Latest news with #NASCARChicagoStreetRace
Chicago Tribune
21 hours ago
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Afternoon Briefing: Latest Naperville ‘teen takeover' results in multiple arrests
Good afternoon, Chicago. After Naperville police allegedly found a 14-year-old carrying a loaded, semiautomatic pistol at a downtown 'teen takeover' event last weekend, authorities are urging safety and, again, stressed they have zero tolerance for illicit behavior. 'While we encourage everyone to exercise their first amendment right and we encourage everyone to enjoy what the downtown provides, we need everyone to do that lawfully,' Naperville police Cmdr. Rick Krakow said. 'There's going to be zero tolerance for any sort of criminal behavior, from trespassing to disorderly conduct to fighting.' Since May 1, there have been seven planned teen takeover events in Naperville, each with varying degrees of participation, Krakow said. The latest, held Saturday, resulted in five arrests, including that of the 14-year-old, who was charged with one count of unlawful possession of a weapon, authorities said. Charges in other arrests included disorderly conduct and battery. Here's what else is happening today. And remember, for the latest breaking news in Chicago, visit and sign up to get our alerts on all your devices. Subscribe to more newsletters | Asking Eric | Horoscopes | Puzzles & Games | Today in History Mayor Brandon Johnson's administration never undertook a formalized national search for a new CTA president despite the mayor saying last month that his office had in fact done so, according to responses to public records requests made by the Tribune. Read more here. More top news stories: After two years of rain-soaked July Fourth weekend events, could the NASCAR Chicago Street Race be heading west to eternally sunny San Diego? Chicago is set to host the third annual street race July 5-6 on a pop-up course in and around Grant Park, completing an inaugural three-year agreement with NASCAR. The deal, struck during former Mayor Lori Lightfoot's administration, includes a two-year renewal option. Read more here. More top business stories: The Chicago Sky lead the league in turnovers per game (18.7) and opponent points off turnovers (20.5). A staggering 23.4% of the Sky's offensive possessions result in a turnover. This weakness ballooned into a full-on crisis against the Mystics as the Sky hemorrhaged points, giving up 40 on 22 turnovers — 1.8 points per. Read more here. More top sports stories: Watching MJ Lenderman at the Salt Shed yesterday was to be reminded of the curious power of exhaustion. It's a beautiful, humid, rickety sound. You can hear in it why the sighs of Neil Young became inextricable from Watergate-era malaise, and how Lenderman, 50 years later, sounds like both a throwback to strung-out singer-songwriters of the '70s and very much of his own time. Read more here. More top Eat. Watch. Do. stories: Juneteenth has been celebrated by Black Americans for generations, but became more widely observed after former President Joe Biden designated it a federal holiday in 2021. It is recognized at least as an observance in every state, and nearly 30 states and Washington, D.C., have designated it as a permanent paid or legal holiday through legislation or executive action. Read more here. More top stories from around the world:
Chicago Tribune
a day ago
- Automotive
- Chicago Tribune
Is NASCAR moving its street race from Chicago to sunny San Diego next year?
After two years of rain-soaked July Fourth weekend events, could the NASCAR Chicago Street Race be heading west to eternally sunny San Diego? The Athletic reported Wednesday that NASCAR and the Southern California city's sports tourism commission are in negotiations to hold a race on the streets of San Diego in 2026. A NASCAR spokesperson declined to comment on the unconfirmed report, while the San Diego Sports Commission did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday. Chicago is set to host the third annual street race July 5-6 on a pop-up course in and around Grant Park, completing an inaugural three-year agreement with NASCAR. The deal, struck during former Mayor Lori Lightfoot's administration, includes a two-year renewal option. 'We continue to have positive conversations with the city of Chicago, and right now, we're focused on making 2025 the best event yet,' a NASCAR spokesperson said Thursday. A spokesperson for Mayor Brandon Johnson's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday. The city, which had an annual 180-day exit clause after the first two races, committed to this year's event in August. Adding a San Diego street race next year does not necessarily affect the future of the Chicago Street Race. Most NASCAR tracks range from a quarter-mile to 2 ½-mile banked ovals, but the Florida-based sanctioning body for stock car racing holds several events at road courses, including Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, in Sonoma, California, and at Watkins Glen in New York. NASCAR might similarly be building its portfolio of urban street races, with Chicago paving the way. The Chicago Street Race has nonetheless had its challenges in the first two years, including pushback over the disruption and street closures to set up the 12-turn, 2.2-mile course through Grant Park, down DuSable Lake Shore Drive and up Michigan Avenue. This year, NASCAR has streamlined the buildout and reduced major street closings to 18 days, starting with the shutdown Thursday of Balbo Drive from Columbus Drive to DuSable Lake Shore Drive. All streets are scheduled to be reopened by July 14. But the biggest issue facing the first two street races was inclement weather. In 2023, the inaugural Fourth of July weekend event navigated record rainfall that curtailed races, canceled concerts and left fans soaked. The first Cup Series street race also garnered a huge national TV audience with Chicago as a rainy backdrop, averaging nearly 4.8 million viewers during a four-hour broadcast on NBC. While clear skies prevailed for last year's Xfinity Series race on Saturday, the nationally televised Cup Series race on Sunday was once again shortened when rain delays forced officials to call the race after 58 laps as darkness fell on the unlit street course. Last year's race generated $128 million in total economic impact and drew 53,036 unique visitors, according to a study commissioned by Choose Chicago, the city's tourism arm. This year, the Grant Park 165 main event on Sunday is scheduled to start at 1 p.m., 2 ½ hours earlier than last year, in hopes of finally getting the race to the finish line. The nationally televised broadcast is moving from NBC to cable channel TNT. If the San Diego Street Race comes to fruition for 2026, whether as a competitive event or supplanting Chicago, the forecast for a dry run is likely much brighter. San Diego, which is considered to have among the best year-round climates in the nation, averages less than 10 inches of annual rainfall, according to National Weather Service data. The Windy City is far wetter than Southern California. Chicago averages closer to 40 inches of annual precipitation, with a record 3 to 7 inches of rain hitting the city and flooding the street course during the first Cup Series race in 2023.
Chicago Tribune
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Chicago Tribune
Mr. Beef, Jake Melnick's, Lexington Betty to serve NASCAR Chicago Street Race fans
We don't know who will take the checkered flag at next month's NASCAR Chicago Street Race, but we do know who will be behind the checkered tablecloths. Chicago-based Levy was named Wednesday as the new food and beverage provider for the third annual pop–up race in Grant Park, bringing a refreshed lineup of restaurants to the July Fourth weekend event, from concessions to the premium hospitality clubs and suites. Levy replaces Chicago-based Lettuce Entertain You, which handled food and beverages during the first two Chicago Street Races. 'We are thrilled to partner with another Chicago-based culinary powerhouse like Levy to ensure that we continue to shine a spotlight on the local Chicago food scene,' Julie Giese, NASCAR Chicago Street Race president, said in a news release Wednesday. Launched 47 years ago from a Chicago delicatessen, Levy has evolved into a leading sports and entertainment hospitality company with more than 300 venues in North America. Chicago-area sports venues served by Levy include Wrigley Field, United Center, Rate Field and Now Arena in Hoffman Estates. Levy is no stranger to big sporting events. Last year it provided the food and beverage service for Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, its sixth Big Game appearance in the new millennium. It also handles the hospitality at NASCAR's marquee race, the Daytona 500. A unique event on the NASCAR calendar, the third annual Chicago Street Race features an Xfinity Series race on July 5, and the nationally televised Grant Park 165 Cup Series race on July 6. For this year's Chicago Street Race, Levy will debut new offerings throughout the Grant Park footprint, including from its own Chicago restaurants, Jake Melnick's Corner Tap and River Roast. It will also bring a number of locally owned favorites to the race weekend, including Mr. Beef, Bronzeville Winery, Lexington Betty Smokehouse, Robinson's Ribs and Josephine's Southern Cooking. Review: Lexington Betty Smokehouse barbecue in Pullman is not only resilient, but resoundingly good'The NASCAR Chicago Street Race highlights our city and the sport in a totally unique way, and it's been incredible to see fans rally behind it,' Andy Lansing, CEO of Levy, said in the release. 'We're so excited to help elevate an already wonderful event with a new level of food, beverage and hometown hospitality.' The Chicago Street Race will once again feature a 12-turn, 2.2-mile course through Grant Park, down DuSable Lake Shore Drive and up Michigan Avenue, which will be closed off and lined with fences, grandstands and hospitality suites. But a relocated concert stage will replace the Skyline, a mammoth temporary structure along Columbus Drive that last year housed the most expensive suites overlooking the start/finish line at Buckingham Fountain. Southern rockers the Zac Brown Band, scheduled to perform after the Xfinity Series race, are the only musical headliners on the bill for year three. But NASCAR is planning to add a miniature golf course and other family-friendly activities to the festivities. Street closings will begin this week for Chicago's NASCAR street race. Here's what to street closings for the streamlined buildout have been reduced to 18 days. The first shutdown is set for Thursday — nine days later than last year — with Balbo Drive closing down from Columbus Drive to DuSable Lake Shore Drive. All streets are scheduled to be reopened by July 14. Single-day general admission passes start at $99 — a third less than last year — while premium grandstand reserved seats are priced at a nearly 50% reduction. Children 12 and under are free both days, with an accompanying adult. rchannick@
Chicago Tribune
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Chicago Tribune
What you should know about NASCAR street race July 5-6
Are you ready for some racing, Chicago? NASCAR is gearing up for a more streamlined Chicago Street Race weekend event on July 5-6, with an accelerated setup/breakdown schedule that is likely to reduce the frustration of the city's drivers. The race, which is in its third year, will once again feature a 12-turn, 2.2-mile course through Grant Park, down DuSable Lake Shore Drive and up Michigan Avenue, which will be closed off and lined with fences, grandstands and hospitality suites. But a relocated concert stage will replace the Skyline, a mammoth temporary structure along Columbus Drive that last year housed the most expensive suites overlooking the start/finish line at Buckingham Fountain. The Chicago Street Race features an Xfinity Series race on Saturday, July 5, and the Grant Park 165 Cup Series race on Sunday, July 6. One musical act — southern rockers the Zac Brown Band — are scheduled to play after the Xfinity Series race. The buildout and breakdown of the pop-up racecourse in Grant Park have been reduced to 25 days, shaving nearly two weeks off last year's construction schedule for the July Fourth weekend event. The first street closing is scheduled for June 19 — nine days later than last summer — with Balbo Drive shutting down from Columbus Drive to DuSable Lake Shore Drive. In addition to several lane and temporary closings, Ida B. Wells will be the next full street closing from Michigan Avenue to Columbus Drive beginning June 23. Street closings will pick up speed in and around Grant Park the week before the event, culminating with the complete shutdowns of DuSable Lake Shore Drive from Randolph Street to McFetridge Drive, and Michigan Avenue from Roosevelt Road to Monroe Street, beginning July 3. Are rain delays the NASCAR Chicago Street Race's superpower? The course 'puts on a great show,' Jeff Gordon saysMichigan Avenue is expected to be fully reopened by the morning of Monday, July 7, along with northbound DuSable Lake Shore Drive. The southbound lanes of DuSable Lake Shore Drive are scheduled to reopen before midnight on July 8. The last trace of the street course is scheduled to be removed by July 14, also days ahead of last year's timetable. Read more about the full schedule of activities for the weekend, along with what you can bring and other FAQs. Thursday, June 19, beginning at 12:01 a.m.: Full closing of Balbo Drive from Columbus Drive to DuSable Lake Shore Drive. 'No Parking' restrictions will be put in place along southbound and northbound Columbus Drive between Jackson Drive and Balbo Drive. Friday, June 20, beginning at 12:01 a.m.: Curb lane closing on northbound and southbound Columbus between Jackson and Balbo. Monday, June 23, beginning at 12:01 a.m.: Full closing of Ida B. Wells Drive from Michigan Avenue to Columbus, westbound between Congress Plaza Drive and Michigan Avenue will remain open and eastbound will be closed. Monday, June 23, beginning at 10 p.m. until 6 a.m.: Tuesday, June 24: Temporary closing of northbound Michigan Avenue between Congress Plaza Drive and Jackson Drive. Wednesday, June 25, beginning at 10 p.m. until 5 a.m. Thursday, June 26: Temporary closing of northbound Columbus Drive between Balbo and Jackson. Chicago Street Race adds Arby's as major sponsor for July Fourth NASCAR eventThursday, June 26, beginning at 10 p.m.: Closing of Jackson Drive between Michigan Avenue and Columbus Drive. Friday, June 27, beginning at 12:01 a.m.: Closing of Balbo Drive from Columbus Drive to Michigan Avenue. Saturday, June 28, beginning at 10 p.m.: Closing of Congress Plaza Drive. Monday, June 30, beginning at 12:01 a.m.: Closing of Columbus from Jackson to Roosevelt Road. Wednesday, July 2, beginning at 10 p.m.: Closing of westbound and eastbound Roosevelt Road from Michigan Avenue and DuSable Lake Shore Drive. Thursday, July 3, beginning at 12:01 a.m.: Closing of southbound DuSable Lake Shore Drive between Randolph Street and McFetridge Road. Thursday, July 3, beginning at 10 p.m.: Closing of northbound and southbound Michigan Avenue from Roosevelt to Jackson and northbound DuSable Lake Shore Drive between Randolph and McFetridge. Race weekend street closings – Saturday, July 5 and Sunday, July 6: Southbound DuSable Lake Shore Drive from Randolph to McFetridge. Northbound DuSable Lake Shore Drive from McFetridge to Randolph. Northbound Michigan Avenue from Roosevelt to Monroe. Southbound Michigan Avenue from south of Monroe to 8th Street. Monroe from Michigan Avenue to DuSable Lake Shore Drive. Columbus from Roosevelt to Monroe. Roosevelt from DuSable Lake Shore Drive to Michigan Avenue. Jackson from Michigan Avenue to DuSable Lake Shore Drive. Balbo from Michigan Avenue to DuSable Lake Shore Drive. Ida B. Wells Drive from Michigan Avenue to Columbus. Congress Plaza Drive from Harrison to Van Buren. Northbound Indiana Avenue from Roosevelt to 13th Street. Post Place: Entrance and exit of Lower Wacker Drive. Garvey Court.: Entrance and exit of Lower Wacker Drive. Sunday, July 6 – Monday, July 7: Select streets will begin reopening following the conclusion of the event. NOTE: The priority streets to reopen are DuSable Lake Shore Drive and Michigan Avenue. Other street closures will remain in effect as the breakdown of the track wall, fence and viewing structures takes place. Northbound DuSable Lake Shore Drive will begin reopening Monday, July 7 at 6 a.m., with all NASCAR-related breakdown activity expected to conclude by end of day July 14. Because this is a big event, the city is encouraging people to take public transportation, and CTA and Metra said they will provide beefed-up service over the weekend.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Chicago seeing fewer international travelers, but local hotels still expect ‘solid' summer
The number of international guests staying at Chicago hotels is down amid tensions between the Trump administration and other nations, and economic uncertainty is discouraging business travel. But local hoteliers say they still expect a busy summer, thanks in part to a tourism calendar that relies heavily on domestic leisure travelers coming in for events like Lollapalooza and July's two-day NASCAR Chicago Street Race. 'It's true we're seeing a drop in foreign inbound travelers, but the drop is not significant,' said Maverick Hotels and Restaurants CEO Robert Habeeb, the proprietor of the 223-room Sable at Navy Pier. Government-related travel is also down after months of spending cuts by the administration of President Donald Trump, Habeeb said. 'But in the summer, it's leisure, leisure, leisure and most of these folks will show up. It's going to be a solid summer,' he said. The decline in international travelers to Chicago is difficult to measure, as hotels generally don't report statistics on guests' country of origin, said Brian Arevalo, managing director with HVS, a consultant for the hospitality industry. 'But it has been noticed and it's something we're hearing a lot about from hotel operators,' he said. Andrew Eck, general manager of L7 Chicago By LOTTE, a 191-room hotel at 225 N. Wabash Ave., said summer bookings from Canadians were off by about 25% compared with 2024. The number of Asian guests at the hotel, which carries a Seoul-based brand, seems steady, he said. Overall, the summer is shaping up to be a busy one, Eck said. 'Because we were under construction for part of the year in 2024, we are seeing growth that's off the charts. We could sell out every single day this summer.' It's already been a solid year. Healthy attendance at some conventions held at the McCormick Convention Center, along with blockbuster events, including Beyoncé's three-night, sold-out 'Cowboy Carter' extravaganza in May at Soldier Field, kept Chicago hotels ahead of their 2024 pace. About 1.3 million people are expected to attend McCormick Center events in 2025, according to the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, the municipal corporation also known as McPier, which owns McCormick Center. That's still far below pre-pandemic numbers, when the venue typically attracted between 2 million and 2.9 million visitors. But some conventions are close to full recoveries, said McPier CEO Larita Clark. The International Manufacturing Technology Show attracted almost 90,000 visitors last year, compared with the more than 100,000 seen pre-COVID. In March, ProMat 2025, a manufacturing and supply chain convention, brought about 52,000 to McCormick Center. 'That show set a new attendance record,' Clark said. Chicago hotel occupancy hit 65.6% in April, up from 64.6% last April, while the average daily rate for a room increased from $150.96 to $157.89, a 4.6% bump, according to CoStar data. 'We are ahead of where we were last year,' said Kiara Felfle, director of sales at The Robey Chicago, an 89-room boutique hotel in the Wicker Park neighborhood on the Northwest Side. 'Beyoncé's concerts were a record-breaking time for us as far as occupancy goes.' The Robey Chicago, which opened in 2016 in the landmark Northwest Tower, anticipates a stream of customers this summer, many headed to the neighborhood's many street festivals and small music venues. 'Chicago really shines in the summer, so it's a big time for us, and this year will be no different,' she said. Choose Chicago launches new marketing campaign: Never Done. Never Outdone. The Trump administration tightened border controls and began imposing on-again, off-again tariffs on many nations this year, including Canada and China, souring relations and leading some travelers to cancel U.S. trips. 'While other nations are rolling out the welcome mat, the U.S. government is putting up the 'closed' sign,' said World Travel & Tourism Council CEO Julia Simpson in May. The council estimates international visitor spending in the U.S. will decline from $181 billion in 2024 to $169 billion this year, 22% lower than the peak year of 2019. Early summer bookings by Canadians were already down more than 20% year-over-year, with March visits from the United Kingdom falling 15%, and German travelers declining by 28%. Chicago hotels should be able to absorb the hit. The city attracted 55 million total visitors in 2024, according to Choose Chicago, the city's tourist agency. About 2 million were international travelers, so if the city sees fewer people from overseas this year, domestic tourists may fill the gap. 'Based on our monthly projections that are tracking 3-4% higher year-over-year, and with recent record-breaking weekends for hotel occupancy as well as several conferences that are setting records for attendance and room blocks, we are expecting a slight increase in our summer hotel occupancy over 2024,' Choose Chicago CEO Kristen Reynolds said in a statement. Juan Leyva, general manager of the 452-room LondonHouse Chicago at 85 E. Wacker Drive, said the hotel will shift its summer marketing strategy, hopefully making up for any international losses by bringing more guests in from Indianapolis, Detroit and other domestic markets, especially for the Lollapalooza and NASCAR weekends. 'We are on a good pace for Lollapalooza, slightly ahead of last year,' Leyva said. 'Being a drive-in event, it doesn't really depend on international travel.' Chicago's cold and rainy spring led many tourists to book rooms at the last minute and was probably a bigger concern than the decline in international travel, he said. 'We're finally getting summer, but it did take a long time,' he said. 'When all is said and done, we expect to be in line with last year, and maybe a little bit ahead.'
