Brooklyn Cruise Terminal – July 5, 2017
1,000 free fan zone passes for the Formula E electric motor race this month will be distributed to Red Hook residents, Formula E and NYC Economic Development Corporation (EDC) representatives announced today.
The Allianz eVillage fan zone will allow fans to have a close-up view of the course and of the cars that will race faster than 120 mph on July 15 and 16. The eVillage is inside the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal right next to the race course off Pioneer Street.
People will be able to pick up tickets for the Allianz eVillage at Miccio Community Center, the Red Hook Library, and at City Council Member Carlos Menchaca’s office.
According to Formula E advisor Mike Hopper, one benefit for eVillage guests is that they will have food trucks representing local businesses in the fan zone.
There will be many amenities in the fan zone that will improve the experience for local residents.
“This is where fans will be able to touch new technology, play with some of the toys that our partners and sponsors are bringing along, get access to food and beverage and also have a great view of the race,” Hopper said. “You will be able to get up close and personal with these cars and the sustainable electronic technology.”
Also, while local residents are in the eVillage, they will be able to meet and get autographs from the drivers. There will be race simulators where fans will be able to feel the experience of racing in a Formula E car and compete against fellow fans.
When the EDC and Mayor Bill de Blasio partnered with Formula E to bring electric car racing to Brooklyn, it was agreed that this event would be for the community and benefit the community.
In addition to the passes for local residents, EDC’s Anthony Hogrebe announced that the city agency has also been impacting Red Hook by working with schools.
“We also have been working to bring Formula E into schools to make sure students have an opportunity to learn about sustainable technology and learn about opportunities for technology, or racing, or automotive trades,” Hogrebe said.
EDC wants to promote local businesses and make sure that the people from all over the world who will come to the race stay in the neighborhood and support local restaurants. According to Hogrebe, they want this to benefit the entire community.
Menchaca and Hopper have visited local schools and they are both invested in this race benefiting the community.
“We are also very interested in making sure that we get benefits in our neighborhood, not just from our businesses, which have been engaged in a real way, but also our schools and really capturing the imagination of our young people that will potentially be drivers, technicians or engineers designing this,” Menchaca said. “They have all engaged immediately about how they can become part of this phenomenon.”
Menchaca is very much looking forward to Red Hook being on the map with the Formula E race.
“What a beautiful moment right now where the Economic Development Corporation and Mayor’s office are working with Mike and his team at Formula E to bring something world-class, international style, here in our community,” Menchaca said.
The races will take place on July 15 and 16, and the gates will open at 7:00 am on both days. The main championship race on Saturday is at 4:00 pm. and on Sunday the championship race is at 1 pm.
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An update for your article: At this point, tickets are at Carlos Menchaca’s office and at CB6, and in Red Hook at the Miccio Center, Red Hook Library and the Justice Center. PortSide will have tickets on our ship MARY A. WHALEN to distribute the week of the race from Tuesday to Friday 7/14. The ship is located inside the race course at the south end of Pier 11, just before the NYC Ferry dock. Another way to experience the race weekend is to volunteer at PortSide on our ship during Saturday 7/15 and Sunday 7/16. Formula E will provide food vouchers for our volunteers.