Many Family and Fan Experiences Planned for Honda SpeedZone
TORONTO (May 30, 2017) – The NHL® Centennial Fan Arena will pay a visit on its 2017 North American tour to the Honda Indy Toronto held at Exhibition Place, July 14-16. Race fans of all ages will have free access to this spectacular display thanks to a collaboration between the National Hockey League (NHL) and Honda Canada, the official automobile of the NHL®.
Dubbed “A touring tribute to a century of hockey thrills”, the interactive exhibit will be positioned in the Honda SpeedZone located in Thunder Alley. The NHL Centennial Fan Arena’s main attraction is a 53’ truck with 1,000 square feet of interactive digital displays, original video content, historical memorabilia and unique photo moments.
The never-before-seen Clear The Ice Zamboni® VR Experience allows fans to compete against each other in clearing the ice. Featuring two mini-Zamboni® simulators, competitors will feel cool air on their skin and a rumbling seat as they race to make the perfect sheet of ice in virtual reality. Results are timed and posted on a leaderboard.
"The Honda Indy Toronto is an exciting Canadian summer tradition, and we'd like to acknowledge our great partners at Honda Canada for aligning the NHL Centennial Fan Arena with this premier sporting event and fan experience," said Laurie Kepron, NHL Group Vice President, Integrated Marketing. "Whether fans want to be immersed in the history of the NHL or try their skill at the Virtual Reality Zamboni Experience, the Fan Arena offers something for everyone. We're honoured to be guests of the Honda Indy Toronto and Honda Canada at this amazing racing festival."
“What a terrific opportunity for our festival-goers to see the NHL Centennial Fan Arena,” said Jeff Atkinson, president of the Honda Indy Toronto. “We’d like to thank the National Hockey League and Honda Canada for bringing this special fan experience and adding to the many off-track activities at the Honda Indy Toronto. I'm looking forward to watching the spirited competition between fans racing the Zamboni simulators.”
The 31st edition of this annual festival of speed on the streets of Toronto is going to be another jam-packed weekend of racing action on the 2.89 km (1.786 miles), 11-turn temporary circuit. Sunday’s headliner will again be the 85-lap Verizon IndyCar Series race, and on Saturday, it is the NASCAR Pinty’s Series in the Pinty’s Grand Prix of Toronto.
The Honda SpeedZone will be filled with many family and fan activities throughout the weekend. Golf games, a hockey skills challenge, inflatables and an interactive Blue Jays game are some of the planned features. Complimentary cotton candy, popcorn and snow cones will be a special treat for children. Honda World will showcase the brand’s racing heritage with racing simulators and a Civic Si and Civic Type-R display, as well as the latest Honda motorcycles, ATVs, power equipment and a marine display. Plus, Honda Canada’s Junior Red Riders program will allow kids aged 6-12, suited up in proper safety gear from head to toe, to ride dirt bikes at the Honda Indy Toronto. Fans can snap a photo with James Hinchcliffe’s replica show car, or sign his race suit with a donation to Make-A-Wish® Canada.
Ticket prices to the Honda Indy Toronto start as low as $40 for single-day general admission and $70 for reserved grandstand seats. Friday, July 14th is Fan Friday; gates are open to race fans of all ages with a voluntary donation to Make-A-Wish® Canada, and is made possible through the generous support of the Ontario Honda Dealers Association (OHDA). Kids 12 and under receive free general admission throughout the weekend when accompanied by a ticketed adult. For complete ticket pricing and event information, visit hondaindy.com or call 877-725-8849.
ABOUT THE HONDA INDY TORONTO
Honda Indy Toronto takes place on the historic grounds of Exhibition Place in a unique lakefront and downtown setting. As Ontario's largest annual sporting event, the event has become a prestigious meeting place for some of the world’s fastest race car drivers. Since 1986, the three-day event has entertained millions of fans thanks to world-class entertainment and exhilarating performances from drivers including Scott Dixon, Marco Andretti and Helio Castroneves, as well as Canadian legends Paul Tracy, Greg Moore and James Hinchcliffe. The event is owned and operated by Green Savoree Racing Promotions, which also promotes The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio (July 28-30, 2017) and the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (March 9-11, 2018).
For more information, visit hondaindy.com, facebook.com/HondaIndyToronto or follow the event via Twitter @HondaIndy and Instagram instagram.com/hondaindy.
ABOUT HONDA CANADA
Honda Canada Inc. (HCI) was founded in 1969 and is the parent company for both Honda and Acura vehicle brands in Canada. The company has produced more than 7.8 million cars and light trucks since 1986 at its two manufacturing facilities and builds engines at a third manufacturing plant in Alliston, Ontario. Both manufacturing facilities are extremely flexible and currently build Honda Civic and CR-V models. Honda Canada has invested more than $4.7 billion in Canada and each year it sources nearly $2.1 billion in goods and services from Canadian suppliers. Honda Canada has sold more than four million Honda and Acura passenger cars and light trucks in Canada.
ABOUT THE NHL
The National Hockey League (NHL®), founded in 1917, celebrates its Centennial anniversary in 2017. The year-long celebration will pay tribute to 100 years of NHL hockey by honoring the past, commemorating the present, and celebrating its future. In 2017 the League also celebrates 125 years of the most revered trophy in professional sports – the Stanley Cup®. Comprised of 31 Member Clubs, the NHL is represented by players from more than 20 countries across team rosters. Each year, the NHL entertains hundreds of millions of fans around the world. The League broadcasts games in more than 160 countries and territories through its rightsholders including NBC/NBCSN in the U.S., Sportsnet and TVA in Canada, and Viasat in the Nordic Region. The NHL reaches fans worldwide with games available online in every country including via its live and on-demand streaming service NHL.TV™. Fans are engaged across the League’s digital assets on mobile devices via the free NHL® App; across nine social media platforms; on SiriusXM NHL Network Radio™, and on NHL.com, available in eight languages and featuring an enhanced statistics platform powered by SAP, providing the definitive destination for hockey analytics. The NHL is committed to giving back to the community through programs including: Hockey is for Everyone™ which supports nonprofit youth hockey organizations across North America; Hockey Fights Cancer™ which raises money and awareness for hockey's most important fight; NHL Green™ which is committed to the pursuit of sustainable business practices; and a partnership with the You Can Play Project, which is committed to supporting the LGBT community and fighting homophobia in sports. For more information, visit NHL.com.
NHL and the NHL Shield are registered trademarks of the National Hockey League. All Rights Reserved. ZAMBONI and the configuration of the ZAMBONI ® ice resurfacing machine are registered trademarks of Frank J. Zamboni & Co., Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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