For fans and businesses, Montreal F1 marks return to normal
For racing fans in downtown Montreal checking out luxury cars and enjoying the celebrations around the return of the Canadian Grand Prix, this weekend could not come soon enough.
"It feels like 2019, coming back to normal," said Alfredo Monsivais, a Montreal resident admiring a green Alfa Romeo on Peel Street Thursday afternoon.
The race on Sunday will be the first Grand Prix in Montreal in three years after two pandemic-related cancellations.
The days around the race weekend have always been special, said Benoit Dessureault, co-owner of the Old Montreal restaurant Chez Delmo.
After Montreal's long winters, the race marks the return of summer activities.
"It's almost like waking up after hibernation," he said Thursday. "In comes this festive crowd, well-dressed, in a party mood with money to spend saying, 'Wake up Montreal, it's time to party."'
The race is also good for business, he said.
On a typical night, his 60-seat restaurant will serve around 70 customers; on the Thursday, Friday and Saturday before the Grand Prix, he serves about 150 people a night.
"The average per plate is higher; there's more champagne, there's more alcohol consumption, there's more pricey products, wine, etc. It's the second-biggest sales night after New Year's Eve," he said.
The return of the race, the only Canadian stop on the Formula One circuit, has the city's hotel owners "very excited" after two very difficult years, said Jean-Sebastien Boudreault, head of the Hotel Association of Greater Montreal.
"There were months where we had occupancy rates around five per cent," he said Thursday. "It was extremely difficult for our hoteliers."
This weekend, he said, hotel occupancy rates are around 96 per cent, with prices averaging about $500 a night.
"The hotels are full, so I think the hoteliers are pleased. They'll have a lot of work to do this weekend, but everyone is happy to see that life is resuming, that the pandemic appears to be behind us," he said.
The Grand Prix is one of the busiest times for the hotel industry, alongside the first weekend of the Montreal International Jazz Festival and the Osheaga music festival.
The party does come at a cost to taxpayers.
In 2017, the municipal, provincial and federal governments said they would spend $98.2 million to keep the race in Montreal until 2029.
That deal was extended in 2021, with the federal and provincial governments promising another $51 million to keep the race in the city until 2031.
Moshe Lander, who teaches economics at Montreal's Concordia University, said that while the Grand Prix is a "great event," he thinks its economic benefits are overstated.
While the race may provide a boost to certain businesses, it's relatively small in terms of the city's overall economy, he said.
"If the F1 weren't here, it's not like no tourists would come to Montreal," he said Thursday. "It would just be a different set of tourists."
Hotels are always busy in Montreal in the summer, he said, meaning that when tourists come for the F1, they're just displacing other tourists who would be visiting the city for its art or culture.
Stephannie Urrutia, who was out on Crescent Street in downtown Montreal with her mother, Ingrid Estrada -- both dressed in matching Ferrari racing team shirts -- said she's happy to see people out and to see the return of a sport they both enjoy.
"It's really great to have this after a pandemic," she said.
-- This report by The Canadian Press was first published on June 17, 2022.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Quebec judge orders bus driver to stand trial for 2023 daycare crash deaths
A judge has ordered a Quebec man to stand trial on charges of first-degree murder in the deaths of two children killed when a bus rammed into a Montreal-area daycare last year.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
Trudeau's latest pre-budget pledge targets millennial moms, vowing $1B in loans for more child-care spaces
The federal government is launching a new loan program to help child-care providers in Canada expand their spaces, and will be extending further student loan forgiveness and training options for early childhood educators, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
Krispy Kreme doughnuts coming to McDonald's in U.S., but not Canada
Canadians will be missing out on a sweet new partnership between McDonald's and Krispy Kreme, which will see doughnuts available at McDonald's locations across the U.S. by the end of 2026.
Calgary officer charged after allegedly assaulting handcuffed man
A Calgary police officer has been charged after allegedly assaulting a handcuffed man two years ago.
Where is the worst place for allergy sufferers in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
How do you navigate the social media minefield with your kids?
Growing fears about social media's harm have sparked lawsuits against social media companies from hundreds of school districts in the United States and now Canada. CTVNews.ca wants to know whether your children are addicted to social media or if you have concerns about their usage of platforms such as Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok and X.