New York Red Bull Air Races Options

[Windtee]

I've already made plans to attend New York's first Red Bull Air Races.

Tickets are in three categories.

1. General Admission - New York
2. Hospitality Race Club - New York
3. Hospitality High Flyer's Lounge - New York

For those who attended previous races, which ticket do you recommend? Also, what were your experiences? Did you have a comfortable location, how was the crowd, food, seating, visibility, general atmosphere, and ah... did I mention restrooms?

Thanks, Race fans!

[WEnnesser]

I grew up in Northern New Jersey and moved to VA to get away from all that mess. Where they plan on setting up the course is not the best of neighborhoods. People there don't care about others especially if your not from around there. They have 0 respect for others or their belongings. The scenery is nice but make sure you don't travel alone in the neighborhoods. As far as the food goes, I miss that part Just about any place that sells pizza is good, Most of the Chineese carry outs are good also and cheap.

[Tomcatboy48237]

I've already made plans to attend New York's first Red Bull Air Races.

Tickets are in three categories.

1. General Admission - New York
2. Hospitality Race Club - New York
3. Hospitality High Flyer's Lounge - New York

For those who attended previous races, which ticket do you recommend? Also, what were your experiences? Did you have a comfortable location, how was the crowd, food, seating, visibility, general atmosphere, and ah... did I mention restrooms?

Thanks, Race fans!

It's best to think of Red Bull as more of a concert than airshow. There aren't any nice volunteers greeting you at the gate, there are hired security guards glaring at you. They don't want you bringing anything in except money to spend and aren't going to bend the rules or look the other way to let your umbrella in.

The seating isn't like an airshow with a big wide open field for everyone to sit in and have a clear view. They'll fence off the shoreline no matter what's there (in Windsor the park was full of trees that blocked many people's views) and sell enough tickets to pack it shoulder to shoulder. If you get there very early and are one of the first ones in, you can get a good seat in the front row but you will feel the crush behind you all day. At Windsor it was solid people for 30 feet back to a pathway and to get out you pretty much had to shove through. I didn't leave my spot the whole day though so I was fine.

Since it's so close to the city and advertised so well, a lot of people who don't care about planes are there. It's a bit like Andrews, they don't care if your chair is there they'll step right over it to stand next to you, or move your things to get a clearer path to your personal space. It was bad enough in a place with really nice people like Windsor, I can't imagine it in NYC or Jersey.

The overall atmosphere other than that was pretty good though, I didn't expect to be as entertained as I was. They do a good job of drawing you into the race even though the results don't matter that much. The food and drinks are obviously expensive and nothing that great. It's all managed by Red Bull so it isn't like there are local stands offering different food. Bathroom needs were definitely underestimated and had huge lines. Luckily there was a small cafe in the city park with a bathroom for people to use.

Overall I had fun but was definitely on edge the whole time because of the crowd. I am actually considering not going this year because I don't want to deal with all of it.

The VIP tickets each have their own fenced off area and are located right at the center of the track so they may be worthwhile if you have the money to spend. I don't know what they're like to sit in, though.

Hope this helps!

Ryan

[BlueSkyAndThunde...]

Anyone have the course map? I'm thinking about going to the Statue of Liberty on the 20th (the 19th already sold out) for $20 (with crown access). Ellis Island will probably have a great view as well.

Mike


http://www.statuecruises.com/

[snowbirdsfan]

I'm thinking about getting two grandstand tickets, $75 for two days is not too bad.

[MRHCT]

Got the info today for the package from Mikey.

http://mikegoulian.com/news-blog/nyc-team-99-fan-trip

Haven't decided which way I'm going yet but I'm going.

Who else?

[RDVector]

I'm definitely going to be up there to watch but due to the prices it looks like I'm going to be watching from a distance. If you look at the map of the race area my sister's apartment is right at the top edge of that map and her place faces Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty so that will be my vantage point. Have to admit though, it would be awesome to have the "Pit Lane Walk" access but if I went all out for the tickets I'd probably have to give up attending at least one airshow and I'm leaving for vacation the day after the race so there goes vacation money

[Chris S]

Mike,
I'm looking into possibly going on Chartered Party Boat for the Race that I've heard about.
I'll let you know the details when I get more info about it !!

[Justy]

We're planning on going and bring our respective sons. I'd be interested in the details of the party boat.

[BlueSkyAndThunde...]

Red Bull Air Race kicks off Jersey City/New York race in Times Square
By Melissa Hayes/The Jersey Journal
May 25, 2010



Posing with Kirby Chambliss' aerobatics airplane in the heart of Times Square in New York City today to promote the Red Bull Air Race World Championship at Liberty State Park in Jersey City on June 19 and 20 are, standing from left to right, race pilots Kirby Chambliss, Pete McLeod, Michael Goulian, Paul Bonhomme and Alejandro Maclean; Executive Director of the New York City Office of Citywide Event Coordination and Management Evan Korn; Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy; Race Director Jimmy DiMatteo; and seated, Friends of Liberty State Park President Sam Pesin, right, and Co-Vice President Eliza Wright.With a mock airplane hangar and small aircraft in the middle of Times Square this morning it was hard for passersby not to stop and take a look.

The Red Bull Air Race, which will visit Liberty State Park in Jersey City June 19 and 20, formally kicked off its first-ever East Coast race with a press event in New York City.

The air race is coming to the Jersey City and New York waterfront exactly 100 years after New York hosted its first-ever air show. That historic event was also the first East Coast air race and was held Oct. 30, 1910 at Belmont Park.

Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy and Evan Korn, executive director of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's Office of Citywide Event Coordination and Management, kicked off the race with five of the 15 pilots competing this year.

The mock airplane hangar, which is open to the public through this afternoon and will be at Jones Beach for an air show this weekend, houses historic photographs of the first air show in France over 100 years ago, followed by one in Los Angeles in Jan. 1910 and New York later that year.

The hanger also displays images of the Red Bull Air Race, the map of the Liberty State Park course in Jersey City and video on the race.

Red Bull Air Race officials said the East Coast event was three years in the making and took the collaboration of New York City, Jersey City, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, the Coast Guard, Federal Aviation Administration and several other agencies.

The race's two American pilots, Kirby Chambliss and Michael Goulian recently visited Liberty State Park.

Red Bull Air Race plans to hold press events leading up the race in and around Jersey City in mid-June.


heeere's your link!
Many more photos
http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2010/05...cks_off_je.html

[Onslow]

The most ridiculous aspect of this event is that there is NO PARKING at Liberty State Park unless you purchase a VIP ticket! This park is very nice and there is plenty of parking room there but for the organizers to tell general admission fans that they need to plan on parking in Jersey City and taking light rail to the event is ridiculous. Between that and the ticket prices and knowing how high the food and drink prices will be I'm going to pass on it. Shame as it is close to home and could have been a nice day out.

[MRHCT]

The most ridiculous aspect of this event is that there is NO PARKING at Liberty State Park unless you purchase a VIP ticket! This park is very nice and there is plenty of parking room there but for the organizers to tell general admission fans that they need to plan on parking in Jersey City and taking light rail to the event is ridiculous. Between that and the ticket prices and knowing how high the food and drink prices will be I'm going to pass on it. Shame as it is close to home and could have been a nice day out.

I figured parking and transport to the stands would be nuts. I'm treating myself to the full weekend package, I'll let the bus get me from point A to point B.

[Kyuusei]

I'm really considering Ellis Island. Anyone know if they'll be open the whole weekend, and if so if they'll allow you to chill and set up a "photo" nest on the grounds?

[Jolly Roger]

I am really on the fence about this one. I know the crush of people there will be unreal - but I've never been to an air race and this one is right in my backyard! If anything - I guess I would go for a grandstand ticket (the others are just too expensive I think) but I wonder how the views would be. To be honest - my enjoyment of something like this is really increased by my ability to get good pictures of the event - and I'm just wondering if I'd have that opportunity given the crowds and set up.

Does anyone know if they have practice days before the race? Maybe I can head over there before the crush of people and at least get a feel for it?

[Kyuusei]

Well this is the posted schedule, and it doesn't say anything about a practice.

NEW YORK RACE SCHEDULE (Provisional) 5/27/2010
Qualifying (Saturday, June 19th)

• 10:00 Doors Open
• 12:00 Pre-show, Side Acts
• 14:00 RACE STARTS!
• 14:00 1st Qualifying Session
• 15:00 2nd Qualifying Session
• 16:15 Results, Summary, Interviews, Highlights of the Day
• 18:00 Doors Close

Race Day (Sunday, June 20th)
• 10:00 Doors Open
• 12:00 Pre-show, Side Acts
• 13:15 RACE STARTS!
• 13:15 Wild Card Session
• 14:10 Top 12 Primary Round Session
• 14:50 Super Eights
• 15:25 Final 4
• 15:40 Results, Summary, Interviews, Highlights of the Day
• 16:15 Award Ceremony
• 18:00 Doors Close

Race Airport Activities:
(Linden Airport)
Friday, June 18, 14:45 - Guided Airport Tour (Ticket required)
Saturday, June 19, 17:30 - Hospitality Pit Lane Walk (Complimentary for HFL guests)


BTW, Ellis Island for me. Looking at the map, general standing admission puts you right at the furthest corner.

[Jolly Roger]

I'll try to find out more but this is the notice a friend of mine got from his building which is in Jersey City:

All Tenants:

Please be advised the Red Bull Air Races are scheduled to take place Saturday, June 19, 2010 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Sunday, June 20, 2010 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. in Liberty State Park.

Practice dates are scheduled for June 16, 17, and 18.

Thank you.

[MRHCT]

Here's part of the TFR that's up. All time are ZULU.



Sample XML Data Packet Sample AIXM5 Data Packet NOTAM Number : FDC 0/5397 Download shapefiles
Issue Date : June 11, 2010 at 1206 UTC
Location : Liberty State Park, Hudson River, New York near CANARSIE VOR/DME (CRI)
Beginning Date and Time : June 16, 2010 at 1330 UTC
Ending Date and Time : June 20, 2010 at 2100 UTC
Reason for NOTAM : The Red Bull Air Race
Type : Airshow
Replaced NOTAM(s) : N/A
Pilots May Contact : Newark (EWR) Air Traffic Control Tower, 973-824-6392

[BlueSkyAndThunde...]

The RBAR really isn't cheap. Don't expect to park at Liberty State Park and use the shuttle bus, NJ Transit eliminated that service to reduce costs a couple of weeks ago. I would recommend Ellis Island to watch after all it is FREE and the sun will be to your back. If you don't want to walk or risk your car in Jersey City take the ferry for $13 from NYC. RBAR may have reasons for their operations, but it is not translating to fan friendly.

[Onslow]

RBAR may have reasons for their operations, but it is not translating to fan friendly.

Doesn't seem fan friendly at all.

[Jolly Roger]

Doesn't seem fan friendly at all.

It's such a shame, especially since this is such a local race for me - but I may just have to skip this one (and hope those of you who brave the crowds post some pictures so I can live vicariously). I mean, it IS Father's Day, so technically I can do whatever I want - but I just don't know if I want to deal with the crowds and the costs of not having to deal with the crowds are prohibitive.

If you take the ferry and camp out at Ellis Island to watch the show, does anyone know if the park rangers (whomever) will let you hang there all day? I haven't been to Ellis Island in years - so I can't remember how it's set up...