Good News from Miami CART/ALMS Event

[Liz]

More Stuff to Be Happy About

INDIANAPOLIS (November 13, 2002) - Recently released hotel and occupancy numbers from the CART FedEx Championship Series Grand Prix Americas indicate the first year was a major success for the downtown and metropolitan Miami area.

Over 85,000 spectators saw cars racing down Biscayne Boulevard at speeds close to 180 mph during the inaugural CART FedEx Championship Series Grand Prix Americas, October 4-6 in the streets of Downtown Miami. Fans witnessed local Brazilian driver Cristiano da Matta clinch the 2002 CART FedEx Championship Series championship, enjoyed concerts by Grammy Winners Nestor Torres and Train and were able to catch glimpses of stars such as Grand Prix Americas Grand Marshall Sofia Vergara, Major League Baseball's Mike Piazza and recording artists Boys II Men and Lenny Kravitz.

"The event was a huge success," said President and General Manager of Grand Prix Americas Chuck M. Martinez. "Three days of racing, two concerts and a host of performers and celebrities all helped this international celebration in Downtown Miami live up to its 'Blast by the Bay' moniker. We could not have hoped for a better start for our event."

In addition to attracting thousands of spectators to downtown Miami, the final television rating for the CBS broadcast of the Grand Prix Americas was 1.4 with a 3 share, reaching 1,449,000 households. This was the largest television share for any CART race this season.

"This is the caliber of event needed in downtown Miami," said Director of Marketing for Hyatt Regency Miami Rodrigo Trujillo. "Even our guests who were not here for the race were asking us how they could get tickets. People are already asking us about next year's event. Our goal this year is to market the Grand Prix Americas to our international clients."

According to Greater Miami Convention and Visitor's Bureau officials, downtown hotel occupancies were slightly above 90%. This was up significantly from last year's average occupancy of the same hotels at 64% and still up considerably from the 72% during the same time period in 2000.

The positive Miami numbers have been part of a successful late-season run the CART FedEx Championship Series is experiencing that concludes in this weekend's Gran Premio Telmex-Gigante Presented by Banamex/Visa in Mexico City - an event where two all-time CART attendance marks are in jeopardy as CART is anticipating one of the biggest crowds in its history. The single-event record of 318,000 set two years ago in Monterrey, Mexico could be in jeopardy and a crowd of 286,562 would eclipse CART's all-time season attendance mark set in 2000 during a 20-race season.

[KC]

Having stars at your event goes along way to improving its desire for others to be there.

Congrats to CART and the promoter for a successful event.

[Tiresmoke]

Well I'm happy for Hyatt having all that business. perhaps next year, instead of using the event to profit themselves so much, they'll take more of a one-hand-washes-the-other approach, and grow this marketing plan where they can do the same for all major street races. A CART race is a great form of hospitality for your preferred guests, Hyatt should be thinking about stepping into the series.

[Lee Janotta]

Jeez! Just imagine if it had been on a halfway decent track!!!

[The Snout]

Cart's and the ALMS has got itself a top Longbeach type event on it hands here as long as they keep looking after it. Just need to improve the track.