Indy vs Montreal: Cost Comparisons? | FerrariChat
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Indy vs Montreal: Cost Comparisons?

Discussion in 'F1' started by bretm, Feb 14, 2005.

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  1. bretm

    bretm F1 Rookie

    Feb 1, 2001
    4,577
    Northern NJ
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    Bret
    #1 bretm, Feb 14, 2005
    I’ve searched the archives and found good opinions, but very little cost comparisons. So, what kind of costs do you guys expect at Indy (reference) and Montreal?

    I went to Indy last year (first time at a GP) and it was an awesome weekend. There was plenty of parking, hardly any traffic (compared to NJ), and nightlife was limited but easily accessible. Thinking about Montreal this year… greater opportunities for devience (been there, but not during a GP), but if I'm going to have to drop $100 to park a car for two days and risk getting it jacked, out of control hotel, etc. it might not be worth it. I think btw hotel, gas, food, and entry ticket Indy ran me like $300 last year (split gas/hotel with my buddy, got Gen Ad tickets). Montreal is an awesome city, but just seems a bit hard to cram a hundred thousand racing fans into… I’m hoping you guys might be able to enlighten me on how it transforms during a GP weekend.

    Just a tid bit… trip wise was like 10 hours to Indy. Last year I left Friday night around midnight and got out in time to catch Saturday practice and qualifying. Only had to book hotel a week before the race and bought tickets at the door (sat down at turn 1 all the way at the top of the stand). Driving through the night wasn't bad taking shifts with my friend. Coming back was sweet as hell, cruising at 110 through PA with nary a soul to see. Got back in NJ at like 5am (little slower average than going out - post race traffic and had to stop at a white castle in Ohio which was conveniently located across the street from the world's largest fireworks warehouse, I'm not saying we bought anything b/c that's illegal in NJ, but if I did, it would have worked out well being as it's just a few weeks before July 4th). Just a cool trip.
     
  2. Gilles27

    Gilles27 F1 World Champ

    Mar 16, 2002
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    Jack
    #2 Gilles27, Feb 14, 2005
    Here's the breakdown for me:

    Montreal
    Airfare.......$250
    Hotel........$1000 for 3 nights, split 4 ways
    Tickets......$250-ish for 3 days
    Off-Track Nonsense.....$500?

    Indy
    Tank of Gas......$35
    Hotel...............$500 for 2 nights, split 4-6 ways. Includes free breakfast and
    2 hours of free drinks each night. So, call it a wash;)
    Tickets............$25. We go to Friday and Saturday events, leave Sunday
    and watch it on TV.
    O.T.N..............$300? One less night, less to do, plus we spend waaaay too
    much time at the Turn 1 bar, which is pretty cheap. And we
    pack our own beer into coolers.

    So for us, financially Indy makes more sense, plus it's 3 hours away. I have a friend who wants to do both, but that won't happen. It's really hard for me not to go to Montreal, but I personally feel they've oversold the track the last few years and I miss the days of freer access.

    Tough call.
     
  3. jpl

    jpl Formula Junior

    Dec 4, 2003
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    Yulee Florida
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    JP Lavigne
    #3 jpl, Feb 14, 2005
    Park at the Queen E. Should cost about 20 per day CDN. Take the subway and you will be fine. I am actually thinking of heading down to Indy this year as the FCA event is the week after the race.
     
  4. WDR328

    WDR328 Formula 3

    Dec 11, 2003
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    #4 WDR328, Feb 14, 2005
    I am doing both this year. I have killer tickets at Indy-$150.00, motel $125. per night 3 nights, airfare from Dallas about $250.00/ Montreal so far-tickets $325.00, Hotel $150.00 pr night-3 nights airfare $375.00. No rental car in Montreal, rental car in Indy $25. per day, parking at the track at VFW $40.00 per weekend
     
  5. Juan-Manuel Fantango

    Juan-Manuel Fantango F1 World Champ
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    #5 Juan-Manuel Fantango, Feb 14, 2005
    Forget about it, who is doing the track day? Drive the track (actually parts of it) and IRP! This should be historic, from what I understand no other club has gained permission to even drive part of the track. That's what I read, but not sure. Also, just did the Rolex and did two laps at Daytona. It was fun, even if it was stop and go.

    http://www.fca-cic.org/fca2005/index.php
     
  6. jknight

    jknight F1 Veteran

    Oct 30, 2004
    7,821
    Central Texas
    #6 jknight, Feb 14, 2005
    No Montreal this year (the couple times we've gone, we've stayed in Laval at the Sheraton and Comfort Inn and paid about $70 per night)- we tend to concentrate on the racing in Europe.

    However, going to Indy again. Costs for Indy - parking FREE - Car Corral on the back straight; motel about 30 minutes from track $69/night (had reservations for a while); great seats in Tower Terrace (across from Podium and above press conference after race) $85 pp, GA on Saturday; brickyard box lunch pp on Sunday $13.95; brickyard cooler (6 beers including cooler) Sunday $18.95; F1 USGP catalog $10; parking in the garage downtown for Friday festivities at the circle $5.00; fuel for MB for drive $150 +/-; motel somewhere Sunday night $70.

    Carol
     
  7. bretm

    bretm F1 Rookie

    Feb 1, 2001
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    #7 bretm, Feb 15, 2005
    Thanks everyone, it is a tough call. Indy I know I still have some time to decide, but I'm getting the impression that if I go the Montreal route I shouldn't waste too much time booking everything. I guess I'll have to see what my friend is into. Montreal I could probably con some non-race fans into going and split the hotel 4 way instead of 2. I'm definitely going more for the racing than the partying (I live 20 min from NYC...), don't really care what the room is like, greasy food for two days wont kill me, etc. Makes me think Indy is better suited, but Montreal has that first time appeal to it.

    Indy has great atmosphere, although I still can't figure out why so many of the local NASCAR type fans sitting near us in turn 1, liked Takuma Sato so much. Quote of the afternoon had to be when the guy next to me says "you mean to tell me this shoemaker boy is a german driving an eyetalian car." They were real cool, funny nonetheless though.

    Last year my Indy breakdown was:
    Days Inn $120: 1 night (saturday), split by 2
    Gas $200, split by 2
    Ticket $60 3 day general pass (yes, start the revolution)
    Food, etc. $80

    From the sounds of it, general admission is not going to get you good seats (or any) at Montreal. That'd knock it up $250 right there. Damn the man.
     
  8. SENNA1

    SENNA1 Karting

    Oct 27, 2004
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    #8 SENNA1, Feb 15, 2005
    NOT EVEN A QUESTION montreal kills indy .. u want hick or hot french woman i take the french girls nightlife in montreal is top class. the area is amazin.. use ur black amex or platnium at the ritz they give u a free upgrade to a 2 bedroom suite.. well worth it to go to montreal since u from NJ .. 45 min plane ride..
     
  9. jscar71

    jscar71 Formula Junior

    Jul 14, 2004
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    #9 jscar71, Feb 15, 2005
    I think you just answered your own question with the above statement.

    there is a reason why they have plenty of parking, hardly any traffic (compared to NJ), and nightlife was limited but easily accessible.

    It's BORING. The 4 days of GP in montreal will be an lover of Cars and women.
     
  10. Gatorrari

    Gatorrari F1 World Champ
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    Feb 27, 2004
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    #10 Gatorrari, Feb 15, 2005
    I used to save money in Montreal by staying at common motels in Greenfield Park or Brossard on the south shore. From there you can actually get to the Longueuil Metro station by bus! Or you can park at the Metro parking lot for a fee. Then it's just one Metro station to get to the islands. This is particularly a good idea for people coming up from the south on I-87 or I-89.

    After the racing each day you can still go into downtown Montreal by Metro and enjoy the action, and then return to Longueuil later.
     

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