MDS
21st January 2009, 17:23
We haven't talked about this much, but the Milwaukee Fairgrounds is looking for an operator to take over running the Milwaukee Mile in 2010. So far negotations aren't going that well and there is concern that the Fair Commission, which ownes the track, isn't willing write a contract where people could actually make enough money to make the event worthwhile.
Sadly I think there is a real chance racing in Milwaukee will end in 2010.
From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
At least three separate groups or individuals have expressed interest in taking over racing at the Milwaukee Mile, a Wisconsin State Fair official says.
The best known group is one led by Frank Giuffre and Dominic Giuffre, brothers who ran the Mile under the name GO Racing. Their group is joined by the Decker family of Eagle River, who run snowmobile races and derbies in northern Wisconsin.
But Frank Giuffre has said in recent days that he's not sure his group can make any money under the current agreement with Milwaukee Mile Holdings. That plus the sour state of the economy makes for a bad deal, Frank Giuffre said.
Both sides say they want to continue discussions.
Meanwhile, Craig Barkelar, the fair's chief financial officer, said he had been in communication with another group, as well as a separate individual, about the track. Both of those groups signed confidentiality agreements and have not been identified.
At the moment, Milwaukee Mile Holdings, the current ownership group, is running the track. But that group has exercised its option to get out of the business by December 2010. The group, which negotiated a new leasing agreement in February 2008, had wanted yet another new agreement, but the State Fair Park board said no.
Evan Zeppos, a Milwaukee Mile spokesman, said the group had contracts with Indy Racing League and NASCAR for race events this summer at the historic Mile.
Nevertheless, the uncertainty about the track continues. Asked if there was any chance Milwaukee Mile Holdings and State Fair could renegotiate and come up with a new deal, Barkelar said, "Anything is possible."
"Two years is a long time. Situations may change. But that has not been one of the discussions," Barkelar said.
Sue Crane, chairman of the State Fair Board, said board members understood how important racing is at State Fair.
"They understand the long history and the value of the track," she said. "But these are difficult times and we must be mindful of that."
http://www.jsonline.com/sports/autoracing/37943249.html
Sadly I think there is a real chance racing in Milwaukee will end in 2010.
From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
At least three separate groups or individuals have expressed interest in taking over racing at the Milwaukee Mile, a Wisconsin State Fair official says.
The best known group is one led by Frank Giuffre and Dominic Giuffre, brothers who ran the Mile under the name GO Racing. Their group is joined by the Decker family of Eagle River, who run snowmobile races and derbies in northern Wisconsin.
But Frank Giuffre has said in recent days that he's not sure his group can make any money under the current agreement with Milwaukee Mile Holdings. That plus the sour state of the economy makes for a bad deal, Frank Giuffre said.
Both sides say they want to continue discussions.
Meanwhile, Craig Barkelar, the fair's chief financial officer, said he had been in communication with another group, as well as a separate individual, about the track. Both of those groups signed confidentiality agreements and have not been identified.
At the moment, Milwaukee Mile Holdings, the current ownership group, is running the track. But that group has exercised its option to get out of the business by December 2010. The group, which negotiated a new leasing agreement in February 2008, had wanted yet another new agreement, but the State Fair Park board said no.
Evan Zeppos, a Milwaukee Mile spokesman, said the group had contracts with Indy Racing League and NASCAR for race events this summer at the historic Mile.
Nevertheless, the uncertainty about the track continues. Asked if there was any chance Milwaukee Mile Holdings and State Fair could renegotiate and come up with a new deal, Barkelar said, "Anything is possible."
"Two years is a long time. Situations may change. But that has not been one of the discussions," Barkelar said.
Sue Crane, chairman of the State Fair Board, said board members understood how important racing is at State Fair.
"They understand the long history and the value of the track," she said. "But these are difficult times and we must be mindful of that."
http://www.jsonline.com/sports/autoracing/37943249.html