Hi Joey,
The Gloucester Times is going to run a story about the Gran Prix of Gloucester, possibly in Saturday’s edition. I wanted to share the statement that I provided them. Please feel free to run all of this.
On a personal note, I love Gloucester. My family and I are regular visitors at Wingaersheek Beach, on rare nights we get a babysitter, my wife & I hit Duckworth’s. My favorite drive when I need to get my toddler to sleep is heading north on 127 to Folly Cove.
As you’ll see below, we’ve had to investigate other host cities. Rest assured that we are working with the Gloucester Chief Administrative Officer to close some issues. We recently had a site visit with the Chief Administrative Officer, the Operations Manager of Public Services, Fire Chief and Building Inspector and made significant progress. Finally, we’re going through the permit process.
Best,
Paul Boudreau
We are committed to hosting a world-class event in the Greater Boston area on the weekend of Sept. 28-29. Since the fall of 2012, after the completion of the race weekend, Gloucester city officials raised concerns with the event. We have endeavored to address these concerns to the best of our abilities. Discussions are ongoing, and we remain optimistic that we can reach an agreement. However, given the uncertainty that Gloucester would continue to be a feasible host city, we faced no other choice but to explore options for other potential host cities in the area.
Athletes from across the United States and Europe are currently making travel plans for their cyclocross race season. As the kickoff event of the premier professional cyclocross race series in the United States, we feel we have an obligation to continue to host this event. In addition, the economic impact it has provided to the community has grown tremendously. Based on a Bentley University economic impact study, roughly 40 percent of participants stay in the Cape Ann region during the race weekend. In the race’s fourteen years, we have strived to be mindful, cooperative community partners and are dedicated to building upon the relationship with the city . However, if the Gloucester venue is not a viable location, we will be forced to seek an alternative site that meets the standards that racers have come to expect from this event.
Editor Nore from Joey C
I am fully supportive of the Gran Prix, the quality of the people it brings here and what they put back into the community between the businesses that benefit and the showcasing of our City as a venue for world class events. Make no mistake about it, these athletes travel from all over the world to participate.
They have demonstrated that they leave the park in better shape than when they arrive. (Pictures don’t lie homie), and show that they are willing to listen to, and work with the powers that be to insure that people are left happy.
Good Morning Gloucester 
Right on Joey! Kudos to Paul Boudreau for continuing to work with City officials. Now it’s up to us. Everybody who reads GMG needs to call the Mayor’s office 978.281.9700 and every City Councilor (see this page for phone numbers: http://www.gloucester-ma.gov/index.aspx?nid=121) and tell them that we want this world-class sporting event at Stage Fort Park in Gloucester! People all over the world know Gloucester as the home of this major event. It would be a terrible shame for the world famous Gran Prix of Gloucester to have to change it’s name.
As a City we need to ask ourselves, “What can we do to make Paul Boudreau REALLY WANT to keep Gran Prix of Gloucester IN GLOUCESTER!
OK enough talk. Time for action!
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I agree with Joey, Vickie, and Peter. Although they don’t spend much in my gallery, they’re good for Gloucester and Cape Ann. When I see cars driving by with multiple $2,000+ bikes on their roof racks, I know they’re going to spend in our City, especially when they’re parked on Main Street in front of restaurants. Let’s welcome them.
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I am a cyclist and cycling fan from New Hampshire and travel to Gloucester every year to watch this world class event. This year I even plan to participate. I bring my family each year and we always eat there and visit shops downtown. I know of lots of others that do the same. It is so well-known that when I visited Belgium, locals recognized that I lived near Gloucester. It would be a shame to lose this.
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Hosting this event and keeping it in Gloucester also serves as a great headline/testimony to other venues that Gloucester welcomes diverse events and has the facilities and support in meeting spaces, banquet facilities, restaurants, lodging, shopping and other services to make any event capable of being world class.
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Thanks Lowell. I don’t usually get riled up, but I can’t believe there’s opposition to OUR Grand Prix. This is indeed a world class athletic event, and if anything, we should be rolling out the red carpet to accommodate OUR event. These folks are diligent and will repair the park, as seen in the photos taken in early October and mid-December (which is not the optimum grass growing season).
My Bottom Line: What is best for us in this City? No bicycle event, no Block Party, no Blackburn Challenge, no Schooner Festival, and no Fiesta? Oh yeah, I forgot the road races, the Sidewalk Bazaar, Santa Parade, and Horribles Parade, all messy and inconvenient. But you know what? All of these events belong to and benefit OUR Gloucester – TO US. Grass grows back, but an event such as this will not come back. Let’s embrace this event and do right by them. I’m going to start by hosting a reception every afternoon after the race, with healthy snacks and refreshments. We currently OWN OUR Gand Prix, let’s not give it away to Salem or elsewhere.
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I think the Grand Prix is wonderful and exciting event. The participants are gracious and it should continue to be at Stage Fort Park.
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Who in their right mind would want to obstruct hosting this event? It’s a world class event that exposes Gloucester to the rest of the world!
I have been to it with my child, and our experience is always great. The cyclists are world class athletes, and serve as a wonderful example to our kids. It’s a perfect situation to open discussions on healthy living, determination, self-discipline and perseverance.
The economic impact should not be ignored either. Not only do the cyclists stay in the area, but their friends and families come to watch the event and ‘discover’ Gloucester and Cape Ann for the first time! That translates into future visitors and more money for the city.
We would be fools to let this opportunity slip through the cracks and end up in another town.
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