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 Iran fires at apparent Israeli attack drones near Isfahan air base and nuclear site
An apparent Israeli drone attack on Iran saw troops fire air defences at a major air base and a nuclear site early Friday morning near the central city of Isfahan, an assault coming in retaliation for Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country.
NEW After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Ontario woman loses $15,000 to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Colin Jost names one celebrity who is great at hosting 'Saturday Night Live'
Colin Jost, who co-anchors Saturday Night Live's 'Weekend Update,' revealed who he thinks is one of the best hosts on the show.
Ottawa to force banks to call carbon rebate a carbon rebate in direct deposits
Canadian banks that refuse to identify the carbon rebate by name when doing direct deposits are forcing the government to change the law to make them do it, says Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault.
DEVELOPING Israel targets air defence system in Syria, state news agency says
Israel carried out a missile strike targeting an air defence unit in southern Syria, causing material damage, state-run SANA news agency quoted a military statement as saying Friday.
Some Canadian families will receive up to $620 per child today
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.