After "meetings and more meetings," says Jim Fink of Business First, "The Canadian Motor Speedway" is coming soon to Fort Erie. The progress of the track was one of the topics Fink discussed on WBFO's Press Pass.
The Speedway, which has tabbed NASCAR star Jeff Gordon as a consultant, will feature a 65,000-seat grandstand that can expand to 100,000. According Fink, McMaster University also plans to use the facility for research and development.
Fink believes the track will bring jobs to Fort Erie. On race days, he says, Buffalo and Niagara Falls, New York, will likely reap economic benefits.
While auto racing appears to have a bright future, thoroughbred racing at Fort Erie Race Track may not be as easy to forecast. Fink believes jockeys, trainers and horse owners will avoid the historic track if its future remains uncertain.
The future of the Buffalo School District will impact the long-term economic health of the city, Fink says. He argues that potential homeowners will pass on real estate opportunities in Buffalo if a quality public education is not available for their children.
Fink says Carl Paladino's "bull in a China shop" approach may be just what the Buffalo School Board needs to shake up a district that "is not living up to its potential."