Latest news with #RedBullSoapboxRace
Axios
05-05-2025
- Business
- Axios
Hotel tax shift hits Des Moines' arts and tourism
Des Moines and around a dozen other local governments are taking steps to retract support for the region's tourism bureau and one of its largest arts funders as they wrangle with recent budget restrictions established by the Iowa Legislature. Why it matters: Catch Des Moines and Bravo Greater DSM are key players in making the region a destination. Losing out on events means less economic activity, fewer visitors, and fewer cultural offerings. Driving the news: A longstanding agreement between metro cities is being revised to decrease the proportion of hotel/motel tax revenue allocated annually to the two nonprofits, costing them approximately $800,000 each, Catch DSM director Greg Edwards tells Axios. The DSM City Council will vote Monday night. State of play: Local governments are being limited by a recent state law on how much they may increase property taxes, generally at rates below typical inflation. DSM's estimated $700,000 total annual reduction to the groups will redirect funds to the city's operating budget to help cover city services and address a $17 million budget shortfall resulting from the legislative squeeze. Zoom in: Bravo's mission is to enhance regional cultural funding, and it has awarded over 1,300 grants to local organizations since 2006. Catch DSM promotes the metro and often provides incentives to attract large conventions or events, such as the May 31 return of the Red Bull Soapbox Race. Follow the money: The groups are almost entirely funded by allocations of the area's 7% tax on hotels and motels. Compared to their latest tax filings, the hotel/motel reductions represent approximately a 12% decrease in the roughly $6.5 million in government grants Bravo and Catch DSM each receive. Stunning stat: They collectively generate hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue and economic impact in the metro, according to recent presentations to the DSM City Council. What they're saying: The cuts come when other nearby cities like Omaha and Madison are increasing tourism budgets to attract more activities, Edwards said. They could result in fewer youth programs and higher ticket prices, reduce access to the arts, and have negative effects on the workforce, Bravo president Sally Dix tells Axios. The other side: The organizations offer a clear value but the cuts are necessary to minimize negative budgetary impacts on residents, DSM city manager Scott Sanders tells Axios.
Forbes
27-03-2025
- Automotive
- Forbes
Earnhardt Jr. Trades NASCAR For Soapbox Madness In New Red Bull Racing Show
A team competes in their non-motorized homemade soapbox, during the Red Bull Soap Box Race in ... More Toulouse, on June 2, 2024. The Red Bull Soapbox race is an event where amateur drivers race through obstacles with their DIY vehicles, that can only use the force of gravity. (Photo by Matthieu RONDEL / AFP) (Photo by MATTHIEU RONDEL/AFP via Getty Images) Imagine taking everything you know about engineering, common sense, and self-preservation… and tossing it straight into the trash. That's the spirit of the Red Bull Soapbox Race, a global spectacle where teams build completely absurd, non-motorized contraptions and send them careening down a track littered with ramps, jumps, and other obstacles designed purely for chaos. It's a competition that rewards speed, creativity, and showmanship—meaning a flying taco with questionable aerodynamics could just as easily win as a rocket ship held together with zip ties and hope. And now, this lunacy is coming to your television. Discovery Channel and Red Bull have teamed up to bring the Red Bull Soapbox Race to the small screen, premiering Tuesday, April 29 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT. This isn't just about rolling downhill at unsafe speeds—this is a full-blown battle of engineering brilliance (or madness), judged on speed, style, and a willingness to suffer minor injuries for entertainment. And who better to host this mayhem than NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr., alongside motorsports announcer Mike Bagley? Yes, Dale Jr. the man who spent decades dodging multi-car pileups at 200 mph will now be front and center as amateur teams voluntarily launch themselves into chaos. "I knew the energy had to be big, fun, and a little crazy," Earnhardt Jr. said. "I've seen these races before, and there's always something wild happening—spectacular crashes, hilarious themes, and people determined to make it to the finish line, no matter what's left of their soapbox." The big question though is, how did we get here? Because if ever there were a scenario that sounded like someone lost a bet, this would be it. But no, Dale Jr. is here willingly, probably because watching people eat pavement in a cardboard taco is a lot less stressful than being the one behind the wheel at Talladega. "I was excited about the challenge," he admitted. "And I got to team up with my buddy Mike Bagley, who brings incredible energy. NASCAR fans know how good he is, and I think people are gonna love what we did with this." A team competes in their non-motorized homemade soapbox, during the Red Bull Soap Box Race in ... More Toulouse, on June 2, 2024. The Red Bull Soapbox race is an event where amateur drivers race through obstacles with their DIY vehicles, that can only use the force of gravity. (Photo by Matthieu RONDEL / AFP) (Photo by MATTHIEU RONDEL/AFP via Getty Images) After years of seeing wrecks in his rearview mirror, Dale Jr. will be in the unique position of pointing, laughing, and giving style points when someone gets airborne in a homemade cheeseburger. And let's face it—after everything he's been through on the track, it's got to be refreshing to witness crashes that involve more confetti than concussions. "Some of these wrecks are brutal," he said. "I'm just glad I wasn't in those carts when things went wrong. But watching it all unfold… man, it makes you wonder what kind of soapbox I'd build. I'd have to leave the creative stuff to someone else, but I think I could make one tough, fast ride." On the track, because of course, there are water features. And jumps. And something called a "final kicker"—which, let's be honest, sounds less like an obstacle and more like something that belongs in a rodeo. Surely at some point, even Dale Jr. had to look at the tracks and think, this might be a bit much. But no. "They've got this down to a science," he explained. "They know how to push the limits without putting people in real danger. But, man, sometimes they still end up upside down. There were a couple obstacles that definitely would've had my attention if I was behind the wheel." Each episode takes viewers to a new city—London, Des Moines, Dallas, Edmonton, Johannesburg, Madrid, São Paulo—where everyday people will transform into adrenaline-fueled engineers, desperately trying to survive a near half mile of gravity-fed destruction. Every track is different, and the final scores are based not just on speed, but on creativity and craftsmanship. The winners? They walk away with a trophy and the ultimate bragging rights. The losers? Well, they might leave with a few bruises, some great stories, and the knowledge that building a soapbox car shaped like a UFO was probably a bad idea. Either way, this will be television at its finest.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mark the spot: X Games coming to Salt Lake City
X marks the spot. And Salt Lake City will be that spot this summer when the X Games roll into town for three days of Moto X, BMX and skateboarding competition. The Utah State Fairpark and Event Center and Salt Lake County will host X Games Salt Lake City 2025 on June 27-29. More than 100 of the best action sports athletes in the world will compete for over $1 million in prize money. Salt Lake City is one of three cities — Osaka, Japan, and Sacramento are the others — hosting the event ahead of X Games expansion in 2026. 'Salt Lake City has a deep-rooted passion for action sports, and we're thrilled to bring the X Games experience here for the first time,' said X Games CEO Jeremy Bloom, a former Olympic skier and college football player. 'With its incredible outdoor culture, energetic fan base, and strong support from the Utah State Fairpark and Visit Salt Lake, this city is the perfect stage for our athletes to push their limits and put on an unforgettable show.' In addition to competition, the event will feature entertainment and interactive fan experiences. Jagger Eaton, five-time X Games and two-time Olympic medalist, has competed in X Games since he was 11. 'I'm stoked to bring X Games to Salt Lake City this summer so action sports fans in Utah can have the chance to experience the energy of skateboarding in person,' said the 23-year-old Eaton, who brought home a silver medal from the Paris Olympics. Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall also used the word 'stoked' to describe the city's excitement to host the X Games, which marks its 30th anniversary this year. 'Salt Lakers are fans, athletes and some of them even Olympians — making this a natural fit,' she said. 'We look forward to welcoming competitors and fans to a place that lives and breathes the spirit of competition and community.' Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson said she's 'thrilled' the event is coming to the community. 'Salt Lake County has long been a hub for outdoor adventure and action sports, with our world-class venues and vibrant culture drawing athletes and fans from around the globe,' she said. 'Hosting the X Games is a testament to our reputation as a premier destination for events that inspire, energize and unite communities.' State and local officials say the X Games, along with the announcement this week of the Red Bull Soapbox Race coming to Salt Lake City in June, further solidifies Utah as a sports destination. The state hosted the Winter Olympics in 2002 and will do it again in 2034. Since the Utah Sport Commission was created in 2000, more than 1,100 sporting events have come to the state, generating $3.7 billion in economic impact. 'Red Bull Soapbox Race perfectly aligns with our vision to host world-class events, showcasing Utah as The State of Sport while driving economic impact and global recognition,' said Jeff Robbins, president and CEO of the Utah Sports Commission. The soapbox race is scheduled for June 14 on the state Capitol grounds and in downtown Salt Lake City. The Red Bull Soapbox Race began in 2000 and has had races in every continent but Antarctica. This is its first stop in Utah. Racers make their own small non-motorized cars to race down a course filled with ramps, jumps and other obstacles.
