Baltimore Grand Prix To Be Held Labor Day Weekend
BALTIMORE (WJZ)—The Baltimore Grand Prix returns next Labor Day weekend.
Pat Warren has more on what will change next year.
Race officials say they are looking at areas for improvement.
They loved the ease, the comfort and the pleasure.
"The speed, the camaraderie of the drivers, the race teams, the noise, I love it," said an attendee.
"Fantastic. Every time Danika Patrick went around she was winking at me," said another attendee.
"I can't wait for them to do it again," an attendee said.
Race president Jay Davidson tells WJZ they will do it again next Labor Day weekend, the second year in a five-year contract with the city to run the Baltimore Grand Prix.
"That was the date that we always wanted, but I will say that we needed the cooperation of the Orioles and Major League Baseball," Davidson said. "We're very grateful that the Orioles asked that the date be free for us, and we can have it again next year."
Race officials estimate more than 150,000 people attended the race through the weekend. Businesses like the Pratt Street Ale House told WJZ it worked to its advantage.
"Labor Day weekend is not a weekend we look forward to in the restaurant business downtown," said Greg Keating, Pratt Street Ale House general manager. "This was one for the books. This was a good one."
But for some businesses outside the fence, it was a flop. The Sabatino family in Little Italy is hoping for some changes next year.
"We set everything up to have a lot of people here. We had extra food. We had tables outside. It was beautiful and nobody came. I don't think they advertised it right. I hope in the future they advertise it," said Renaldo Rotondo, Sabatino's restaurant.
Race organizers agree there could be some tweaking.
"Overall it was a first-year event," Davidson said. "We had some hiccups, but we felt like it was a great event."
And in the words of Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake in the days following the race: "This was about Baltimore, and Baltimore rocked."
And Baltimore rolled. The final economic impact report is expected later this month.
The mayor says road repairs that preceded this year's race were a one-time effort, and traffic problems shouldn't be as severe next year.
