Any of you Phoenix guys heard that Firebird's lease wasn't renewed? This isn't good!!

[LeeH]

Firebird International Raceway: The end of an era after 30 years in the Valley of the Sun

Firebird International Raceway: The end of an era after 30 years in the Valley of the Sun

Auto Racing | Jim Hahn | October 23, 2012 7:27 PM

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Firebird International Raceway has been officially notified that its lease on the Gila River Indian Community property will not be extended or renewed. For the last 30 years, Charlie Allen has been president and owner of the Firebird International Raceway facility.

“After almost 30 years, it’s incredibly sad to know that we are looking at the end of Firebird International Raceway,” said Allen, who opened the facility in 1983. “But let me tell you, it’s been a heck of a great ride.”

Charlie Allen and the staff of Firebird Raceway are now focusing on delivering and executing a very full and exciting schedule of events between now and April of 2013. Highlighting the schedule is the return of NHRA and the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing for the 29th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals, Feb. 22-24.

Tickets for the event will go on sale to the public on November 5th. Allen further stated that at this time, there are no concrete plans to build a new facility elsewhere, and that it is unknown what will happen to the property after Firebird Raceway’s exit in April of 2013. “There has been some talk about the community utilizing the facility as a motorsports venue moving forward, and we have recently been made aware that they have made contact with several sanctioning bodies and promoters that we currently work with,” said Allen. “Beyond that, we really can’t comment.”

The fall event line-up includes the return of the nationally-televised Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series, Oct. 27-28, as well as the Napa Auto Parts World Finals Boat Race, an event celebrating its 30th year at Firebird Lake, Nov. 2-4. For tickets for these two events, and the rest of the activities at Firebird International Raceway log on to Firebird International Raceway - Entertainment Accelerated or call 602-268-0200.

The 2013 calendar will most likely be released to the public by the end of October.

“We have been truly blessed with some of the most amazing sponsors, partners, racers, and FANS during our thirty years in business, and we are grateful for their loyalty and support,” concluded Allen. “As Firebird International Raceway embarks on its’ 30th and final season, the number one priority will be delivering the absolute best experience and entertainment to each and every one of our many great fans, racers, and partners of the track.”

Arizona Auto Scene would like to thank all of the staff at Firebird International Raceway that we have had the honor to work with over the past couple of years.

[Joeaksa]

Who is doing this? The Indian community or ?

Sad to see...

[ODDJOB UNO]

wow that does SUCK ! now where?????????/ 5 hours to INDE or to FONTUCKY?

yeah i'll bet the grand salt river/pima plan is to expand the casino in view of the freeway. the closer they can sneak up to the borderline, the less miles their gambling shuttles have to drive to reel in moron gamblers.


and you thought after all the treaties where signed years ago the indians would "make nice".

tell that to everyone up in hawley lake on the leases.

[cashflyer]

Indian Community cancels the lease and get a free venue in which they can now promote events.

A few months before the lease runs out, Charlie should raze the whole thing and return it to the nothingness it was before.

[widebody911]

Originally Posted by cashflyer

A few months before the lease runs out, Charlie should raze the whole thing and return it to the nothingness it was before.

This.

[widgeon13]

Yep, those cacsuckers will make a bundle of money on it and not pay a cent of tax revenue!!!!!

[Dantilla]

Originally Posted by cashflyer

A few months before the lease runs out, Charlie should raze the whole thing and return it to the nothingness it was before.

There is probably language in the lease preventing that. We'll see what happens.

Maybe the tribe will hire Mr. Allen to operate the track for them with a very large salary.

[Rick Lee]

What the hell are the Indians going to do with that? They already have a giant casino across the road. I've never been there, but I doubt it's bursting at the seams. And I thought there was some secret agreement between NV and the AZ Indian tribes to keep a limit on the payout rates and number of casinos in AZ so as to not keep tourists away from Vegas. Seems to me they're shooting themselves in the feet here.

[oldE]

Originally Posted by LeeH

Firebird International Raceway has been officially notified that its lease on the Gila River Indian Community property will not be extended or renewed.

“There has been some talk about the community utilizing the facility as a motorsports venue moving forward, and we have recently been made aware that they have made contact with several sanctioning bodies and promoters that we currently work with,” said Allen. “Beyond that, we really can’t comment.”

That seems to be fairly straightforward.
I think it's called "Cutting out the middleman."

May prove interesting.
Best
Les

[ODDJOB UNO]

heres how the "game" works. with the tribes allowed gambling, they become self sufficient, and not on BIA bankroll as they were. buttt.................where does all the money go?????????????

2 of the stoopidest things you can do on the planet is get something on lease on the rez. or in messiko. they will take it back and thats a fact and it has been proven over the years.

i grew up in pinetop,az. right off the rim road. the rim road leads right to whiteriver,az. aka ft apache (the real one). as a kid it was 5th world poverty.


as an adult................its still 5th world poverty with a chozen few tribe members raping the benefits of the casinos.


go to san carlos rez or any rez and see today 5th world poverty and a captive meth colony. my old college classmate was the head honcho for azdps re: anything everything criminal that goes on at any rez in the state, she was involved.. she said she wouldnt go without a spoon day or night.


so tell me................wheres all the money going??????????????????????????

they just continue bussing in the "grey hairs" and they just keep dumping the bucks.

i am not a gambler so the entire concept is about as foreign as the sun coming up in the west.


and they are total azz'z to you when on the rez despite having proper camping hunting fishing permits.


"yonkee go home" fer sure applies on the rez, unless yer a casino patron(moron).


oh yeah ask me how the "CRITS" (colorado indian tribes) totally screwed up the score parker 400 offroad race being azz'z. score no longer promotes it because they were such money grubbing azz'z.

[GH85Carrera]

One of the rules of business for any business is NEVER EVER do business with a tribe unless you get paid UP FRONT or at delivery. Once they owe a business a large chunk of change they just go away. You can sue but it goes to their kangaroo court system and you ain't gonna win.

[KNS]

This sucks, I was hoping to get back out to the east and west tracks next year.

What will Bondurant do..? Does this afffect him?

[Joeaksa]

Originally Posted by KNS

What will Bondurant do..? Does this afffect him?

With no track to race or do the schools on, would guess that it sure does effect him..

[donagain1]

Whew! For a moment I thought the reference was to Firebirds' Steakhouse down in Chandler.

[Brew 66]

I'm hearing that one of two things will happen:

A large track operator who runs NASCAR tracks and other tracks is already lined up to step in and make major improvements to the facility.

Or Charlie has a new location picked out near Casa Grande that will open in a couple of years if Firebird doesn't reopen.

This comes from someone who runs two events there every year.

[Racerbvd]

Bob Bondurant Racing School is staying so that is proof that the track isn't closing. I have a racing friend who says that racing will continue beyond 2013, that jives with what Brew said.

[Joeaksa]

Good to hear. If BB is staying then the place will stay open!

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Originally Posted by donagain1

Whew! For a moment I thought the reference was to Firebirds' Steakhouse down in Chandler.

That place is so mediocre it's not worth the mention.

Anyway, if Firebird Raceway goes on as per usual but just without Charlie, it proves the tribe just wanted in on the action and didn't mind screwing the people who put in the initial effort.

Doubt I'll ever go there again if that's the case. But I'm sure the loss of my biz will affect them not one whit.