“Hopefully one day we will be back”
How Andretti is spinning the cancellation of the Prix.
Above: The financially troubled Baltimore Grand Prix was promoted and operated by Michael Andretti’s sports marketing company.
After Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake announced late yesterday that the Grand Prix would be canceled in 2014 and 2015, Andretti Sports Marketing, which promotes and operates the race on behalf of J.P. Grant’s Race On organization, issued this statement to its “VIP Balcony Club” ticketholders:
“Andretti Sports Marketing learned today that Race On, the owner of the Grand Prix of Baltimore, would not return to the Charm City in 2014. Race On was unable to coordinate a workable date for the 2014 event with the multiple entities involved in scheduling. Andretti Sports Marketing worked diligently in recent weeks to coordinate and explore all alternative options on behalf of Race On.”
With the likelihood of the race returning in 2016 dim at best, the release goes on to quote from Michael Andretti, the race-car legend who heads the marketing group, who thanked “our friends at SRT and Chrysler Group for their support” and bid adieu to Baltimore with these words:
“It was a great experience working with the fans in Baltimore and the community, and hopefully one day we will be back.”