HUDSON COUNTY — A major event, the Red Bull Air Race, is probably coming to Jersey City, possibly bringing thousands of dollars in revenue to area businesses.
The international series of air races, in which professional pilots navigate an obstacle course, will be held in the skies over Liberty State Park on June 19 and 20.
Bruce Bedell, event marketing manager for Red Bull North America, the energy drink company that created the event in 2003, gave a presentation to the City Council at their caucus on Monday. The council was scheduled at their Wednesday meeting to vote on a resolution to “promote and support” the race.
Bedell said the race also brings economic benefits to the towns where they have been held. He said that in 2008, $37 million was generated in San Diego and over $50 million for Detroit.
Council members Bill Gaughan and David Donnelly both vouched for the event, having visited Windsor, Ontario last year to view the race when it was held there. Gaughan described the event as “amazing” due to the amount of preparation and management he observed. He compared the race to the Barclays golf tournament that occurred last summer.
“It’s a tremendous event for the city … and it’s a tremendous economic boost,” Gaughan said.
Donnelly said Windsor police officers told him the race was one of the “easiest to maintain.”
For more, see this weekend’s Jersey City Reporter newspaper.