Bidding battle

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Richmond is bidding for the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

Date published: 5/28/2005

Bidding battle

NASCAR looks for a home; could it be Richmond?

COULD RICHMOND zoom past front-runners and land the NASCAR Hall of Fame? Henrico County's Economic Development Authority has put the city in the finals to site the facility, which some claim could attract over 400,000 visitors a year. That figure has tourism directors all over waving a green flag. Charlotte, N.C.; Atlanta; Kansas City, Kan.; and Daytona Beach, Fla., are also in the running, with final proposals due Tuesday.

"We need to put it in the right place where it will have the most community support, the most access to fans, and it will be a state-of-the-art hall of fame that will recognize the sport the proper way," NASCAR Chairman Brian France told The AP. The parent organization of America's fastest-growing spectator sport is banking on racing's increasing popularity to make the HOF a major draw.

As cities jockey for pole position in the race to become the NASCAR equivalent of Cooperstown, N.Y., it's clear that snagging the attraction involves more than wishful thinking. It will take a commitment of public funding, private donations, and corporate support to build the projected $100 million hall. Bolstering Charlotte's bid is a 2 percent hike in the hotel tax and strong corporate and public support. Daytona organizers, on the other hand, failed to get the state financing they were seeking, a defeat that could sidetrack that city's attempt.

Richmond is scrambling to patch together a financing proposal. Host city to two annual NASCAR events, the Old Dominion's capital is closer to the densely populated Northeast corridor than any of the other bidders. But can organizers overcome a slow start and catch up with Charlotte and the other leaders?

By the end of the year, we will know.

Postscript

It's quite a weekend for auto-racing fans, with the NASCAR Busch Series Carquest 300 today, the venerable Indianapolis 500 tomorrow at noon, and the NASCAR Nextel Coca-Cola Cup later that afternoon. The Indy 500, which debuted in 1911, may see its first female winner this year: Danica Patrick has been racing since she was 12. The big question: Can a female Indy driver lure the young male demographic away from NASCAR?

Date published: 5/28/2005