The city of Chicago has approved construction for stages for the 2023 NASCAR Chicago Street Race event. The listed tent contractor INProduction Inc has been given the green light to build temporary structures within Grant Park. These structures, including a 48×12 platform, a 17×6 scaffold structure, and two large video walls, are to be erected and dismantled within a ten-day window. The listed architect of record is Adam Wilmot of ZPD+a.
Rendering of NASCAR Chicago Street Race via NASCAR Chicago
Proposed race course layout via NASCAR Chicago
The permit’s approval has been met with resistance from residents, primarily due to the anticipated interruption of access to Grant Park during the summer months. This concern is exacerbated by the timing of the event, falling close to other major summer events such as the Taste of Chicago and Lollapalooza.
Rendering of NASCAR Chicago Street Race via NASCAR Chicago
Rendering of temporary facilities via NASCAR Chicago
The city of Chicago and NASCAR organizers view the event as a nod to the city’s history in car racing. This connection dates back to the inaugural Chicago Times-Herald race in 1895, which was the first organized race in the United States, a significant milestone in American automotive history. The modern-day iteration will feature a 2.2-mile, figure-eight shaped course with 12 turns, and will host a variety of facilities including grandstands, temporary restrooms, and restaurants.
Rendering of NASCAR Chicago Street Race via NASCAR Chicago
Rendering of President’s Paddock via NASCAR Chicago
The economic impact of the event is estimated to be around $114 million. This estimate excludes the $50 million NASCAR will invest in the event and in establishing a new office in the city. The city also stands to benefit from permit fees over the next three years and from a percentage fee on all ticket and food sales, with proceeds contributing to the Park District.
Despite these potential benefits, balancing the event’s projected economic and cultural impact with residents’ concerns about the accessibility of green spaces remains a challenge. The true impact of this event, and the success of striking this balance, will only fully manifest during the race event, scheduled for July 1 to July 2.
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The City and NASCAR are shoving this event into Maggie Daley Park.
This is unacceptable.
There wasn’t community involvement.
Now the City, and local residents have to put up with enormous volumes of traffic, both vehicular and pedestrian.
This was not part of the plan, ever.
Heads need to roll for this debacle