To: Downtown Businesses
From: Michael Edwards, Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership (PDP)
Re: Pittsburgh 250 Tour of Pennsylvania Bike Race: Downtown Circuit Race
Date: May 22, 2008
Overview:
We are sending you this notification to give you the facts associated with a major Downtown event occurring on Sunday, June 29, 2008. We encourage you to consider the effects this event will have on your business and to plan accordingly to maximize its positive benefits and minimize any negatives.
Who: Tour of Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh 250, Allegheny Conference and the PDP
What: Downtown International Professional Bike Race: 50-lap Circuit Race
Where: The race will be in the streets of Downtown Pittsburgh. The start and finish lines are located on the Boulevard of the Allies near Stanwix Street. The course: Boulevard of the Allies to Grant Street to Sixth Avenue to Liberty Avenue to Commonwealth and back on the Boulevard of the Allies.
When: Sunday, June 29, 2008, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Purpose:
The Pittsburgh stage is the pinnacle event of the Tour of Pennsylvania bike race—the first international event of its kind ever organized in the mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States and the first U-25 (under 25) event ever staged in North America. It follows the Forbes Trail across Pennsylvania, the first road across the Alleghenies. The first of three signature events of the Pittsburgh 250 celebration, each of which is designed to showcase and attract visitors to Downtown Pittsburgh, the Tour of Pennsylvania targets a young demographic (14-25) and families. The tour has heavy promotional support from American Eagle Outfitters and McDonald’s. Estimated attendance is 70,000 people with two-hours of National television coverage on the Versus Network and live regional coverage on WPXI-TV. The international bicycle media are expected to come to Pittsburgh to cover the event as well.
Opportunities:
The PDP is committed to being part of the Pittsburgh 250 celebration and supports the efforts of the Pittsburgh 250 Commission and the Allegheny Conference, which is facilitating the celebration on behalf of a 14-county region. In fact, the PDP is packaging a Sunday Market Square event (Berry Festival Celebration) as part of the Bike Race on June 29, 2008. Another great community event that day is the rededication of the Boulevard of the Allies at the Boulevard and Grant Street at 2:50 p.m. Other events include a festival organized by Leadership Pittsburgh, Inc.’s Leadership Development Initiative at the same location, a companion event at the corner of Sixth and Liberty (both key corners in the race of interest to the national television cameras), a River City Brass Band concert at the Boulevard and Grant that evening and fireworks. Downtown businesses, including food and beverage establishments and retailers, are encouraged to take advantage of the crowd by offering Bike Race specials. Because there is an afternoon Pirates baseball game and matinees in the Cultural District that will all be letting out around the time road closures begin, restaurants and businesses located within the Cultural District may want to encourage people to stay in town for a late dinner before heading home.
Challenges:
The race course will require significant street closures late in the afternoon. While pedestrians will be able to move freely across the course at multiple locations, the only vehicular traffic will be via Smithfield Street. We strongly encourage food and beverage establishments, retailers and hotel operators to note this closure period from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and plan accordingly for customers, guests and employees. For example, if you are a restaurant, you may want to take reservations that day after 7 p.m. or develop a strategy to appeal to the thousands of race spectators that will begin gathering in town around 2 p.m. when the various festivals begin. To be clear, vehicular access across the course on Smithfield Street will be strongly discouraged during the race and may result in significant inconvenience to your patrons.
For more information:
www.tourofpa.com
www.imaginepittsburgh.com
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