Firebird raceway closing

[Kraut_n_Rice]

The land was owned by the Indians. DON~~~

While I don't disagree, but there is a lot more money in building houses and commercial properties..........on Indian land, probably another Casino going up  :classic_rolleyes:

Still is tribe owned.

There are two casinos right next to it.  The "new" name for Firebird is Wild Horse Pass Motorsports park...

 

[Cookie]

I drove by it for the first time in ten years a couple weeks back, whether you like it or not, 10 years ago nothing was very close to the Raceway, now buildings are popping up everywhere.  Heck 10 years ago I am not sure the 202 was there? 

Seems Vegas has zero issues of putting casinos next to each other...........haha  Follow the money.

I think I saw plans a couple of years ago that this was going to be a huge business park with a hotel???

 

[Don Parscale]

I have a friend that races boats and he said this was the last boat race at the lake. I ask him about all the oil and gas in the water and he said the lake is plastic lined. DON~~~

 

[Don Parscale]

Constantly happening.  Next generation doesn't really care about cars (in general), and the NIMBYs ruin it for even the places that are popular.  Riverside Raceway, Carlsbad Raceway, Laguna Seca is almost impossible to run at outside of a couple of races a year, same with Pomona (no more Saturday test and tune). People move in next to a race track, then complain about the noise.  Dumb.

And next door to Pomona is a air port. DON~~

 

[Richard h]

Thought I read somewhere closing also has something to do with the improvements to I-10. This is the area that it narrows back to 2 lanes.

 

[MWB]

Thought I read somewhere closing also has something to do with the improvements to I-10. This is the area that it narrows back to 2 lanes.

Yes that has  little to do with it. I-10 is going to be widened up and the Queen Creek Exit will be more of a free flowing interchange.  Not sure what the Indians plan on putting in that location but I am sure it will generate 10X the money as the track and all of it's aminedities did. 

I have a friend who works for ADOT and as soon as the west side ( Cotton Lane to the 85) has been completed they will kick that into high gear, and as soon as the Broadway Curve project is done the I-17 up past Cordes Junction will start to move quicker. 

 

[KLC]

Can't get in the way of progress!  The Gila Bend airport would make a great dragstrip, we drive past it twice every time we go to the dunes, aside from some small aircraft stored there I never see anything landing or taking off. 

 

[1HasBeen]

Progress is "change for the better". Haven't seen much of that.

 

[MWB]

Progress is "change for the better". Haven't seen much of that.

When they built the facility there was nothing down that way, They had the drag strip, the lake and Compton Terrace for concerts. Soon after Bondurant showed up. For the Indian Community it was a plus plus for the lease.  Like all leases the lease ran out and they took over the management of facility Bondurant had gone belly up Compton terrace had been replaced first by a MX track then the Lucas track. While these things might be making money in the long run compared to one of the biggest hotel Casinos in Az, The Outlet Mall, a tourist trap ( Rawhide) and now a temporary soccer stadium are all pulling down as much or more money for the same or less acreage.  Then you add in what ADOt is  going to pave over in the new interchange/ fly over ramp set up for the people who live in Maricopa. Why wouldn't the Tribe close down one thing and then build something that makes them more money and employs more people?  I am sure the Gila River Indians are looking the Pima's and the entertainment center they have built up between Via De Ventura and Indian Bend and are thinking, We got to get rid of this big facility that gets used maybe once a month and maybe makes money 3 times a year for something else.

 

[i8sand]

I am curious to where the "Drift" community is going to be relocating to as they use the parking lot for their events. Don't want them overflowing to the mall parking lots as they have no where to do their thing  (not that they already don't use the mall parking lots). 

I agree with MWB, lots of acreage sitting there only making money periodically. Put in an attraction that draws money 365 days a year sounds like a no brainer. 

The older I get the less things from my past seem to be around !