Racing officials announced yesterday that the long-running Toronto Grand Prix—which started in 1986 as the Molson Indy—won't go ahead as planned from July 4 to 6 at Exhibition Place. And, according to The Toronto Star, the city's economy stands to take a $50 million hit as a result.
Toronto tourism director Duncan Ross told The Star that the event has attracted tens of thousands of fans each year. "From a tourism perspective, one thing this event offers is an international and North American broadcast audience," he said. "Any chance tourism marketers have for a live TV feed ... is an incredibly positive opportunity. The dynamic images ... have a way of making visitors want to come to the city."Ross continued, "One of the most important things we can do is to have a diverse calendar with events that appeal to all markets. It's one of the major events we have, along with things like the film festival, Caribana, and Pride Day."
The cancellation is a result of the newly merged schedule of the Indy Racing League and the Champ Car World Series. The Toronto race scheduled for July 6 conflicted with an Indy race in Watkins Glen, N.Y. Officials say Toronto "is high on the list" to host a race in 2009.
Toronto tourism director Duncan Ross told The Star that the event has attracted tens of thousands of fans each year. "From a tourism perspective, one thing this event offers is an international and North American broadcast audience," he said. "Any chance tourism marketers have for a live TV feed ... is an incredibly positive opportunity. The dynamic images ... have a way of making visitors want to come to the city."Ross continued, "One of the most important things we can do is to have a diverse calendar with events that appeal to all markets. It's one of the major events we have, along with things like the film festival, Caribana, and Pride Day."
The cancellation is a result of the newly merged schedule of the Indy Racing League and the Champ Car World Series. The Toronto race scheduled for July 6 conflicted with an Indy race in Watkins Glen, N.Y. Officials say Toronto "is high on the list" to host a race in 2009.
