Post by dalejrfan on Mar 6, 2006 22:40:24 GMT -5
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Central Florida officials involved with Daytona Beach's bid to host NASCAR's Hall of Fame held out hope of being selected until the proverbial last minute.
But on Monday morning, the birthplace of NASCAR found out all it had in its future was NASCAR's corporate office and Daytona International Speedway, home of NASCAR's signature event, the Daytona 500.
Charlotte, N.C., was selected on Monday afternoon as Hall of Fame location, making it the winner of a race that began with seven invitees -- five of which submitted proposals. In January, they were whittled down to three finalists: Charlotte, Atlanta and Daytona Beach.
Though disappointed at Charlotte being the choice, the Florida delegation felt it was most important that NASCAR continues to hold a high profile in the town where it was born in 1948.
"We're disappointed," said George Mirabal, president of The Chamber, Daytona Beach Halifax Area. "We would have loved to have had the NASCAR Hall of Fame, but we congratulate and wish Charlotte the best -- we know they'll do a spectacular job because it's a great brand to have."
Mirabal said the Daytona Beach delegation was informed of NASCAR's decision in phone calls at 9:15 Monday morning, and that NASCAR confirmed it had no intention of removing itself from the town.
"This was a unique opportunity," Mirabal said. "But what we heard today in two conversations was their commitment that the NASCAR headquarters was not going to move to Charlotte -- it was never intended to move nor will it move.
"The second thing is they are planning to build the $70 million Speedplex across the street from where the Hall of Fame was going to be and that in itself is going to have a large economic impact on our community."
International Speedway Corporation spokesman David Talley said the Speedplex proposal was still being considered.
"We plan to continue with our analysis of the Speedplex project as a mixed-use development that provides for better use of this prime acreage and a potential significant economic benefit for the community," Talley said. "The proposed Speedplex project is contingent on several items, including modifying the DIS track lease and overall feasibility considerations.
"If these matters are satisfied, we could move forward with the project within the next three to six months, with opening for the complex targeted for 2007 or 2008."
Daytona Beach's proposed $105 million Hall of Fame would have been built next to Daytona International Speedway's fourth turn, a site currently occupied by track offices and the DAYTONA USA interactive motorsports attraction.
Speedway president Robin Braig echoed the sentiments of his fellow petitioners in the aftermath of Charlotte's announcement.
"While we are disappointed that NASCAR did not choose Daytona Beach as the preferred location for its future Hall of Fame," Braig said. "We are extremely proud of the tremendous efforts put forth by the Daytona Beach/Volusia County organizing committee and its supporters.
"The delegation submitted an innovative proposal that presented a formidable alternative to the bids developed by Atlanta and Charlotte, and kept Daytona Beach in the running down to the end of this competitive selection process."
Mirabal said his group had no regrets about pursuing the project. The Daytona Beach delegation was proud of the fact that its proposal was the only one of the three that relied totally on private financing, but in the end that might not have worked in its favor.
I think all three cities tied in the design, the concept and the capital that was needed," Mirabal said. "I think it was the way in which the capital was structured that made the difference."
Mirabal said the fact that Charlotte's capital was "92 to 95 percent public money" probably weighed the scale in that city's favor, adding that Atlanta's proposal was "100 percent public money, while ours had zero public funds."
"We followed what Bill France and International Speedway Corporation did throughout their existence -- we did it the old fashioned way, going out and getting the money on our own with no government subsidies -- and we thought we were following the way NASCAR and [ISC] had built their successful corporate structure," Mirabal said.
Mirabal said he felt sustainability would be Charlotte's biggest challenge, as it would have been for any of the cities. He felt that would have played in Daytona Beach's favor.
"Everyone knows it's going to be a great success in year one, year two and year three," Mirabal said. "But their greatest challenge is to be certain that in year 10 it's more successful than it was in year one.
"That's how we built our bid, on sustainability; and that was based on this wasn't just Daytona Beach, where we have 9 million visitors predisposed to entertain themselves, but also Central Florida, which includes Orlando and has 53 million people coming here to entertain themselves.
"We have 53 million visitors in our area, and Charlotte has 3 [million] and Atlanta has between 8 and 9 million. We felt this was a tourist attraction; therefore you had to be in a place that attracts tourists."
International Speedway Corporation already operates DAYTONA USA, which also includes historical elements.
Talley said that awarding Charlotte the NASCAR Hall of Fame would not effect Daytona Beach's local attraction.
"We have no reason to believe operations at DAYTONA USA will change," Talley said. "We really won't know if people will have to make a choice [on which facility to visit].
"A majority of DAYTONA USA's traffic is during event time and that shouldn't change."
Talley said Daytona International Speedway is active for more than 300 days a year with events including its signature Nextel Cup Series race, the Daytona 500, to test dates, Sports Car Club or America events, commercials and video shoots, car shows, driving schools and motorcycle and sports car races.
But on Monday morning, the birthplace of NASCAR found out all it had in its future was NASCAR's corporate office and Daytona International Speedway, home of NASCAR's signature event, the Daytona 500.
Charlotte, N.C., was selected on Monday afternoon as Hall of Fame location, making it the winner of a race that began with seven invitees -- five of which submitted proposals. In January, they were whittled down to three finalists: Charlotte, Atlanta and Daytona Beach.
Though disappointed at Charlotte being the choice, the Florida delegation felt it was most important that NASCAR continues to hold a high profile in the town where it was born in 1948.
"We're disappointed," said George Mirabal, president of The Chamber, Daytona Beach Halifax Area. "We would have loved to have had the NASCAR Hall of Fame, but we congratulate and wish Charlotte the best -- we know they'll do a spectacular job because it's a great brand to have."
Mirabal said the Daytona Beach delegation was informed of NASCAR's decision in phone calls at 9:15 Monday morning, and that NASCAR confirmed it had no intention of removing itself from the town.
"This was a unique opportunity," Mirabal said. "But what we heard today in two conversations was their commitment that the NASCAR headquarters was not going to move to Charlotte -- it was never intended to move nor will it move.
"The second thing is they are planning to build the $70 million Speedplex across the street from where the Hall of Fame was going to be and that in itself is going to have a large economic impact on our community."
International Speedway Corporation spokesman David Talley said the Speedplex proposal was still being considered.
"We plan to continue with our analysis of the Speedplex project as a mixed-use development that provides for better use of this prime acreage and a potential significant economic benefit for the community," Talley said. "The proposed Speedplex project is contingent on several items, including modifying the DIS track lease and overall feasibility considerations.
"If these matters are satisfied, we could move forward with the project within the next three to six months, with opening for the complex targeted for 2007 or 2008."
Daytona Beach's proposed $105 million Hall of Fame would have been built next to Daytona International Speedway's fourth turn, a site currently occupied by track offices and the DAYTONA USA interactive motorsports attraction.
Speedway president Robin Braig echoed the sentiments of his fellow petitioners in the aftermath of Charlotte's announcement.
"While we are disappointed that NASCAR did not choose Daytona Beach as the preferred location for its future Hall of Fame," Braig said. "We are extremely proud of the tremendous efforts put forth by the Daytona Beach/Volusia County organizing committee and its supporters.
"The delegation submitted an innovative proposal that presented a formidable alternative to the bids developed by Atlanta and Charlotte, and kept Daytona Beach in the running down to the end of this competitive selection process."
Mirabal said his group had no regrets about pursuing the project. The Daytona Beach delegation was proud of the fact that its proposal was the only one of the three that relied totally on private financing, but in the end that might not have worked in its favor.
I think all three cities tied in the design, the concept and the capital that was needed," Mirabal said. "I think it was the way in which the capital was structured that made the difference."
Mirabal said the fact that Charlotte's capital was "92 to 95 percent public money" probably weighed the scale in that city's favor, adding that Atlanta's proposal was "100 percent public money, while ours had zero public funds."
"We followed what Bill France and International Speedway Corporation did throughout their existence -- we did it the old fashioned way, going out and getting the money on our own with no government subsidies -- and we thought we were following the way NASCAR and [ISC] had built their successful corporate structure," Mirabal said.
Mirabal said he felt sustainability would be Charlotte's biggest challenge, as it would have been for any of the cities. He felt that would have played in Daytona Beach's favor.
"Everyone knows it's going to be a great success in year one, year two and year three," Mirabal said. "But their greatest challenge is to be certain that in year 10 it's more successful than it was in year one.
"That's how we built our bid, on sustainability; and that was based on this wasn't just Daytona Beach, where we have 9 million visitors predisposed to entertain themselves, but also Central Florida, which includes Orlando and has 53 million people coming here to entertain themselves.
"We have 53 million visitors in our area, and Charlotte has 3 [million] and Atlanta has between 8 and 9 million. We felt this was a tourist attraction; therefore you had to be in a place that attracts tourists."
International Speedway Corporation already operates DAYTONA USA, which also includes historical elements.
Talley said that awarding Charlotte the NASCAR Hall of Fame would not effect Daytona Beach's local attraction.
"We have no reason to believe operations at DAYTONA USA will change," Talley said. "We really won't know if people will have to make a choice [on which facility to visit].
"A majority of DAYTONA USA's traffic is during event time and that shouldn't change."
Talley said Daytona International Speedway is active for more than 300 days a year with events including its signature Nextel Cup Series race, the Daytona 500, to test dates, Sports Car Club or America events, commercials and video shoots, car shows, driving schools and motorcycle and sports car races.