Tickets Now On Sale For Grand Prix Of Baltimore

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- On Labor Day weekend, race cars will be speeding through the streets of Baltimore again.

Kai Jackson reports on the big milestone Monday for race organizers.

The race is still several months away but the excitement and scrutiny is here now.

It seems the only thing with more twists and turns than Baltimore's first Grand Prix race has been efforts to host the event for a second time.

"Tickets went on sale today. This event's gonna be a family-friendly event. We've got General Admissions tickets on sale for $15," said Race On General Manager JP Grant.

Race organizers say if tickets are purchased before June 11, fans get a 25 percent discount on the Paddock Pass, which is access to the drivers and their cars.

"I think it's gonna be good. It puts us in the spot," said Derrick Kisner from Rosedale.

As tickets for the Grand Prix of Baltimore go on sale, the group running the event says they're making changes, which include tighter security, better access for fans and a revised race course.

"Our models show that we don't have a title sponsor this year but we're still pursuing that line," Grant said.

Following several shakeups, a third group is now managing the event and it's now called the Grand Prix of Baltimore. Race On is owned by Baltimorean JP Grant and his partner, Greg O'Neill. The duo hired racing great Michael Andretti--son of legendary driver Mario Andretti--to manage logistics of the race.

"Because of what we saw last year and, as JP said, there were some mistakes made and we're gonna learn from that," Andretti said.

Tickets for last year's event went on sale in December, but organizers say they expect good sales since many fans buy tickets in the two months before the event.

Last year's race brought in about $50 million. Nearly $4 million of that money was split between Baltimore and the state of Maryland.