Finding lodgings on race weekends could be a lot difficult if a larger percentage of the California Speedway fans came from outside Southern California. Others will come from Ventura and Kern counties. For these fans, the event can be a one-day outing, not involving an overnight stay. Excluding the race teams, most of the remaining speedway visitors travel primarily from Nevada and Arizona, Bickmeier said. The speedway's presence has had a significant impact on Fontana, even though it lies outside the city's boundaries, City Manager Ken Hunt said.
Hunt recalls making a bond presentation in New York City.
Every time there's a race, Fontana receives international coverage. The company was attracted to Fontana because of its commercial and residential growth and its proximity to California Speedway and Ontario International Airport, officials said. The hotels are looking at sites primarily because of growth at Ontario International Airport, but business during race weekends is another big plus, Hunt said. The track's presence also is bringing more development to the old Kaiser industrial property immediately around it. It plans to develop it into Kaiser Commerce Center, which would offer as much as 7 million square feet of industrial and retail space, including a major freeway truck stop.