ISC approves Daytona International Speedway renovations

[nascarman14]

ISC today approved funding to redevelop the frontstretch of Daytona International Speedway to enhance the overall experience for its fans, marketing partners and the motorsports industry. This historic, multi-year project will break ground on July 5, 2013, and is targeted for completion in January 2016, in time for the 54th Rolex 24 At Daytona and the 58th DAYTONA 500. The vision for the redevelopment of the Daytona International Speedway frontstretch places an emphasis on enhancing the complete fan experience, beginning with five expanded and redesigned fan entrances, or injectors, along International Speedway Boulevard. Each injector would lead directly to a series of escalators and elevators that would transport fans to any of three different concourse levels, each featuring spacious and strategically-placed social "neighborhoods" along the nearly mile-long frontstretch. A total of 11 neighborhoods, each measuring the size of a football field, will enable fans to meet and socialize during events without ever missing any on-track action, thanks to an open-sightline design throughout each concourse and dozens of added video screens in every neighborhood. The central neighborhood, dubbed the "World Center of Racing," would celebrate the history of Daytona International Speedway and its many unforgettable moments throughout more than 50 years of racing. Every seat in the Speedway frontstretch will be replaced with wider and more comfortable seating, with more restrooms and concession stands throughout the facility. At the conclusion of the redevelopment, Daytona International Speedway will be comprised of approximately 101,000 permanent seats with the potential to increase permanent seating to 125,000.

Article Source: ISC approves Daytona frontstretch redevelopment

I can't wait to see what this will look like in person! What do you guys think about the renovations?

 

[ShadowKnight508]

ISC Approves Daytona International Speedway Frontstretch Renovations, 2016 Completion Goal (Full Press Release + Video Credit to DIS):

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – International Speedway Corporation today approved funding to redevelop the frontstretch of Daytona International Speedway, the Company’s 54-year-old flagship motorsports facility, to enhance the overall experience for its fans, marketing partners and the motorsports industry. This historic, multi-year project will break ground on July 5, 2013, and is targeted for completion in January 2016, in time for the 54th Rolex 24 At Daytona and the 58th DAYTONA 500.

“We are truly creating history with this unprecedented endeavor,” said ISC’s Chief Executive Officer Lesa France Kennedy. “I commend the board’s decision to move forward on our plan to redevelop the Company’s signature motorsports facility, thereby shaping the vision of Daytona for the next 50 years.

“The decision was made with strong consideration of the current macroeconomic condition and a clear view for our long-term growth,” Ms. France Kennedy continued. “This significant private investment is a strategic use of our capital that will ensure the long-term viability of the iconic speedway, and when completed, will contribute favorably to the Company's revenues, as well as to our community and the sport as a whole.”

The redevelopment is expected to cost between $375 million to $400 million.

The vision for the redevelopment of the Daytona International Speedway frontstretch places an emphasis on enhancing the complete fan experience, beginning with five expanded and redesigned fan entrances, or injectors, along International Speedway Boulevard. Each injector would lead directly to a series of escalators and elevators that would transport fans to any of three different concourse levels, each featuring spacious and strategically-placed social "neighborhoods" along the nearly mile-long frontstretch.

A total of 11 neighborhoods, each measuring the size of a football field, will enable fans to meet and socialize during events without ever missing any on-track action, thanks to an open-sightline design throughout each concourse and dozens of added video screens in every neighborhood. The central neighborhood, dubbed the "World Center of Racing," would celebrate the history of Daytona International Speedway and its many unforgettable moments throughout more than 50 years of racing.

Every seat in the Speedway frontstretch will be replaced with wider and more comfortable seating, with more restrooms and concession stands throughout the facility. At the conclusion of the redevelopment, Daytona International Speedway will be comprised of approximately 101,000 permanent seats with the potential to increase permanent seating to 125,000.

There will be no capacity changes for the 2014 DAYTONA 500. The eventual decrease in capacity could occur in stages following the 2014 DAYTONA 500 and will include the complete removal of the backstretch grandstand by the start of the 2016 motorsports season. By moving all seating to the frontstretch, all attendees will have the opportunity to enjoy a full race day experience including pre-race ceremonies, pit road action and the facility’s new amenities. “We will take great care of our loyal existing customers throughout this renovation,” said John Saunders, President of ISC. “They can expect to receive additional direct communication as we proceed with construction.”

The redevelopment will also provide an expansive platform for ISC’s corporate marketing partners. Hospitality is elevated with a completely revamped design that will exceed partners’ expectations for a more intimate, affordable and effective experience. The new frontstretch will include 53 suites that will offer superb views of the track.

Construction for the redevelopment project will begin after the 2013 Coke Zero 400 NASCAR weekend. As a result, the redevelopment will impact certain ancillary events at the Speedway through 2014. However, major races such as those associated with Budweiser Speedweeks, the Daytona Supercross By Honda, the Daytona 200 and the Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola, will be held as scheduled. Additional information on events beyond 2014 will be provided upon completion of the full construction schedule.

“The redevelopment of Daytona International Speedway reaffirms its status as the ‘World Center of Racing’ for years to come,” said Ms. France Kennedy. “It is imperative that we build upon my grandfather’s vision to create a world-class facility with premium amenities to provide unparalleled experiences for our guests and partners. Doing so will ensure that the DAYTONA 500 and all our other events continue to drive our business while serving as a significant economic engine for the region.”

Daytona International Speedway is the home of "The Great American Race" - the DAYTONA 500. Though the season-opening NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event garners most of the attention - as well as the largest audience in motorsports - the approximately 500-acre motorsports complex boasts the most diverse schedule of events on the globe, thus earning it the title of the "World Center of Racing." In addition to eight major weekends of racing activity, rarely a week goes by that the Speedway grounds are not used for events that include civic and social gatherings, car shows, photo and film shoots, car club events, production vehicle testing and more.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewujszL4c1I]Daytona International Speedway Redevelopment - YouTube[/ame]

 

[4WideRacing]

I still don't understand why they are doing this. It just seems crazy to me.

 

[Pabig]

R.I.P. Daytona Superstretch. Guess that will be the end of the short track aswell since there will be no seats there?

 

[ShadowKnight508]

R.I.P. Daytona Superstretch. Guess that will be the end of the short track aswell since there will be no seats there?

Pretty much, I suppose (unless they put in temporary seating just for the event whenever it is held). It will just be weird not seeing that iconic Superstretch grandstand (seats + suites) that has been apart of Daytona for the past two or so decades by the time that 2016 rolls around.

 

[moppenheimer]

What a waste of $400 million....

 

[Daceag17]

It looks awesome to me. A new track image would really boost attendance, and would also attract new markets (just what NASCAR needs, IMO). Also, as an architecture student with a sense of innovation, I think this is a great idea and concept for a racetrack. Not the greatest design ever, but certainly a good approach.


I would definitely take a visit and attend a few races when it's done.

 

[ChevyMan150]

I don't get it...I went there last July for the 400 and it seemed perfectly fine to me. I can't remember anything bad about my experience...If it ain't broke don't fix it. Especially when that fix sets you back $375-$400 million.

 

[ThatOneShredder]

How in the Hell do they expect to keep the entire grandstand up while rebuilding it? I'm just totally confused... Do they expect to take out the entire grandstand and replace every single seat between races? -.- I'm not happy about this at all. It looks like a fucking airport from the outside.

AND: Why remove the backstretch grandstand? It's not like it's in the way of anything....

 

[Mystical]

yeah not sure why they have to remove the backstetch seats. It'll be a ghost town on that side of the track.

The one bright side is the new stands will be farther away from the racing wall which is safer at least.

 

[nascarman14]

Also the stands will be raised up. Also another safer thing.

 

[Deuce]

I'm on the fence on the whole thing.

1 part of me says it's fine the way it is, no need to update much of anything.

The other part says, "Well major sports teams get new stadiums/arenas all the time, but you can't exactly build a NEW daytona somewhere. This is their way of trying to keep up with the times and get a "new" stadium for NASCAR".

I'm leaning towards the other part of me there...

 

[B.McKeever]

I think the distance they are putting between the fence and the seating is the best idea, yet. Allowing people to walk along the fence and sit that close during a race is just stupid.

 

[evan07]

I think its a good idea. Some of the seats needed to be replaced pretty bad. As far as the Super Stretch I will miss looking at it, but it was only open during the Daytona 500 so I dont think it's a big deal at all that it will be going away.

 

[dalejrgamer]

I'm just worried about the ticket prices just to compensate for the project. No doubt it'll be somewhere between "Disneyland absurd" and "screw this, I'm watching IndyCar."

 

[K.Chuck]

Maybe there will a place to effectively hide from getting wet in the rain now.

 

[Kevin_McAdams]

If they raise prices for the 2015&2016 500s beyond, the 2014 Daytona 500 will be my last for quite a long time if it's dramatic. I'm excited that I'll be able to watch the progress week by week since I work in Daytona. Should be interesting how this plays out.

 

[MattSRD28]

I watched an entire theme park get almost rebuilt over a period of about four years while remaining open all 365 days of each year. It was gnarly, ugly, embarrassing at times, but they did it.

Daytona only has to be open to the large masses 6 out of 365 days of the year. Their biggest challenge is going to be how to split the grandstands into thirds, or fourths, or whatever, rebuild one section per year and do it in a way where half of the project happens between each major race weekend. That's not a real enormous challenge depending on who the major contracting agency is. Professional designers, surveyors and so forth can handle that fairly easily. Just look at what they can build about 90 miles to the southwest in the Orlando area.

The best part about the announcement to me is that Florida taxpayers are not having their tax money subsidizing any part of this project. Should be pretty clear to anyone now that ISC could have done the project all along, and all their talk about "needing" the tax money or this, that, or the other dire consequence was complete BS.

 

[celticfang]

So can/would they rebuild around the Rolex 24 or supercross or AMA events as well then? I'd imagine for the Rolex 24 it'd be tricky to rebuild with a 24 hour race going on all around them, whereas the AMA only goes on for a few hours at most, I'm not totally sold on the logistics of redoing it 365 days a year (though Indy did it with their rebuild so it is doable)

 

[timnsr72]

I hope they put camping spots in where the superstrech grandstand is now, it seems like that would be logical.