Grand Prix of Long Beach

Photos by Chris Green, Stadium Journey

Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.57

Grand Prix of Long Beach 3000 Pacific Ave Long Beach, CA 90806

Grand Prix of Long Beach website

Year Opened: 1975

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IndyCar’s Long Beach Bash

The Grand Prix of Long Beach is America’s longest-running street race, and it is easy to see why. The location in Southern California is perfect for a spring race in April, and the excitement on the track is also top-notch. The area of Southern California itself is a mecca for people all around the world to visit, so adding a world-famous car race to the mix only makes Long Beach even more attractive.

Featuring the IndyCar Series and IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Series as the top-billed race series, in addition to several support events, fans will have no shortage of action to watch while at this annual event.

Food & Beverage   5

The average fan may experience a bit of an overwhelming overload when looking for something to eat or drink in Long Beach. The track has an insurmountable amount of food vendors on site, ranging from chains like King Taco and California Pizza Kitchen to individual booths with kettle corn, massive turkey legs, and fries.

However, making the choices even more numerous is the inclusion of part of The Pike Outlets into the course’s boundaries, with several of the restaurants being made exclusive to race fans for the weekend – Hooter’s, Bubba Gump Shrimp, Famous Dave’s, Chili’s, Outback, and more can all be found inside the track itself, and each of them has a special menu just for that race weekend. Where else can you sit quite literally trackside while munching on fresh seafood and a cold beer from Bubba Gump, all at a special price for fans that weekend?

Prices are about or just above average (burgers $15-$17, hot dogs $12, drinks $4-$8) at the various food booths trackside, which makes them rather reasonable for fans, as you don’t have to break the bank to find something to eat; even the higher-end booths like California Pizza Kitchen’s gourmet pizzas are no more than $12 each.

Atmosphere   5

The air at the Grand Prix of Long Beach warms the race fan’s soul once the sound of engines echoes through the downtown high-rises. The weather in Southern California is also rarely anything but perfect in mid-spring, with temps in the 70s to low 80s, and sunny skies almost a certainty. The weekend features no fewer than six different race series every year, ranging from historic racing and the Stadium Super Trucks Series to the ever popular SuperDrift Challenge Friday and Saturday nights. SRO America action is also added to the slate before the main action of the IndyCar Series race on Sunday, while Saturday features the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Series as the main show, with numerous concerts after the racing action is over each night.

Neighborhood   5

The track winds through downtown Long Beach right along the shoreline, and just steps from the famous hairpin turn is the beach itself. The marina and harbor are also nearby, home to the Queen Mary.

Additionally, the city of Long Beach is essentially a neighbor to Los Angeles, giving fans easy access to one of the biggest and most popular cities in America. When looking for somewhere to stay, hotels are literally across the street from the track and within walking distance, including a hotel located inside the boundaries of the track. But book early, as rooms fill up quickly, and the prices rise as you get closer to the first date of the weekend.

With Long Beach once having been one of those places visitors would be urged to avoid, the area has transformed lately into a haven for foodies and small businesses. In addition, the massive shopping district right next to the track offers you the perfect place to visit and enjoy an evening out during race weekend.

Fans   5

The track is always packed on all three days of the race weekend – fans flock from around the world to visit the Grand Prix of Long Beach, meaning you will meet a wide variety of fans from different cultures.

Surprisingly, a lot of fans here are very sport-knowledgeable, something that is not typical for city-based street courses, which are more of a spectacle for fans than something loyalists pack in for. The majority of the spectators here are all about having a good party, too, and the fans show up for the free concerts held during race weekend in front of the convention center.

Access   4

Getting to the Grand Prix of Long Beach area is not difficult, as several major highways in California provide great access to the city. Parking can be tricky, however, as this race is a street circuit. Thankfully there are numerous parking lots and garages within walking distance of the track in all directions for you to pick from, and several public transportation lines (you can take the trolley or bus to the area, as well as water taxies from Catalina Island) help ease your travel woes. The cost of parking can rise to over $50 across the street from the entrances, but can also be as low as $20 just a few blocks away.

Arguably the most difficult thing is getting around the track itself – pathways and walkways are cordoned off in specific patterns that limit the flow of foot traffic around Long Beach. Fans also aren’t able to spread out as much as they can at other tracks, making the pedestrian bridges and the pathways rather congested.

Return on Investment   4

Tickets to the Grand Prix of Long Beach start at $54 for Friday general admission, $101 for Saturday, $107 for Sunday, and $143 for all three days. Reserved seating for Sunday ranges from $90-$105 for kids to $119-$136 for adults, with 3-day reserved seating ranging from $123-$170 for kids and $155-$215 for adults. IndyCar paddock access ranges from $34 to $80.

The best value, however, may be the Bubba Gump Fountain Club – for $285 on Saturday and $300 Sunday, guests get reserved grandstand seating and access to the Bubba Gump restaurant, complete with a cash bar, free buffet for breakfast and lunch, an exclusive second level viewing deck of the iconic fountain corner complex, and exclusive ground-level patio seating.

Fans who enjoy photography can also purchase the unique Super Photo ticket ($410), allowing them access to specific locations around the track that offer great photo-taking opportunities, which no other race on the schedule allows.

Extras   4

The Grand Prix of Long Beach has an interesting layout for the fan zones, as the entire convention center is turned into a massive exhibition hall that also includes the paddock for the Historic F1 and SRO America teams. Freebies are also abundant for fans who enter the hall, and there are several driver meet-and-greet opportunities as well.

The race weekend also includes various driver autograph sessions, allowing fans to get up close to the stars and cars they cheer on during the day.

Another bonus is the proximity of the track to various national parks and natural areas; Channel Islands National Park, Joshua Tree National Park, Los Padres National Forest, and Angeles National Forest (just to name a few) are all within a short driving distance from Long Beach and the LA area, making for great day-trip ideas for the family to get away from the city and have some adventures.

If you’re a fan of social media, you’ll want to log on for the Grand Prix of Long Beach; throughout the weekend the event displays Twitter posts and photos from Instagram, on the big screens for all to see.

Final Thoughts

Visiting the Grand Prix of Long Beach is a must-do for any hardcore race fan. Anyone in Southern California should visit the race, as it is the nicest racing facility, in terms of weather and location, in the area. Not much can top sunny skies by the Pacific Ocean as cars race down the streets of Long Beach, and that’s exactly why this race has been held here for so many years.