artistic image courtesy of Canadian Motor SpeedwayCanadian Motor Speedway and Brock University Sign MOU for Research March 25, 2016 Miscellaneous FORT ERIE, ON – Advancing their mandate to form long-term partnerships with world-class Ontario post-secondary institutions, Canadian Motor Speedway (CMS) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Brock University. The partnership will initially focus on research collaboration with the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences and could potentially develop into projects with the Environmental Sustainability Research Centre, BioLinc and The Goodman School of Business. Partnerships currently being considered involve students working with Sport Management Associate Professor Julie Stevens from the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences at Brock. University faculty and students would be working alongside CMS to research planned motorsport and entertainment events, and the economic impact those events might have on corporate sponsors, the Speedway, the Town of Fort Erie and the Niagara Region. “Right now the first step is economic. If you get some basic event information, you can go and find how many competitors and attendees those typically have and use those numbers to project what the economic impact would be on Niagara,” Stevens says. Officials from Brock and CMS gathered at the Speedway office in Fort Erie on Tuesday, March 22nd for the signing. “This agreement creates exciting opportunities for Brock researchers and students, the Canadian Motor Speedway and the surrounding community,” says Gary Libben, Vice-President, Research, Brock University. “By coming together to apply research to real-world situations, we’re laying the groundwork for Niagara to gain economic and cultural benefits from this initiative in an environmentally sustainable way,” Libben adds. Azhar Mohammad, CMS Partner and Executive Director, says the Speedway is proud of the opportunity to work with Brock’s Sport Management program. “Canadian Motor Speedway values its partnerships with world-class educational institutions. This partnership will provide experiential learning, expertise and research, as well as connect Brock University and CMS to other industry partners, taking us all to another level of excellence.” Clair MacSweyn, CMS Marketing and Sponsorship Executive and a Brock University alumna, states this particular research will be important to forming the Speedway’s calendar. “As a multi-sports and entertainment venue, CMS will have a diverse year-round calendar of events. Collaboration in Sport Marketing and Sustainability in Sports will benefit Brock University research, CMS operations, sponsor engagement and the fan experience at CMS. As a Brock graduate, I am impressed with the expansion of the University over the years and the level of excitement in regards to participation in bringing Canada’s largest stadium and events to Niagara.” Brock University joins McMaster University’s Faculty of Engineering, Niagara College, and The University of Ontario Institute of Technology’s Automotive Centre of Excellence on Canadian Motor Speedway’s growing list of educational partners. About Canadian Motor Speedway CMS is a world-class motorsport and entertainment development in Fort Erie, Ontario, minutes from Niagara Falls and U.S International border crossings. The core of the project is a ¾ mile oval designed by Jeff Gordon, which will be Canada’s largest oval track and Canada’s largest stadium with 65,000 grandstand seats. 250 planned event days will host various racing platforms, race team and industry testing, driver experiences and training, concerts and music festivals, other sporting events and charity and community events. CMS will also include commercial and recreational space, as well as an Innovation Park in collaboration with educational partners: McMaster University’s Faculty of Engineering, Niagara College, Brock University and The University of Ontario Institute of Technology’s Automotive Centre of Excellence (ACE). Sustainable technology will be tested on-track and also used to design, build and operate CMS with assistance from partners such as the Green Sports Alliance. For more information: www.cdnmotorspeedway.com. About Brock University Brock University is a comprehensive university located in Ontario’s Niagara region, just an hour from the GTA. With nearly 600 full-time faculty members and researchers, Brock’s robust academic scope offers more than 72 undergraduate degree programs and nearly 50 master’s and PhD programs. Brock’s student experience is enriched by an emphasis on experiential learning, as illustrated by community partnerships, volunteerism and one of Ontario’s largest and most successful co-op programs. Visit us at brocku.ca. Photo: CMS Partner and Executive Director Azhar Mohammad (Left) and Gary Libben, Vice President, Research, Brock University shake hands after the MOU signing at The CMS corporate office in Fort Erie Ontario.
