot money.

I've been in on discussions in CASC forums and the bottom line is that there are currently five tracks with either auto racing or both lapping days and auto racing in Ontario. Some are just keeping the bill collectors away and one is making a reduced income this year over last year. None of them want an EXTRA track in the Province and I have not included the oval tracks in this list.

There were several better places that this development could have gone yet for some reason, (I think I know why) this group decided on Fort Erie. The idea that all these Americans will flood over the border to watch racing is now suspect. Throw in a worse economy then ours, the new passport laws which for the avg American are more much more expensive and a two hour drive for people from Toronto and you have a big problem.

I've never believed that Govt should be involved in racing yet somehow the AGR group convinced the City of Toronto and the Province to give them $3 million over three years for the Toronto Honda Indy based upon fuzy tourist spending math.

I can almost guarantee that the majority of money spent on this race will be from race fans living within the GTA. That is not new money flowing into the city but money flowing out of the country and into the hands of AGR - not hotels or bars.

This proposed Fort Erie development actually should have been targeted to either west of the GTA in Halton region or east of the GTA in Durham region. Cut out all the pie in the sky stuff about multi use and just make a good 1 mile with enough seating to pay the bills. There are so many rabid NASCAR fans in and around the GTA that I'm sure even a Nationwide or truck event would sell out. Throw in the three year deal at Montreal and the Glen and I figure the investment looks shaky for Fort Erie.

From Jayski.com

They sold the region in October that Jeff Gordon was a partner but as of April he has not signed anything and his step father refuses to confirm he is doing nothing more then 'lending' his name to the project for a fee or % of the business.

And... what about this project:

Wouldn't it be within Cayuga's right to object to public financing when they have to do it all by themselves?? Only the lawyers get rich and we still await a good oval...

racerman

I can see somebody doesn't know all that he thinks he knows..the project is still a go!..there's just a little speed bump here with some of the citzenry squawking about "NIMBY"..but there's more support for the track than there is against it..the money's coming from off-shore,not Canadian..I'm thinking it might be the same group that's getting Bruton Smith's company to build tracks over in Qatar..or at least somebody with that kind of moola!..and before you get your knickers in a know over my post here and being a newbie on here and such...I'm from the Fort Erie area and I've been watching the devlopments really closely since dang near day 1..

Canuck928

I live in Fort Erie and am 100% for the racetrack as are a lot of others.FE is a very hard hit area when it comes to jobs,like a lot of places right now and we need the revenues and jobs the track will bring.If it wasn't for a very large amount of Retirees that have moved into this area in the last decade or so,we would be in big trouble.Even so,my property taxes have gone up 35% in the last 9 years along with everything else.The time for a Track is NOW!

MPD47

Just a bump, but this was approved by the Fort Erie local council this evening by a unanimous vote. It goes to the Canadian regional council on Wednesday night, if it's approved there then the project goes forward.
And here is the website for it:

http://www.cdnmotorspeedway.com/

theiceman

Yeah I saw some whining woman on the TV this morning saying it is enviromenataly irresponsible in todays " climate" blah blah blah ..... LOSER !!!!!

jumper5836

Unanimous vote. That is great!

TrackAddict

I was at the meeting last night 6 hrs worth....and they received a unanimous decision from council to support the project.

next they need approval from the Niagara region - that's tomorrow night's vote. (Dec 9th) I can't make it to that one, but if anyone can go out to support it here's the info again...

racerman

I was there too..I had the "Build it and they will come"sign!..

Turbodan

what does NASCAR say? and can this project go forward without NASCAR?
I personally hope this project goes forward but am not holding my breath. good luck