For the fifth time since 2011, the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix surpassed the 95,000-fan mark in total attendance. The three-day motorsports festival, held June 2-4 on Belle Isle, drew an estimated 100,000 fans — more than 25,000 fans on Friday, a record-breaking 45,000 fans on Saturday, and 30,000 fans on Sunday.
Numbers from the Chevrolet Dual in Detroit, featuring the only Verizon IndyCar Series doubleheader race weekend, showed that it was the most successful series event this season excluding the 101st Indianapolis 500.
The Verizon IndyCar Series races had almost 1.8 million television viewers nationwide, making it the second-highest watched series event outside of the Indianapolis 500.
The Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix sponsored by Southfield-based automotive seating supplier Lear Corp. also had the highest social media activity of any series event this season, including the Indianapolis 500. The event also had the most traditional media coverage of any event this season with almost 50,000 stories written the week of the race.
The Grand Prix also set a new record for corporate support totaling 77 partners for 2017.
“It was an extremely successful Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear and we are very pleased with the results we’ve seen across the board,” says Bud Denker, chairman of the Grand Prix. “While the statistics are impressive, what we’re most proud of is the fact that our fans had a great time and got a chance to experience some wonderful memories on Belle Isle and that we were able to showcase the beauty of the island to a worldwide television and digital audience.”
