Tuesday, June 9, 2015
Open Board of Directors Meeting
San Bernardino Community College District
114 S. Del Rosa Drive
San Bernardino, CA 92408
Minutes
Present: Don Averill, Deborah Barmack, Peter Barmack, Carole Beswick, Matthew Buck, Scott Davis, Jill Eaton, Ron Fremont, Louis Goodwin, Dick Hart, Scott Hofferber, Matthew Isaac, Mark Kaenel, Lowell King, Ed Lasak, Temetry Lindsey, Sue McKee, John Mirau, Tom Nightingale, Bev Powell, Wendy Strack and Phil Waller.
Guests: Vicky Ostermann
Announcements: 1) A majority of the members present voted in favor of extending an invitation of membership to Cal Bev. 2) Members were reminded that there will NOT be a regular Inland Action Meeting next week June 16, 2015. A tour opportunity of the Garner Holt Productions, a manufacturer of animatronics & animatronic figures and special effects will take place from 11:30a.m.-1:00p.m. Lunch will be provided. Members must Rsvp in advance and sign a confidentiality waiver in order to participate. 3) The State is looking for a business person to fill a position on the Fair Board. All counties hold their respective County Fairs and a representative for San Bernardino County is needed. 4) Assemblymember Chiu has retracted his bill AB357 which Inland Action opposed
M/S/P: Minutes from June 2, 2015
Matthew Buck introduced David Allen, President, Auto Club Speedway.
The Auto Club Speedway located in Fontana (at the site of the former Kaiser Steel plant) is Southern California’s home for NASCAR, IndyCar and more. David Allen, a racer at heart, has much experience at this track and can attest to the large economic contributions the Speedway has made in the Inland Empire since 1997.
The Auto Club Speedway is:
- Located 40 miles from downtown LA, at intersection of I-10 and I-15
- Located in the largest market hosting NASCAR Sprint Cup and VERIZON IndyCar Series races
- Track Facts
- State-of-the-art two-mile D-shaped oval
- 568 acre facility
- 90, 000 total grandstand seats
- 1,900 RV spots
- 32,000 paved parking spots
- 91 luxury suites
- 6 Dodger Stadium’s or 4 Rose Bowls can fit inside the track walls
Their economic impact of $220 million is equivalent to hosting a Super Bowl on an annual basis. Additional economic impact is felt throughout California from fans that stay or travel in surrounding regions: LA, San Diego, Central Valley & Northern California.
The Speedway is owned by parent company International Speedway Corporation (ISC) which is the owner of 12 motorsport facilities throughout the country. The company was founded by the founders of NASCAR, the France Family, and is publicly held and traded on NASDAQ as ISCA. They promote over100 events annually.
NASCAR fans are fiercely loyal and often travel the race circuit. They purchase NASCAR products and services from NASCAR sponsors (73% of fans will try products or services that come from an official sponsor). The Speedway has many options for custom marketing and can enhance brand visibility that reaches thousands thru American motorsports.
IndyCar racing is the fastest of all racing and is the most technical form of racing in North America. IndyCars run on Ethanol and have the most diverse mix of venues, fans and drivers. Many of the advancements in all auto safety, protection, performance and accuracy have been pioneered thru IndyCar innovations.
IndyCar fans are typically well-educated adults with greater discretionary income (1 in 5 U.S. adults are IndyCar fans). They are not simply “gear heads” but are interested in multiple sports and are more brand loyal than average consumers.
The O’Reilly Auto Parts Fan Zone is one of the unique and highly recognizable elements found at Auto Club Speedway. The Fan Zone provides a central location for the following:
- State-of-the-art Apex restaurant with Cruise Thru and Reservations only seating
- Concert Stage as a main focal point of the Fan Zone
- Digital Jumbotron screen for live entertainment performances
- Simulator display area
- Action Sports Demonstrations
- Merchandise haulers
Challenges for the track include improved communications/marketing with ethnicities and a new generation that, unlike the baby boomers, does not have the same enthusiasm for racing.
From individual passes, hospitality tents and VIP infield motor coach space the Auto Club Speedway has much to offer its fans and has proven success in advertising for business. They hold numerous events that include drag racing, go kart racing, racing schools, various auto clubs activities, and A Taste of IE. Many businesses have and will continue to benefit from these events that draw fans who visit local gas stations, bars, restaurants, hotels and more.
A Q & A period followed.
Meeting adjourned at 8:30a.m.