UPDATE #3 This rumor is upgraded to 'strong' today and is about to go to 'fact.' This Edmonton Journal
article mentions that the track has been named Finning International Speedway as we rumored below.
12/08/04 Rumor has it that Molson or
Finning (Canada) will sponsor the Champ Car race in Edmonton, Canada. Headquartered in Edmonton, Finning sells, services and finances the full line of Caterpillar and complementary equipment throughout British Columbia, Alberta, Yukon, and the Northwest Territories. Rumor also has it that if Finning does sponsor the race it will be a long-term deal and the circuit at the City Center Airport will be called Finning International Speedway.
Mark C. 11/19/04 With the Vancouver race now officially dead, look for Molson to move that sponsorship money to the Edmonton race, or so we hear.
11/17/04 [
Editor's Note: Might this be a precursor to Molson sponsoring the new Champ Car race in Edmonton?] Coinciding with the Edmonton brewery's celebration of 100 years of brewing history, Molson announced today it will invest $12.3 million in upgrades at its Edmonton brewery. This investment is part of the company's Renaissance in Brewing initiative aimed at applying best-in-class practices to Molson breweries throughout Canada.
"Molson is dedicated to delivering world-class performance and this investment is an extension of that commitment," said Armand Thompson, Molson's Edmonton brewery manager. "The capital project upgrades combined with our experienced Molson brewmasters and brewing methods, that are rooted in an over 200 year-old tradition of quality, will allow Molson to continue to satisfy consumers with exceptional beers of uncompromising quality."
Scheduled for completion in January 2006, the planned improvements will significantly increase productivity and efficiency at the Edmonton brewery. The investment includes the addition of state-of-the-art technology to the brewery's bottle operations, including a new pasteurizer, filler and labeler. The upgrades enhance the Edmonton brewery's ability to specialize in bottle production and strengthen the brewery's strategic role in the company's operations.
"Molson has a long history in Edmonton and strong ties throughout Alberta," said Kevin Boyce, President and Chief Operating Officer, Molson North America. "We are the market leader in this province and we remain committed to competing aggressively and growing our business in the years ahead."
