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Viewing the race from our living room, it was thrilling for my family to see the drivers speed by and navigate the tricky course. It was exhilarating to hear the announcers calling out the names of Chicago’s familiar streets: “The leader is turning onto Michigan Avenue, headed toward Columbus Circle.”
It was even more exciting to see the amazing footage on TV — the drone shots of Lake Michigan, Buckingham Fountain, the Museum Campus and Michigan Avenue. It was a welcome reminder for a global audience that Chicago is a magnificent place to call home.
Yes, there were inconveniences, but they were more than worth the economic boost and the positive attention paid to our city.
Plus, NASCAR went to great lengths to minimize disruptions. I would know, because I was very involved with their local leadership to address resident concerns. NASCAR added special mufflers to the cars to reduce the sound. They relocated the race to the east side of Michigan Avenue, away from front entrances of residential buildings between turns 10 and 11. They provided vehicle access passes so residents could drive past barricades without a hassle, they set up a temporary dog park and even relocated a nearby Divvy bike station.
Most important, they provided Michigan Avenue residents with the name, email and phone number of a NASCAR representative for 24/7 response. For every concern we raised, NASCAR had a solution.
That level of attention paid to local concerns allowed us to see this event for what it was: a huge boost for our city. It was wonderful to see so many visitors strolling our sidewalks, visiting our museums, eating in nearby residents, shopping in local businesses and enjoying all that Chicago has to offer.
The NASCAR race, coupled with Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour and Beyoncé’s Renaissance World Tour, continue put Chicago in the positive light our city so richly deserves. We should welcome NASCAR back next year to build on this success.
GRAHAM GRADY
Chicago
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