MEDIA CONTACT
Kathleen Stelmach
416.341.9929 ext. 227 (office)
647.830.0354 (cell)
kathleen@torchiacom.com
ST. PETERSBURG, FL, March 9, 2015 – The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is pleased to announce agreements with two of the leading permanent landmarks on the downtown St. Petersburg waterfront, The Dalí Museum and the Tampa Bay Rowdies.
“The St. Petersburg community means the world to us,” said Kevin Savoree, Co-Owner, President and COO of Green Savoree Racing Promotions, organizers of the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. “Organizing the Grand Prix requires cooperation and partnership. We’re very aware of that and sincerely appreciate the many groups who work in that spirit to reap the advantages of staging an internationally-acclaimed event on the streets of beautiful downtown St. Petersburg. We’re absolutely delighted to have been able to strike win-win relationships with The Dalí Museum and the Tampa Bay Rowdies.”
As part of its agreement, The Dalí Museum will host the official race welcome party, a special invitation-only event that takes place on Thursday, March 26. The world-renowned Museum will also receive on-track signage broadcast worldwide and will host a private corporate event throughout the race weekend. The Museum will be open to the public every day in March, except March 27-29, and welcomes visitors to enjoy its new exhibition, “Dalí & da Vinci: Minds, Machines and Masterpieces,” which runs March 8 through July.
“We work with many downtown events throughout the year,” said Dr. Hank Hine, Executive Director of The Dalí. “We support the race – it’s an important economic driver for the City of St. Petersburg. We’re pleased to collaborate with the Grand Prix this year to create mutually beneficial activities for all.”
Through its sponsorship of the racing event, the Tampa Bay Rowdies will receive space onsite for interactive games, exhibits and will host various partners and customers through the event’s hospitality services. The soccer club will also work closely with Green Savoree Racing Promotions in coordination of the track build and the construction surrounding the improvements to the iconic Al Lang Stadium – home of the Rowdies.
“With our home-opener coming up April 11, stadium upgrades are in full swing at Al Lang,” said Bill Edwards, Principal Owner of the Tampa Bay Rowdies. “Working through our construction schedule with the Grand Prix is critical to ensure that the stadium is ready as planned. In the meantime, we look forward to meeting our fans during race weekend this March.”
The nearly $2 million project will transform the longtime baseball field into a true professional soccer venue. Information on the Rowdies is available at www.rowdiessoccer.com, and for more information on where to park or how to get to The Dalí Museum, please contact info@TheDali.org or 727.823.3767 or visit www.thedali.org.
About the Dalí Museum
The Dalí Museum, located in the heart of beautiful downtown St. Petersburg, Florida, is home to an unparalleled collection of Salvador Dalí art, featuring more than 2,000 works comprising nearly 100 oil paintings; over 100 watercolors and drawings; and 1,300 prints, photographs, sculptures and objets d’art.
The building is itself a work of art, featuring 1,062 triangular-shaped glass panels – the only structure of its kind in North America. Nicknamed The Enigma, it provides an unprecedented view of St. Petersburg’s picturesque waterfront. The Museum has attracted the world’s attention, and among the other distinguished awards it has received, it was listed by AOL Travel News as “one of the top buildings to see in your lifetime.”
The Dalí Museum is located at One Dalí Boulevard, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701.
About the Tampa Bay Rowdies
The Rowdies were the first professional sports franchise in the area and remain one of the most recognizable and well-loved brands in soccer. Originally established in 1975, the team won the NASL Soccer Bowl championship in its inaugural year and created a unique, entertaining and memorable franchise. After ten years in the NASL, the team played both independently and as part of the American Indoor Soccer League and American Soccer League until 1993. In 2008, a group of investors announced the purchase of rights to a professional soccer franchise and the newly established team began play in 2010. In 2012, the Rowdies won the NASL Soccer Bowl Championship and in 2013 St. Petersburg businessman and philanthropist Bill Edwards purchased the club. The 2015 season begins at Al Lang Stadium April 11. To learn more about the Rowdies visit www.rowdiessoccer.com.
About the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
Now in its 11th year, the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is run on a 1.8-mile, 14-turn waterfront circuit that includes a combination of adjacent downtown streets circling Pioneer Park, the Duke Energy Center for the Arts, The Dalí Museum and extending onto the runways at Albert Whitted Airport, which overlook the Tampa Bay and picturesque St. Petersburg Harbor and Marina. The event is owned and operated by Green Savoree Racing Promotions.
To learn more about the event, visit gpstpete.com, ‘like’ its Facebook page at facebook.com/GPSTPETE or follow the event on Twitter @GPSTPETE #FirestoneGP.