The Great Windy City NASCAR Payday: A Tale of Millions (and Maybe a Few Parking Tickets)
Chicago. City of Broad Shoulders. Home of Deep Dish Pizza and, for one glorious weekend in 2023, the roar of stock car engines. But hey, that kind of excitement doesn't come cheap, right? So, the burning question remains: how much green did NASCAR pony up to turn the Windy City into a temporary asphalt jungle? Buckle up, folks, because this financial joyride is about to take a hilarious turn.
NASCAR: Pay Up, Buttercup!
Let's get the official numbers out of the way first. NASCAR signed a three-year contract with Chicago, agreeing to grease the wheels (pun intended) with a cool $500,000 this year (2023), with a bump to $550,000 in 2024 (that's us!), and a grand finale of $605,000 in 2025. Sounds like a decent chunk of change, right? Well, hold on to your hats.
Chicago: The Great Municipal Giveth (and Taketh Away a Whole Lot More)
Because here's the thing: while NASCAR was writing a check, Chicago was busy swiping its credit card. Estimates suggest the city shelled out a whopping $3.5 million to get the race ready. We're talking road repairs, security, you name it. Let's just say, some of those traffic cones probably cost more than your average deep dish.
So, Did Chicago Win or Lose?
Now, this is where things get interesting. Reports say the race brought in $109 million to the city's economy, with race attendees spending a cool $7.6 million themselves. Sounds like a win, right? Well, maybe not a huge win. Because when you factor in the cost of the race versus the money NASCAR paid the city directly, it's a bit of a wash. Let's just say, Chicago might have broken even financially, but they sure gained some bragging rights (and maybe a few parking ticket fines from overzealous race fans).
The Moral of the Story?
There's no easy answer. NASCAR brought excitement, Chicago brought the asphalt, and everyone (hopefully) had a good time. But this whole ordeal is a hilarious reminder that sometimes, even the biggest, baddest racing series in the world has to pay to play. And hey, maybe next year they can negotiate a discount on those traffic cones.
