Michigan City Release
08-13-2009, 10:31 PM
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Michigan City Release
Grand Prix 'beyond our expectations'
Laurie Wink
The News-Dispatch
MICHIGAN CITY - While thousands of spectators enjoyed the Great Lakes Grand Prix super boat race Sunday, others were making sure the crowds were safe, orderly and refreshed with food and drink.
Jason Miller, sports development manager for the La Porte County Conventional and Visitors Bureau, credited the area police, fire and emergency management departments as well as the Michigan City Park & Recreation Department for their contributions to the event's success.
"When you put on an event like this, you really learn who understands the economic importance to the city," Miller said. "Everybody understands the impact on the city."
Miller said the CVB will come up with a rough estimate of the race's financial contribution to local businesses in a few weeks. He coordinated the event with the Super Boat International organization, and said the attendance Sunday far exceeded expectations.
"I've never seen this many people in Michigan City in my life," he said. "I think 20,000 were here yesterday and there are four times that many here today. This was beyond our expectations."
Race day turned out to be a sunny, scorchingly hot August day, tempered by a steady breeze off Lake Michigan. After it rained on the opening day parade, Miller was pleased with the weather during the remainder of the weekend.
"It's perfect," he said. "You couldn't ask for better."
Parks superintendent Jan Orlich said the crowd size was similar to the estimated 40,000 people who attended this year's fireworks show, but there were fewer problems Sunday.
"It's a nice crowd," she said Sunday. "We've had a few parking problems with people upset because they couldn't get in and gave our parking staff a hard time."
The number of drivers trying to get into Washington Park was so large, the line reached from the entrance booth over the bridge and back to U.S. 12. Police shut off vehicle traffic about 12:30 p.m., according to Brandi Graves, assistant parking supervisor for Washington Park.
"It's amazing to see how many people are coming down here for this event," she said. "We sold a lot of daily park passes (for $6 apiece)."
Michigan City police officer Greg Radiger patrolled on a four-wheeler and thought visitors were well-behaved.
"The crowds were very cooperative today and there were no major problems," he said. "Traffic flowed smoothly."
Bob Greaney, with St. Anthony Memorial, was posted at the emergency preparedness incident command center in the parking lot next to the marina boat launches. He thought the crowd was bigger than what he was told to expect - 7,000 to 10,000. He was keeping people out of the parking lot to allow movement of emergency vehicles. At the same location, volunteers Scott Foster and Willie Moore, with the Emergency Management Association, were helping boat trailers get in and out of the water and were ready to assist anyone suffering from heat stroke or other health conditions. When the race was over, they would control the crowd and make sure people got out of the area safely.
Refreshments were readily available, with local companies doing a steady business on Sunday. Stephanie Balch, with McGinnis Pub, had a constant flow of customers at the beer tent. Similarly, Emily Blitstein said business was good at the Lakeshore Coffee booth. Popular items were turkey avocado wraps, smoothies and all the iced drinks, she said.
"It's been really busy," she said. "They're keeping us on our toes."
Moe Mroueh, owner of Sahara Restaurant, said business on Sunday was much better than the two preceding days. His best seller was kefta, a mixture of ground beef and lamb grilled and served on a pita with cucumbers, lettuce and a tahini sauce.
Mroueh said his restaurant was really busy over the weekend as well.
"Any activity like this that brings people here is welcome," he said. "They should advertise the heck out of it."
Zach Martin, of Bubbles Ice Cream Parlor, said they scooped a lot of ice cream over the three days. He talked to a number of visitors from out of state - Florida, Texas, New York - who are super boat fans and travel the race circuit.
"I think if Michigan City can get more things like this, it will put such a positive spin on the city," Martin said. "We need a million things like this in the summer."
Contact Laurie Wink at [email protected].
Laurie Wink
The News-Dispatch
MICHIGAN CITY - While thousands of spectators enjoyed the Great Lakes Grand Prix super boat race Sunday, others were making sure the crowds were safe, orderly and refreshed with food and drink.
Jason Miller, sports development manager for the La Porte County Conventional and Visitors Bureau, credited the area police, fire and emergency management departments as well as the Michigan City Park & Recreation Department for their contributions to the event's success.
"When you put on an event like this, you really learn who understands the economic importance to the city," Miller said. "Everybody understands the impact on the city."
Miller said the CVB will come up with a rough estimate of the race's financial contribution to local businesses in a few weeks. He coordinated the event with the Super Boat International organization, and said the attendance Sunday far exceeded expectations.
"I've never seen this many people in Michigan City in my life," he said. "I think 20,000 were here yesterday and there are four times that many here today. This was beyond our expectations."
Race day turned out to be a sunny, scorchingly hot August day, tempered by a steady breeze off Lake Michigan. After it rained on the opening day parade, Miller was pleased with the weather during the remainder of the weekend.
"It's perfect," he said. "You couldn't ask for better."
Parks superintendent Jan Orlich said the crowd size was similar to the estimated 40,000 people who attended this year's fireworks show, but there were fewer problems Sunday.
"It's a nice crowd," she said Sunday. "We've had a few parking problems with people upset because they couldn't get in and gave our parking staff a hard time."
The number of drivers trying to get into Washington Park was so large, the line reached from the entrance booth over the bridge and back to U.S. 12. Police shut off vehicle traffic about 12:30 p.m., according to Brandi Graves, assistant parking supervisor for Washington Park.
"It's amazing to see how many people are coming down here for this event," she said. "We sold a lot of daily park passes (for $6 apiece)."
Michigan City police officer Greg Radiger patrolled on a four-wheeler and thought visitors were well-behaved.
"The crowds were very cooperative today and there were no major problems," he said. "Traffic flowed smoothly."
Bob Greaney, with St. Anthony Memorial, was posted at the emergency preparedness incident command center in the parking lot next to the marina boat launches. He thought the crowd was bigger than what he was told to expect - 7,000 to 10,000. He was keeping people out of the parking lot to allow movement of emergency vehicles. At the same location, volunteers Scott Foster and Willie Moore, with the Emergency Management Association, were helping boat trailers get in and out of the water and were ready to assist anyone suffering from heat stroke or other health conditions. When the race was over, they would control the crowd and make sure people got out of the area safely.
Refreshments were readily available, with local companies doing a steady business on Sunday. Stephanie Balch, with McGinnis Pub, had a constant flow of customers at the beer tent. Similarly, Emily Blitstein said business was good at the Lakeshore Coffee booth. Popular items were turkey avocado wraps, smoothies and all the iced drinks, she said.
"It's been really busy," she said. "They're keeping us on our toes."
Moe Mroueh, owner of Sahara Restaurant, said business on Sunday was much better than the two preceding days. His best seller was kefta, a mixture of ground beef and lamb grilled and served on a pita with cucumbers, lettuce and a tahini sauce.
Mroueh said his restaurant was really busy over the weekend as well.
"Any activity like this that brings people here is welcome," he said. "They should advertise the heck out of it."
Zach Martin, of Bubbles Ice Cream Parlor, said they scooped a lot of ice cream over the three days. He talked to a number of visitors from out of state - Florida, Texas, New York - who are super boat fans and travel the race circuit.
"I think if Michigan City can get more things like this, it will put such a positive spin on the city," Martin said. "We need a million things like this in the summer."
Contact Laurie Wink at [email protected].
