SPECIAL EVENT (WATKINS GLEN) - CIRCUIT TO HAVE NEW MEDIA CENTER IN 2008
Watkins Glen International announced today that funds for a new media center have been approved by the International Speedway Corporation Board of Directors (BOD). Construction of a new building is expected to begin very soon by Welliver McGuire Inc., a Schuyler County based commercial construction services company, with the design provided by Hunt Engineers headquartered in nearby Horseheads, NY. "We have been working on this for a long time, and I am thrilled that we are finally moving forward on this project," stated Craig Rust, President of Watkins Glen International. "The Glen is committed to continuing the upgrades that are necessary to compete in today's motorsports environment and the construction of a new media center clearly demonstrates this on-going effort." The track has been undergoing a series of major capital improvements over the past four years including track repaving in 2006, a new grandstand along the front stretch in 2005, an upgrade to the garage and an improved water and sewer system that included the additions of showers in the campground from 2003 to 2004. "We credential several hundred working media during our NASCAR NEXTEL Cup and IndyCar Series weekends that all have basic requirements that we have been unable to meet in the current facility," stated Eiron Smith, Director of Communications at WGI. "Having a new media center with state-of-the-art technology and proper space for working media, press conferences, the sanctioning bodies, and track staff will help us meet those needs and build positive press coverage during our race weekends." Schuyler County based commercial contractor Welliver McGuire Inc. was awarded the design-build contract last week after the media center proposal went out for bid.