Latest news with #GreaterMiamiConventionandVisitorsBureau
New York Times
21-04-2025
- Automotive
- New York Times
Homestead-Miami Speedway expected to host NASCAR title race in 2026: Sources
Homestead-Miami Speedway is expected to host NASCAR's national championship weekend in 2026, according to multiple sources briefed on the plans but not authorized to speak publicly, with an announcement tentatively planned in the coming weeks. The 1.5-mile track in South Florida previously hosted the championship weekend for NASCAR's three national series — Cup, Xfinity and Trucks — from 2002 to 2019 before NASCAR shifted the November event to Phoenix Raceway. Advertisement Homestead returning as the championship host for all three series will likely be well received by competitors and fans alike, with the track regarded as one of the best on the schedule due to its propensity for producing quality racing. The title weekend moving to Homestead is just for the 2026 season, according to those sources, as another track will be selected to host in 2027, beginning a rotation in which a different venue is chosen each year. Phoenix is expected to be included in this rotation, the sources said, and the track will continue to have two races each season. NASCAR declined to comment. 'It's definitely something I want to see happen,' Homestead track president Guillermo Santa Cruz said last month. 'And I'm hopeful in the not-too-distant future the championship will come back.' Behind the scenes, Santa Cruz and NASCAR have been working for some time with elected county and city officials along with the state of Florida and the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau to put together a financial incentive package that would assist in the promotion of championship weekend throughout the South Florida market and with infrastructural improvements the track needs. These efforts, while still ongoing, have thus far not materialized. Still, the sources said, NASCAR recently decided that, despite the current lack of financial commitment from the local community, it is in the sport's best interest for Homestead to host championship weekend, with NASCAR covering the necessary expenses to ensure the event is a success. Homestead vice mayor Sean Fletcher said last month that the track hosting championship weekend provides an estimated $350 million economic boost to the area. 'It's really a big deal for the city of Homestead,' Fletcher said. 'I think it's the perfect race for the drivers; they love the track. It's really a driver's racetrack. And that's a great time of year to be in South Florida.' Advertisement Since Homestead last hosted championship weekend in 2019, the track has bounced around NASCAR's calendar. In different years it has been placed in the playoff portion of the schedule or at some point in the spring, as was the case this season when its race weekend was slated for March. 'I would certainly like to see (Homestead) play a bigger factor in our championship,' Joe Gibbs Racing driver and 23XI Racing co-owner Denny Hamlin said last month. 'Whether it's in the playoffs, just a part of the championship race or round, or whatever it might be, I'd like to see it be a part of that as, like we just talked about, the driver makes a bigger difference at this track compared to the car.' (Photo of Joey Logano winning the 2018 NASCAR Cup Series title at Homestead-Miami Speedway: Sean Gardner / Getty Images)
Axios
14-02-2025
- Axios
Miami Beach warns spring breakers, apologizes to residents for inconvenience
Miami Beach isn't just breaking up with spring break, like its viral marketing campaign says. They're divorced with "a restraining order," police chief Wayne Jones told reporters Tuesday. Why it matters: The city's spring break enforcement plan — which includes restrictions on parking, outdoor seating on Ocean Drive and the threat of curfews — is aimed at preventing the violence and disorder that has historically marred the March vacation season. But law-abiding tourists, residents and business owners will be impacted, too, as the city's entertainment district begins its annual transformation into a gridlocked, barricaded zone flooded with police. What they're saying: "We apologize but this is necessary," Jones said. "I know it's painful. Short-term pain for long-term gain." Catch up quick: The city's restrictions — in effect every weekend from Feb. 27 to March 30 — include security checkpoints at Ocean Drive beach entry points, restricted street parking in South Beach and a doubling of the non-resident towing fee to $516. During the busiest weekends, March 13-16 and 20-23, restrictions include: License plate readers on the MacArthur and Julia Tuttle causeways and a DUI checkpoint on Fifth Street. A ban on sidewalk cafe seating along Ocean Drive. The closure of city garages and parking lots south of 23rd Street and $100 parking fees at the Sunset Harbour and 42nd Street garages. Of note: Residents and local employees are exempt from most parking restrictions but must show proof of eligibility. The intrigue: Mayor Steven Meiner said it will be a "game-day decision" whether the city enacts a curfew for the fifth straight year. Stunning stat: Meiner said the city's hardline stance on spring break isn't pushing away tourists, but attracting visitors and locals who want to enjoy a safer Miami Beach. Last March, according to the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau, Miami-Dade County had the highest hotel occupancy rate (85%) of the top 25 markets in the country. Miami Beach was at 83%. "There are some inconveniences. I don't discount that. We try to mitigate that as much as possible but we are actually bringing in people more and more by taking these measures." Z Ocean Hotel owner Louis Taic told reporters after the press conference that his hotel is fully booked this month and in March, which he credits to the city's spring break efforts. The bottom line: Officials used the press conference to reiterate the city's warning to any spring breakers who want to cause mischief in South Beach. "We love spring break," Taic said. "What we don't like is people who take advantage of Miami Beach…by doing things here that they would never do at home."
USA Today
04-02-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Miami Beach's reality TV-themed promo forewarns spring breakers as curfews, rules return
Miami Beach may not be a desired destination next month as city officials shared a reality TV-themed promo on Tuesday aimed at steering away spring breakers. The minute and 30-second promo is part of the city's "Spring Break Reality Check" campaign, according to a memo written by Miami Beach City Manager Eric Carpenter. "The Office of Marketing & Communications, in close collaboration with the (Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau) and their agency of record VML, will launch a marketing campaign aimed at notifying potential spring breakers that Miami Beach is not interested in being a party destination and will not tolerate disorderly behavior," the memo reads. The memo outlines several precautions and safety measures that will be put in place ahead of March 13-16 and March 20-23, which are periods the city believes will generate the largest spring break crowds this year based on college schedules. The city created and pushed a 'breakup' campaign last year, which Miami Beach Police Chief Wayne Jones credited for limiting crowd sizes and creating a safer environment. Jones added that arrests citywide went down 8% by March 17, 2024, compared to that time in 2023. While the city saw last year's campaign as a success, some businesses said the measures went too far when the midnight curfew was issued. M2, a nightclub in Miami Beach, reported half a million dollars in revenue loss during this period, according to WSVN. 'Spring Break and Miami Beach don't mix' The city of Miami Beach shared the video in an X post on Tuesday with the caption, "Consider this your reality check. Spring Break and Miami Beach don't mix." The video begins with a group of college-aged people driving to Miami Beach for what one girl says will be "the best spring break ever." About 15 seconds into the promo, another girl says, "Once we got to Miami Beach, things went downhill fast." The video continues with Miami Beach police officers telling the group that they cannot drink in public or play loud music. "Apparently the only thing that wasn't contraband was the grapes and the cheese," a girl says in the video. The group then begins to argue about Miami Beach's curfew in the promo, which in 2024 was at midnight, former Miami Beach City Manager Alina Hudak told ABC News. It is unclear what the curfew will be this year. The video ends with one of the girls listing some of the safety measures put in place by the city, including DUI sobriety checkpoints, increased police presence and $100 paid parking. What other measures is Miami Beach implementing? In addition to the DUI sobriety checkpoints, increased police and a $100 flat fee parking rate, according to the memo, Miami Beach officials plan to: Close all parking garages and surface lots south of 23rd Street. The $100 flat rate will be imposed at garages in Sunset Harbour and on 42nd Street. The closures and rates won't apply to city residents and employees. Close sidewalk seating on Ocean Drive. Implement license plate readers on the Julia Tuttle and MacArthur causeways heading to Miami Beach, as well as a DUI checkpoint along Fifth Street. Suspend rentals of motorized vehicles, such as 'Slingshots," golf carts, scooters and mopeds. Allow vehicles only to enter Ocean Drive from the northern end of the street, and make them exit at Fifth Street. Barricades will line the west side of the strip. Enforce a nonresident towing rate of $516, which is double the regular rate for vehicles towed in South Beach. Make packaged liquor stores in the Entertainment District adhere to an 8 p.m. regular closing time.
