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Bringing back the Columbus Grand Prix???

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Started 3 months ago by -Nick-
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Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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groundrules said:
look, we know you hate cars :) but we can't race trains just yet.

I own a car and enjoy it quite a bit. Just trying to offer a different viewpoint from the intel I've gathered from existing Downtown retailers.

Even though some locals have become jaded about Gallery Hop becoming more about shopping and dining than attending art gallery openings, I'd say that Downtown retail would benefit more from monthly Gallery Hop type of event than it would a one-off Columbus Grand Prix.

Would be cheaper to produce too. ;)

Posted 3 months ago #
groundrules

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Walker said:
I own a car and enjoy it quite a bit. Just trying to offer a different viewpoint from the intel I've gathered from existing Downtown retailers.

Even though some locals have become jaded about Gallery Hop becoming more about shopping and dining than attending art gallery openings, I'd say that Downtown retail would benefit more from monthly Gallery Hop type of event than it would a one-off Columbus Grand Prix.

Would be cheaper to produce too. ;)

I think assessing retail sales on the day of any big crowd event like that is only part of the story. There's a bigger long term picture too- take personal anecdotes: i didn't spend a dime in Franklinton in years past prior to things like Go West and Urban Scrawl, but as a result of being drawn there by activity, I see that there's cool stuff and now spend money at a few places there. Same thing with Pearl Alley and Independents Day. I didn't know there were those little restaurants tucked in there, but now those places are on the radar. I think there's something to be said for getting people to visit an area of town, hang out for a day or a weekend, and realize it's worth returning to. This goes for locals as well as out of towners that a race would draw.

On a more general note, i think there's room on the calendar for events to take place that might be good for the city as a whole but don't directly benefit the local retailer. "will this generate sales at storefronts" is only one variable, and i'm not sure it's the yardstick by which we measure the value of a big event. I'd offer the two annual marathons as examples of good events that are kind of a pain in the ass and don't equate to retail bonanzas. There are others.

Posted 3 months ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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groundrules said:
I think assessing retail sales on the day of any big crowd event like that is only part of the story. There's a bigger long term picture too.

On a more general note, i think there's room on the calendar for events to take place that might be good for the city as a whole but don't directly benefit the local retailer.

Totally agree with you:

Walker previously said:
I'm all for supporting one-off special events when there are other benefits to be had.

I just don't think that "a boost for retailers" on the day of the event is something to be touting for an event like this one. Which is what a few people were trying to do.

I guess generally I'm just more in the camp of "let's do a whole bunch of cool small things every day of the year" rather than "let's do one big awesome thing on one day". I don't like seeing a whole bunch of eggs in one basket.

Posted 3 months ago #
GCrites80s
5xNW
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These events are multi-day, not one-day events just to clarify. Multi-day events have a lot more mouths to feed, people go out afterward to get drinks etc. But, on the other hand, there will be a week of setup and another of teardown afterward that will certainly affect business. The pavement resurfacing would also slow down business Downtown while it is happening.

Posted 3 months ago #
groundrules

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GCrites80s said:
These events are multi-day, not one-day events just to clarify. Multi-day events have a lot more mouths to feed, people go out afterward to get drinks etc. But, on the other hand, there will be a week of setup and another of teardown afterward that will certainly affect business. The pavement resurfacing would also slow down business Downtown while it is happening.

maybe when they resurface they could throw in a bike lane.

Posted 3 months ago #
wpcc88

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cheap said:
you've got a racetrack being built in the bottoms

its not happening

that is a short track.. much MUCH different.. these cars wouldn't even consider that track other than for tire & equipment testing etc.

Posted 3 months ago #
murfmurphy
Westgate
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Walker said:
Totally agree with you:

I guess generally I'm just more in the camp of "let's do a whole bunch of cool small things every day of the year" rather than "let's do one big awesome thing on one day". I don't like seeing a whole bunch of eggs in one basket.

Why does having one big event a year prevent having a whole bunch of little events the rest of the year?

Downtown retailers, if they existed, would see a rise in income during the week of the race. The new Hills market would probably see an uptick in sales of prepared foods, as well a general groceries. Each car has a rather large team of people that are accustomed to traveling throughout the year. I'm sure most of them aren't the type to eat out every meal, and would search out a grocery store for snacks, drinks and other daily food needs. There will be media people travelling in that would also have those same needs. Fans would be in town for the event, and would potentially bring family members would would not have the same sort of passion for auto racing. They would probably go out and shop at various locations, if they were available.

This wouldn't be a one off event like Red White and Boom. This would be a week long event, with a large amount of other events that would take place around the race.

Posted 3 months ago #
alexs
Limestone bluffs of the Scioto
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It would certainly generate a lot of financial activity, though a lot of it would be outside of downtown.

It would be interesting to compare 1985 vs. today when it comes to foodie choices around town, both restaurants and stores.

Posted 3 months ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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murfmurphy said:
Why does having one big event a year prevent having a whole bunch of little events the rest of the year?

It doesn't have to prevent anything at all.

We're all just spitballing here anyway, so it's not like I'm standing in the way of a big event happening. If something like this were to be announced for real, I'd most likely cheer on the arrival of a new signature event and hope that everyone from spectators to retailers could make the most of it.

In terms of just throwing out ideas though, I think there are alternatives worthy of consideration. I'm not intentionally trying to rain on anyone's pre-race parade. ;)

Posted 3 months ago #
Pickerington_Kyle

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I can see it generating more national media attention to Columbus, like the superbowl to Indianpolis. you can't tell me that the superbowl didn't raise any revenue for the city of Indianapolis for small business/retai.

Posted 3 months ago #
Twixlen
Westgate, Columbus
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I love the idea of this event, even as I know it would make my work week pure hell. I have quite a few family members that would likely come to town for it - events like this are followed by some RVers, and I could see them filling the casino's RV park. The family thing is again, a plus and a minus.

I think it's an interesting way to tie the Cooper track to downtown, to bring in a lot of people who would never otherwise come to Columbus, and dammit, really fast cars are fun.

Posted 3 months ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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Pickerington_Kyle said:
I can see it generating more national media attention to Columbus, like the superbowl to Indianpolis. you can't tell me that the superbowl didn't raise any revenue for the city of Indianapolis for small business/retai.

I don't think anyone is arguing that a Columbus Grand Prix wouldn't raise any revenue for the City of Columbus or for small business/retail. My point is that certain types of retail (restaurants, bars) are going to benefit more than others (non-food). I imagine the same held true for the Superbowl in Indy.

Posted 3 months ago #
-Nick-

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Walker said:
I don't think anyone is arguing that a Columbus Grand Prix wouldn't raise any revenue for the City of Columbus or for small business/retail. My point is that certain types of retail (restaurants, bars) are going to benefit more than others (non-food). I imagine the same held true for the Superbowl in Indy.

I think the demographic that ALMS and IRL brings on top of it being a multi-day event would provide more business to some of the non-food retailers more so than you might think. Sure, it wouldn't be anything remotely close to what food and bar locations would make, but at the very least, it wouldn't hurt those businesses either, so it's kind of a moot point to me. As it is right now, the downtown doesn't get a lot of exposure in my opinion. I lived in Harrison West and didn't even go downtown a lot outside of going for runs, because there is a lot of "blank space" or spaces you don't know about because they are too far from other hubs or villages. I think that's part of the reason the downtown is not in disrepair, but it's not thriving either. It's quite a bizarre scenario for a city as large as Columbus. I just think at the end of the day, it wouldn't hurt most businesses food or non-food for a weekend unless they had their doors blocked off during the race and even then, before and after the races, there is an influx of people outside your doors unlike what you usually see on a regular day.

Posted 3 months ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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-Nick- said:
As it is right now, the downtown doesn't get a lot of exposure in my opinion. I lived in Harrison West and didn't even go downtown a lot outside of going for runs, because there is a lot of "blank space" or spaces you don't know about because they are too far from other hubs or villages.

Agreed. And a one-off event isn't going to change that one bit.

Posted 3 months ago #
Pickerington_Kyle

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Walker said:
Agreed. And a one-off event isn't going to change that one bit.

If its televised on ESPN networks for 3 days it would. Have you never seen any kind of racing before???

Posted 3 months ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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-Nick- said:
I just think at the end of the day, it wouldn't hurt most businesses food or non-food for a weekend unless they had their doors blocked off during the race and even then, before and after the races, there is an influx of people outside your doors unlike what you usually see on a regular day.

I thought the same thing about Red White & Boom after seeing businesses closing up early while the streets looked like this:

Get the Flash Video

So I talked to some business owners in person the following week and they said that they've tried it before, and despite the hundreds of thousands of people Downtown for the event, they're not there to buy anything other than perhaps food and drink... and again, much of that is more of the fair/festival food variety served by the elephant ear trucks and pepsi tents. On a personal note, I've eaten with a group of people at Plantain Cafe on Gay Street prior to RW&B for the past two years in a row and the place is sparsely patronized. You'd think they'd be packed to the gills with 400,000 people just a few blocks away, but they're not.

Again, I'd love to be proven wrong with a different type of event... but until then I'm going to remain skeptical. ;)

Posted 3 months ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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Pickerington_Kyle said:
If its televised on ESPN networks for 3 days it would. Have you never seen any kind of racing before???

Yes, I've seen racing before.

No, a 3 day event will not bring any new full-time year-round retail into Downtown.

Though I imagine the food trucks might enjoy it.

Posted 3 months ago #
groundrules

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Walker said:

No, a 3 day event will not bring any new full-time year-round retail into Downtown.

well if that's the measure, forget any events downtown.

a multi-day event would provide a lot more down time for people to poke around and eat, shop, etc. Versus RW&B, where everyone just races down there after work or whatever, jockeys for a spot, then splits.

And like I said before, don't really care if it's not the best thing for non-food/drink downtown retailers (of which there are what? 20?). It's cool and I want it. so there. :)

Posted 3 months ago #
jbcmh81

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Walker said:
I thought the same thing about Red White & Boom after seeing businesses closing up early while the streets looked like this:

Get the Flash Video

So I talked to some business owners in person the following week and they said that they've tried it before, and despite the hundreds of thousands of people Downtown for the event, they're not there to buy anything other than perhaps food and drink... and again, much of that is more of the fair/festival food variety served by the elephant ear trucks and pepsi tents. On a personal note, I've eaten with a group of people at Plantain Cafe on Gay Street prior to RW&B for the past two years in a row and the place is sparsely patronized. You'd think they'd be packed to the gills with 400,000 people just a few blocks away, but they're not.

Again, I'd love to be proven wrong with a different type of event... but until then I'm going to remain skeptical. ;)

RW&B seems to attract only a few types of people: Those who live in the suburbs and those who live in the urban burbs that tend not to have much money to begin with. Those from the outer suburbs seem to want to leave Downtown as soon as humanly possible, though I'm not sure why. Perhaps it's the perception of urban areas in general. The other group is not likely to spend too much money regardless of how long they stay.

Also, There really aren't that many restaurants close to the riverfront (and by that I mean visibly considering how many people can't seem to handle walking more than a block) and again, many of the people coming Downtown for RW&B either aren't familiar with what's around or don't have the income to be patronizing them.

Posted 3 months ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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groundrules said:
It's cool and I want it. so there. :)

I'm down with those reasons. I imagine there are other good reasons to do an event like this as well.

Posted 3 months ago #