Baltimore Grand Prix Yields To Navy Football Game (Date to change)

Will a non-Labor Day weekend race see crowds dwindle and the race die?

Next year's Izod IndyCar Series Grand Prix of Baltimore will be held "in August rather than Labor Day weekend" to avoid conflict with the Aug. 30 Ohio State-Navy football game at M&T Bank Stadium, according to Gary Haber of the BALTIMORE BUSINESS JOURNAL.

The Grand Prix of Baltimore has been held on Labor Day weekend since joining the IndyCar schedule in '11, but race GM Tim Mayer said that event officials are "considering two" weekends earlier in the month. While Mayer did not specify which weekends, he said that organizers are "in discussions with the Ravens and the Orioles about coming up with a weekend."

Mayer said that ticket and sponsorship sales for this year's race "are running ahead of last year." Mayer did not give specifics regarding ticket sales, but said that the number "will top the 130,000 sold last year." He added that officials "don't expect this year's edition to turn a profit." However, Haber noted that is "part of a long-term strategy to develop the race into a premier event." Race On LLP has a "five-year contract with the city to put on the race." BIZJOURNALS.com