Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca Brings In Big Bucks for Monterey County
Every year after Monterey Car Week I try to highlight just how important the week, centered around Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, is to Monterey County. Today I got a press release from Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca about the Superbike World Championship Week that really brings the financial importance of one of the world's great race tracks into focus.
About Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca is a world-renowned 2.238-mile traditional road course that was built in 1957, then known as Laguna Seca Raceway, by the Sports Car Racing Association of the Monterey Peninsula (SCRAMP). SCRAMP is a non-profit 501(c)(4) corporation with the purpose of managing the County of Monterey-owned Laguna Seca Recreation Area.
Here's some figures from the release from the 2015 event:
Lodging = $2,003,910
Food & Dining = $2,883,367
Transportation = $1,711,003
Retail = $2,800,950
Entertainment = $1,999,341
Other = $274,652
For a total of $11,673,222 directly spent in Monterey County.
That's a ton of money folks and it's just one event at one venue. Car Week has multiple venues. Make no mistake, if it wasn't for Pebble Beach and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, the track spawned by the legendary races through the Del Monte Forest, Monterey County would be much, much poorer.
Here's the full release from Mazda Raceway:
MONTEREY, Calif., June 30, 2017 — The high-speed thrills that Superbike World Championship fans and race teams will experience at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca on July 7-9will be paralleled by local business owners who feel the economic boost of the international motorsports event being held in the Monterey Peninsula. Local charities and sponsors also benefit.
The Motul FIM Superbike World Championship GEICO U.S. Round featuring MotoAmerica Honda Championship of the Monterey Peninsula attracts tens of thousands of people to the host region. An Economic Impact Report was conducted by California State University Monterey Bay in 2015. Advance ticket sales projections indicate a significant increase in 2017 compared to the 2015 event when the data was collected.
2015 Superbike World Championship by the Numbers:
• $2,003,910 – Lodging
• $2,883,367 – Food & Dining
• $1,711,003 – Transportation
• $2,800,950 – Retail
• $1,999,341 – Entertainment
• $274,652 – Other
• $11,673,222 – Total Direct Spending in Monterey County
Additionally, the study reported a total of 8,070 room nights in area hotels that were directly attributed to the international motorcycle race, which makes its only stop in North America on their 13-round schedule. Missing from the grid will be Nicky Hayden, a beloved U.S. rider and champion who lost his life in a training accident in May at age 35. His presence will be felt with multiple tributes at this year’s event.
One of the top storylines heading into this year’s event is the intense on-track rivalry between reigning world champion Jonathan Rea and Chaz Davies, a two-time winner of this event. Media activities in the week leading up to the event will kick off with Rea throwing the ceremonial first pitch at the Oakland Athletics vs. Chicago White Sox baseball game on Wednesday, July 5.
“The Superbike World Championship brings top riders from around the world to our track,” said Gill Campbell, CEO and general manager of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. “In my opinion, the series provides some of the best racing out there today. We have a big week ahead with various fan and media activities involving the riders before they take to the track on July 7. The teams are ready, we are ready, and Monterey County is ready to greet them.”
Advance tickets are still available by calling 831-242-8200 or visiting www.MazdaRaceway.com.
# # #
The Motul FIM Superbike World Championship GEICO U.S. Round featuring MotoAmerica Honda Championship of the Monterey Peninsula attracts tens of thousands of people to the host region. An Economic Impact Report was conducted by California State University Monterey Bay in 2015. Advance ticket sales projections indicate a significant increase in 2017 compared to the 2015 event when the data was collected.
2015 Superbike World Championship by the Numbers:
• $2,003,910 – Lodging
• $2,883,367 – Food & Dining
• $1,711,003 – Transportation
• $2,800,950 – Retail
• $1,999,341 – Entertainment
• $274,652 – Other
• $11,673,222 – Total Direct Spending in Monterey County
Additionally, the study reported a total of 8,070 room nights in area hotels that were directly attributed to the international motorcycle race, which makes its only stop in North America on their 13-round schedule. Missing from the grid will be Nicky Hayden, a beloved U.S. rider and champion who lost his life in a training accident in May at age 35. His presence will be felt with multiple tributes at this year’s event.
One of the top storylines heading into this year’s event is the intense on-track rivalry between reigning world champion Jonathan Rea and Chaz Davies, a two-time winner of this event. Media activities in the week leading up to the event will kick off with Rea throwing the ceremonial first pitch at the Oakland Athletics vs. Chicago White Sox baseball game on Wednesday, July 5.
“The Superbike World Championship brings top riders from around the world to our track,” said Gill Campbell, CEO and general manager of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. “In my opinion, the series provides some of the best racing out there today. We have a big week ahead with various fan and media activities involving the riders before they take to the track on July 7. The teams are ready, we are ready, and Monterey County is ready to greet them.”
Advance tickets are still available by calling 831-242-8200 or visiting www.MazdaRaceway.com.
# # #
About Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca is a world-renowned 2.238-mile traditional road course that was built in 1957, then known as Laguna Seca Raceway, by the Sports Car Racing Association of the Monterey Peninsula (SCRAMP). SCRAMP is a non-profit 501(c)(4) corporation with the purpose of managing the County of Monterey-owned Laguna Seca Recreation Area.
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