$430 million Minnesota racing complex ???

[LMITOUT]

Wayzata-based International Motorsports Entertainment and Development Corp. (IMEDC) is trying to rev up interest in — and overcome skepticism about its ability to pull off — a proposed $430 million motorsports complex at an undisclosed site in the metro area.

Scott Quick, director of operations development for the IMEDC, said the company is planning a “first-class, state-of-the-art,” 60,000-seat complex that includes a seven-eighths-mile asphalt oval track, a 2.5-mile road course, a quarter-mile drag strip and a 100,000-square-foot exhibition center, among other attractions.

Armed with architectural drawings of the planned complex, Quick raised some eyebrows at a recent House Taxes Committee hearing when he told the lawmakers that the project could create 4,000 construction-related jobs. Should the project come to pass, such numbers aren’t out of reach; the construction of Target Field employed about 3,500 workers.

Quick said his primary reason for testifying at the House gathering was to make the committee aware of the project and its job-creation potential.

One thing that hasn’t been determined is the project’s location.

The motorsports group has been looking for a construction site for a couple of years. Quick said the group has found a location in the metro area “that meets our criteria,” but he wasn’t ready to disclose any details.

“We have a project, we have a site,” he said at the House Taxes Committee forum. “Now we will be engaging with a community to lock down property acquisition and so on.”

John Wendt, an associate professor in the University of St. Thomas’ ethics in business law department, and a sports management instructor, is skeptical that the project will fly.

Among the challenges: strong competition for the sports dollar in a market that already includes four major professional sports teams as well as college sports.

“I think it’s too ambitious in Minnesota’s climate right now,” Wendt said.

“You are talking, basically, another stadium the size of the Gophers stadium, or the size of the Metrodome, or the size of the new Twins ballpark. And the Twins are counting on 81 home games. I don’t think there will be 81 events of NASCAR in the Twin Cities.

“People only have so many disposable funds,” Wendt added. “I can enjoy NASCAR, but I don’t know if the draw is that big [in the Twin Cities]. … The people that love car racing are a very dedicated group. But is it going to be that consistent, that solid, that you can sustain it? That is what I would want to know.”

The closest NASCAR facility to the Twin Cities is the Elko Speedway, about 30 minutes south of downtown Minneapolis. That facility, long affiliated with NASCAR, attracts roughly 250,000 fans per year — and it isn’t nearly as ambitious as the kind of venue Quick is talking about.

Quick noted that the Twin Cities has a strong motorsports fan base and a rich racing tradition. According to the IMEDC’s HSOforum, Minnesota hosted some of the first races in the country. And the Minnesota State Fair Speedway years ago saw the likes of legendary driver Ralph DePalma, who won the Indianapolis 500 in 1915.

3M, General Mills and Fastenal Corp. are examples of motorsports corporate sponsors that call Minnesota home, Quick noted. One thing Quick regrets is that environmental review process for construction projects doesn’t move as quickly as the race cars he hopes to bring to the Twin Cities.

[buckx37x]

wow, might have to think about gettin back into the drag racing.All i need to do is win the lotto first!

[harvey lee]

I would be very suprised to see a facility like that built here in the metro. Minnesota has never been that supportive of racing on a larger level.

I would like to see it but I will be suprised.

[minnbowhunter]

Here is a bit of history for you. In the early 1900's a race track was built at the site of the Mpls/St.Paul airport. It was considered a "sister" track to the Brickyard. In those days airplanes did not have radios and used the infield to land their planes. The track was so big that the pilots could see it from 50 miles away on a clear day. The track was mainly constructed of wood and at some point there was a huge fire that pretty much destroyed everything. At it's heyday of early motor sports there were 2 big races, Indy on Memorial Day, and the Minnesota track on Labor Day. I found an old picture of the track.

After the fire the track was never rebuilt, but the airplanes kept using the site.

[Harmonica Bear]

That's cool. I never knew that.

[minnbowhunter]

Aint history cool. The track had a lot of problems. It was the first track built with concrete and they did not use any rebar. It was a real disaster. The owner owed everybody money including some of the racers that never got paid. In 1915 Barney Oldfield and Eddy Rickenbacker raced at the track, pretty big names of the era. The airfield was known as Speedway Airfield for years until renamed Wold/Chamberlin after 2 WWI pilots that were killed in the War. Try doing a search on google about the track, there are alot of old photos and information. Sorry Limit, did not mean to jack your thread, a new track would be great for the area, hope it happens.

[JollyT]

Personally, I love the idea of a road course. Getting a Sprint Cup or Nationwide race probably won't happen anyway as the established tracks are fighting over races now. It would be cool though.

I just hope that if it does get built, it doesn't hurt Brainerd as the new owner up there seems to be working hard to improve the facilities.

[little-red-lund]

I would be very suprised to see a facility like that built here in the metro. Minnesota has never been that supportive of racing on a larger level.

I would like to see it but I will be suprised.

what are you talking about...brianerd host the NHRA sanction race at a national level...i don't see why a nascar race couldn't someday be raced here...

[gregg52]

ya its hard to say that minn doesnt support racin

Bir draws more and more every year and open its gates sooner

ever year I live 2 miles north of it so I've seen it grow over 20 yrs

Granted people come from all over but there for nascar as well

as nascar draws more the nhra or least as many

Ya I also would hate to see BIR lose their dates maybe the drag guys could come twice

But Ive heard all this talk before

time will tell i guess

[harvey lee]

Originally Posted By: harvey lee

I would be very suprised to see a facility like that built here in the metro. Minnesota has never been that supportive of racing on a larger level.

I would like to see it but I will be suprised.

what are you talking about...brianerd host the NHRA sanction race at a national level...i don't see why a nascar race couldn't someday be raced here...

We had the fair grounds and had races there for ASA. No one else would come as they were never approached.

I talked with a big motor builder that builds motors for many different racing venues and he said that Minnesota is the worst at promoting any type racing in the nation. He told me that they have been approached many times for some higher end asphalt races in Minnesota and they were simply not interested.

Yes we have drag racing but no circle track stuff to speak of.

When I would go to the ASA races at the state fairgrounds, the crowds were nothing. Not supported very well at all.

[gregg52]

hmm not sure bout that harvey the last ones i remember going to were sold out

mark m was at one of them

i think long time ago before nascar got as big as it is

the crowds werent always big

i dunno nascar has peaked i think how would it go here

i guess i wouldnt wanna own the track unless i had

maybe indy cars coming..arca..some other things to put butts in the stand you probably would only get one date to start with 400 million lots of tickets to pay for that

[harvey lee]

One would need the State of Minnesota to help to get this promoted and all bets are they would not.