New Activities Highlight Off-Track Entertainment at the Grand Prix

DETROIT —  With a strong competition lineup featuring eight races in one action-packed weekend, the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix will feature plenty of excitement on track but the entertainment options available away from the race course  in the Meijer Fan Zone make this weekend’s June 3-June 5 event something truly special.

Located inside the Raceway at Belle Isle Park venue and just across the Chevrolet Bridge, the Meijer Fan Zone will feature excitement and activities for fans of all ages including live music, arts and crafts exhibits, extreme sports demonstrations, the chance to meet some of Detroit’s most well-known athletes, unique food and beverage options and more. The Meijer Fan Zone will feature activities all three days of race weekend, and it will also include many more tailgating and party elements than in years past.

The new Coors Light Lounge will allow fans to enjoy refreshments while watching all of the racing action on closed circuit TV’s and the Coors Light Party Pit will see fans competing in tailgating games like as cornhole, giant Jenga, knockerball and fowling.

Making its Grand Prix debut this year is Trendy Crafts Craft Show featuring up to 30 of Michigan’s most unique craft designers creating metal art work, jewelry, paintings, blown glass work, hard carved wooden pieces and much more.

The MotorCity Casino Hotel Entertainment Stage will feature live music throughout the weekend, including a performance by Detroit’s own The Romantics at approximately 6:00 pm on Saturday night and Morris Day and the Time playing a matinee concert at 12:30 pm on Sunday afternoon.  Local bands take to the stage throughout the weekend including Matt Austin on Friday, Power Play Detroit on Saturday and the Marcus Douglas Band with Kiki on Sunday.

The popular Detroit Sports District returns to Belle Isle Park, featuring displays from Detroit professional sports teams.  Some the local legends will be on Belle Isle meeting fans and signing autographs including Oakland University head basketball coach Greg Kampe, James Edwards and Rick Mahorn from the Detroit Pistons, Darren McCarty and Kirk Maltby of the Detroit Red Wings and Dave Rozema and Dan Petry of the Detroit Tigers. Wings star center Dylan Larkin, the Grand Prix’s Grand Marshal on Saturday, June 4, will also sign for fans in the Sports District. Grand Prix attendees will have the chance to put their own baseball, football and basketball skills to the test with Meijer’s interactive sporting stations, including a Speed Pitch, Quarterback Challenge and Football Obstacle Course and the Basketball Shoot Out.

IMG_2439
Autograph session at the 2014 Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix. (Jerome Rzucidlo/AmericaJR)

Fans will also have a chance to meet and get autographs from some of their favorite Grand Prix drivers in the Meijer Fan Zone.  The Verizon IndyCar Series drivers will host an autograph session in the INDYCAR Fan Village from 11:20 am-12:20 pm on Saturday, June 4.  IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship drivers will be signing autographs in Picnic Shelter 3 on Belle Isle from 10:15 am-11:00 am on Saturday, June 4 as well. On Sunday, the Trans Am Series will host an autograph session with its drivers from 9:30 – 10 a.m. in Picnic Shelter #3, across from the Trans Am Series Paddock.

The Chevy Racing Tour features the latest vehicles that Chevrolet has to offer, including the 2016 Motor Trend Car of the Year, the Chevy Camaro, and the 2016 Motor Trend Truck of the Year, the Chevy Colorado.  Fans can talk to one the knowledgeable product specialists to learn more about the Chevy products on display and receive a free Team Chevy t-shirt.

IMG_2406
Chevrolet vehicles at the 2014 Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix (Gloria Rzucidlo/AmericaJR)

The Taste of Detroit will have local food and beverage vendors stationed in the Coors Light Beer Garden and Food Court featuring Andiamo Food Truck, Andiamo Pizza Pie, Delectabowl, Byblos Café & Grill, Matthewsons Concessions, Different Twist Pretzels, Jackson Five Star Catering, J & J Concessions, Bowdler’s Mexican Concessions, Metro Beverage Company, Cinnamon Nuts & More, and Big Dog Hot Dog.  In addition, food and drink tents will be strategically placed throughout the venue.

Bringing an extreme element to the Meijer Fan Zone is the Monster Energy Drink BMX Team with breathtaking demonstrations throughout race weekend.  New in 2016, fans will be able to get an interactive off-road ATV experience on Belle Isle with free Arctic Cat rides.

“With so much excitement in the Meijer Fan Zone, fans will be busy and active all weekend,” said Bud Denker, Chairman of the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix.  “We will once again have world-class racing on the track here at Belle Isle and with the lineup featured in the Fan Zone we really have world-class entertainment away from the race track as well.”

Tickets are still available for the 2016 Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix starting at just $40.  Fans can purchase tickets online at www.DetroitGP.com/tickets or by call 866-464-PRIX (7749).

ABOUT THE CHEVROLET DETROIT BELLE ISLE GRAND PRIX

The Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix is a 501(c)3 organization and a subsidiary of the Downtown Detroit Partnership. Scheduled for June 3-5, 2016, the event will include the Chevrolet Dual in Detroit presented by Quicken Loans featuring the cars of the Verizon IndyCar Series, the Chevrolet Sports Car Classic presented by the Metro Detroit Chevy Dealers with the sports cars of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the high-flying trucks of the SPEED Energy Stadium SUPER Trucks presented by Traxxas and the return of the Trans Am Series in the Motor City 100. Partners for the 2016 Grand Prix include General Motors, Quicken Loans and MotorCity Casino Hotel. For more information, visit www.DetroitGP.com and follow our social media pages at www.facebook.com/detroitgp, www.twitter.com/detroitgp and www.instagram.com/detroitgp.

Sponsored Stories

Sponsored Stories