http://www.speedtv.com/articles/auto/champcar/14049/ "The proposal for a new Champ Car World Series event to be held next July in downtown San José, Calif., was officially unveiled Friday by San José Mayor Ron Gonzales. The San José Grand Prix, scheduled for July 29-31, 2005, will be contested around the HP Pavilion and the surrounding streets, pending formal approval by the San José City Council. It will be the eighth stop on the 2005 Bridgestone Presents The Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford schedule. Bob Singleton, who has organized Champ Car events in Canada for a number of years, will serve as general manager for the event." "The mayor said that the city plans a week of activities leading up to the race, including concerts, fairs, charity events and promotional activities in Northern California’s largest city. "
http://www.champweb.net/headline.php?t=h&id=26762 "Some of the world's fastest cars using the best racing technology by superb drivers from throughout the world will converge on Silicon Valley, and revenues generated by the event will bring real economic benefit to our community and local businesses." The mayor will bring the proposal to the San José City Council for its consideration on December 7. Under the proposal, the City and the San José Redevelopment Agency would invest $650,000 toward the $3 million infrastructure costs to install and remove barriers, equipment and street improvements needed for the race. Over the next ten years, revenues from the event would repay the public investment with interest. The balance of the project cost would be paid by event revenues and the Canary Fund. The specific route for the San José Grand Prix has not yet been determined, but it would follow city streets in the downtown area. The agreement for the race is a long-term arrangement between the city of San José, California and Canary Fund Enterprises LLC. Tickets for the San José Grand Prix are on sale now and can be purchased through ticket master. You may reach ticket master at the following phone numbers: 408-998-tixs or 510-625-tixs or 415-421-tixs For additional information go to: (www.sanJoségrandprix.com).
If San Jose is going to spend redevelopment money on this event, it needs to spend redevelopment money on saving the Earthquakes. I've emailed my councilperson. Everyone else in San Jose should email theirs (contact info on soccersiliconvalley.com.). I am also going to try to make the December 7 city council meeting and wear my Quakes stuff and let the council hear it directly when the matter comes up. This would be a good time to let the city council know there are lots of Quakes fans in San Jose and we're paying attention. Who's with me?
Maybe if SSV or the Quakes themsevles could cross promote with the new San Jose Champcar race..... i think that would be a good thing for all parties involved. Your thoughts?
Someone go after this guy already. He wants to attract the Athletics and now race car driving, but not save the Quakes. Or better yet, if anyone lives in San Jose, vote him out of office.
I think just out of spite I'll file a law suit to stop it. Something about ruining the quiet enjoyment of my neighborhood.
Doh! Thanks. I'm not a San Jose resident so can only observe from the outside. That won't work either, but fillibusters can.
You sure the mayor of San Jose is not someone's sock puppet? Always sounds like someone is manipulating those strings.
I think the Champcar race in San Jose could be a good thing for the Earthquakes. Maybe the two entities could cross promote their products.... business schmoozing.... both the Quakes and auto race are good for San Jose.
I'm with you Don. I've already e-mailed the city council and Jim Cunneen. Now we should raise hell at the council meeting. Rally #2.
As Infuriated as people are around here about the SJ Mayor's ignorance of what the 'Quakes mean to and do for the bay area, following this advice would do the most good for the 'Quakes and probably infuriate RonGo the the most.
As an outside, but a fan of MLS and Champcar, synergy between the Quakes and Champcar San Jose is nthing but positive. I have been to the Cleveland Champcar race, and it is simply amazing how the entire community turns the race into a week long series of events, parties.... it creates a happening. Businesses and other local sports teams line up left and right in order to become involved, and cross promote their products. Just a friendly offering....
I wish you were serious. This is the most absurd thing I've ever heard! I'm sorry but a race through the streets of San Jose?! WTF?! Okay, if San Jose were a true city with a downtown area that had stuff for people to do.... Well then maybe. But, yeah.... I LOVE car races. I wouldn't want to go to this thing if they paid me. This is crazy!
Alright.... well they could pay me. I'll take a soccer team with local ownership and one new stadium. THEN I'll go this. See this is coming from someone who has always wanted to go to the Long Beach race. My mom owns a condo a block away. But in San Jose, no way! If this happens, I hope the Quakes go to Santa Clara and become the Santa Clara Earthquakes!
There's a greater chance of CD Chivas USA becoming an English-language only team. GO SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES!!! -G
You know I don't believe those odds.... Santa Clara Earthquakes could happen. I'm all for it. I'm ready to move to Santa Clara just to put my support behind it.
They could move to Santa Clara, but they'll remain named the San Jose Earthquakes. GO SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES!!! -G
I'm pissed at the city of San Jose. Their only team with multiple championships and they are spitting in the team's face. I'm just pissed right now and ready to throw my support behind any city in the Bay Area that will take us. But I like the idea of Santa Clara best.
Gonzales blows! The rest of the council too. How brain dead can you get? These chumps want to attract Baseball and Racing, but they are willing to lose their symphony and Championship Soccer team?! What's with that? Ignore what you have, rather than nuture it and pine for what you can't get? (The baseball, not the racing.) That's just completely lame. San Jose could and should be the best city in Northern California. They have a ton going for them. But they can' figure out how to make the most of what they have. They continue to believe that they are second best to SF and they act like it. They deserve what they get! GO QUAKES!! - Mark
Well, I can name at least 10 location in the Bay Area where I would personally prefer to live over than living in San Jose.