By Staff
BROOKLYN – The Turn 1 grandstand improvement project at Michigan International Speedway is nearing its halfway point.
All of the old, Turn 1 grandstands have been torn down, and will soon be replaced by steel and aluminum from Pikes Peak International Raceway. Those materials are being delivered to MIS on flatbed trucks daily.
The new seats will be wider with seatbacks and more leg room. This is the third and final phase of the Turn 1 grandstand renovation project, which began in the fall of 2006. Two updated grandstands in Turn 1 have already been assembled and fans have enjoyed them since the 2007 season.
"My family and I have had tickets in Turn 1 for a few years so we've experienced sitting in both the old and the new grandstands," Karen DeLand of Marshall, Mich., said. "The new stands are a huge improvement over the old ones. Not only is the view of the track better, but the wider, more spacious seating definitely improves the level of comfort while watching the race. We are very happy with the new grandstands and with MIS for recognizing the need for change."
The project to upgrade the grandstands in Turn 1 with seats from the former Pikes Peak racetrack also continues Michigan International Speedway's efforts to recycle materials.
The current grandstand project will recycle a total of 750 tons of steel and aluminum.
More importantly, MIS continues its commitment to its guests by investment in the facility. The racetrack is spending $7 million in capital projects in 2008-09, bringing total spending on fan improvements to $20 million since 2006. Other projects for 2008-09 include continued installation of directional signage around MIS' 1,400 acres and a state-of-the-art public address system.
All projects are a direct result of fan feedback and a progressive effort from the speedway to make the race experience better for its fans. The speedway has surveyed, polled and reached out to more than 15,000 of its guests over the past two years to collect data important to the future progress of MIS.
"These projects are a continuation of what we've been trying to accomplish over the past three years, and that's to give our fans the best experience possible when they visit with us each summer," MIS President Roger Curtis said. "This is also a great opportunity to continue our efforts in regards to recycling and our green initiatives we introduced last summer."
MIS has restructured some of its pricing for 2009 so fans who feel the economic pinch can keep MIS in their 2009 vacation planning. New in 2009 are general admission seats for NASCAR Sprint Cup races that start at just $40 in two grandstands. Children 12 and under may come to the races for free with their families in those seats.
Tickets and camping will go on sale to the general public beginning on Saturday, Feb. 15 during the season-opening Daytona 500. For additional information or to place a non-refundable, $50 deposit for 2009, call the MIS Ticket Hotline at 800-354-1010.