MORE: Clark County Fairgrounds to host major national powerboat race
The race was previously held in Detroit for decades, Clark County Fairgrounds Executive Director Dean Blair and, and will be broadcast to an international audience of millions on the CBS Sports Network. Between 20 and 25 boats will participate in the race at the 125-acre lake at the fairgrounds, he said.
It’s one of six sanctioned races being televised this year, Blair said. If the community supports the event, the fairgrounds will see more types of similar events, he said.
“If the public turns out and supports this, you can expect CBS and the powerboat races to come back,” Blair said. “We don’t have a 10-year contract or anything like that. This is a one-time shot and we’re going to see what the public does.”
Earlier this month, the fairgrounds hosted the collegiate Solar Splash, a solar boat racing event.
Other attractions for the powerboat racing event include a beer garden, food vendors and a Saturday night concert featuring Nashville musicians Ty Cooper and The Kate Hasting Band.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Clark County Fairgrounds wants to move forward with boat races
Alcohol will be sold at the event because it’s a non-fair weekend, Blair said. The Springfield Soup Kitchen will be serving alcohol to raise money for its operation, he said. Alcohol is currently sold at other non-fair events, such as the Antiques Extravaganza, Blair said.
“We’re setting up for a weekend that’s phenomenal,” he said.
The weekend will also include the Best of the Best Barrel Horse Races, which can also be viewed free of charge at the Champions Center.
“It’s going to be a fabulous weekend,” Blair said.
Daily general admission passes are available each day for $15 in the hillside grass seating area, while weekend general admission passes are $30 each. Blankets and chairs are encouraged, according to the race website. Children 12-and-under are free.
RELATED: Lake events at Clark County Fairgrounds could bring in millions
Daily VIP seating tickets are $50 each, which includes lunch buffet, cash bar and VIP parking. Weekend VIP passes are $100 each.
A weekend tailgating pass is $100 and includes 1 daily gate admission, as well as a 15x30 parking space. No overnight parking is permitted.
Race view camping site passes are available for $200 and include two weekend general admission passes. A no view camping pass is also available for $125 and does not include general admission. Both camp site passes include a 30-amp power hookup.
Camp sites and VIP tickets are limited. For more information, log on directly to www.SpringfieldF1GrandPrix.com.
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Staying with the story
The Springfield News-Sun has written extensively about boat racing events at the Clark County Fairgrounds lake since the story first broke last fall.
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