We dont know who will take the checkered flag at next months NASCAR Chicago Street Race, but we do know who will be behind the checkered tablecloths.
Chicago-based Levy was named Wednesday as the new food and beverage provider for the third annual popCup race in Grant Park, bringing a refreshed lineup of restaurants to the July Fourth weekend event, from concessions to the premium hospitality clubs and suites.
Levy replaces Chicago-based Lettuce Entertain You, which handled food and beverages during the first two Chicago Street Races.
We are thrilled to partner with another Chicago-based culinary powerhouse like Levy to ensure that we continue to shine a spotlight on the local Chicago food scene, Julie Giese, NASCAR Chicago Street Race president, said in a news release Wednesday.
Launched 47 years ago from a Chicago delicatessen, Levy has evolved into a leading sports and entertainment hospitality company with more than 300 venues in North America. Chicago-area sports venues served by Levy include Wrigley Field, United Center, Rate Field and Now Arena in Hoffman Estates.
Levy is no stranger to big sporting events. Last year it provided the food and beverage service for Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, its sixth Big Game appearance in the new millennium. It also handles the hospitality at NASCARs marquee race, the Daytona 500.
A unique event on the NASCAR calendar, the third annual Chicago Street Race features an Xfinity Series race on July 5, and the nationally televised Grant Park 165 Cup Series race on July 6.
For this years Chicago Street Race, Levy will debut new offerings throughout the Grant Park footprint, including from its own Chicago restaurants, Jake Melnicks Corner Tap and River Roast. It will also bring a number of locally owned favorites to the race weekend, including Mr. Beef , Bronzeville Winery, Lexington Betty Smokehouse, Robinsons Ribs and Josephines Southern Cooking.
The NASCAR Chicago Street Race highlights our city and the sport in a totally unique way, and its been incredible to see fans rally behind it, Andy Lansing, CEO of Levy, said in the release. Were so excited to help elevate an already wonderful event with a new level of food, beverage and hometown hospitality.
The Chicago Street Race will once again feature a 12-turn, 2.2-mile course through Grant Park, down DuSable Lake Shore Drive and up Michigan Avenue, which will be closed off and lined with fences, grandstands and hospitality suites. But a relocated concert stage will replace the Skyline, a mammoth temporary structure along Columbus Drive that last year housed the most expensive suites overlooking the start/finish line at Buckingham Fountain.
Southern rockers the Zac Brown Band, scheduled to perform after the Xfinity Series race, are the only musical headliners on the bill for year three. But NASCAR is planning to add a miniature golf course and other family-friendly activities to the festivities.
Major street closings for the streamlined buildout have been reduced to 18 days. The first shutdown is set for Thursday nine days later than last year with Balbo Drive closing down from Columbus Drive to DuSable Lake Shore Drive. All streets are scheduled to be reopened by July 14.
Single-day general admission passes start at $99 a third less than last year while premium grandstand reserved seats are priced at a nearly 50% reduction. Children 12 and under are free both days, with an accompanying adult.
rchannick@chicagotribune.com
我们尚无法预知下个月NASCAR芝加哥街道赛的冠军花落谁家，但可以确定的是，谁将负责那些方格桌布的后勤工作。
总部位于芝加哥的利维公司（Levy）于周三被指定为格兰特公园第三届年度波普杯赛车比赛的新餐饮服务商，将为7月4日周末赛事带来全新的餐饮阵容，涵盖从普通摊位到高端接待俱乐部及包厢的全方位服务。
利维（Levy）接替了总部位于芝加哥的Lettuce Entertain You公司，后者曾负责前两届芝加哥街道赛的餐饮服务。
纳斯卡芝加哥街道赛总裁朱莉·吉斯（Julie Giese）周三在新闻稿中表示：“我们非常高兴能与利维（Levy）这样另一家总部位于芝加哥的餐饮巨头合作，以确保我们继续聚焦芝加哥本地的美食风采。”
47年前从芝加哥一家熟食店起步的利维公司（Levy），如今已发展成为北美地区领先的体育娱乐餐饮服务集团，业务覆盖300多个场馆。该公司在芝加哥地区服务的体育场馆包括瑞格利球场（Wrigley Field）、联合中心（United Center）、瑞特球场（Rate Field）以及霍夫曼庄园的Now竞技场。
莱维公司对大型体育赛事并不陌生。去年，该公司在拉斯维加斯忠实体育场为第五十八届超级碗（即新世纪以来第六次"美国春晚"）提供了餐饮服务。此外，它还负责纳斯卡赛车旗舰赛事——戴托纳500大奖赛的接待工作。
作为NASCAR赛历上的独特赛事，第三届芝加哥街道赛将于7月5日举行Xfinity系列赛，并于7月6日进行全国电视转播的格兰特公园165杯系列赛。
在今年的芝加哥街道赛期间，利维集团将在格兰特公园区域内首次推出全新餐饮服务，包括其旗下芝加哥本地餐厅**杰克·梅尔尼克街角酒吧**（Jake Melnick’s Corner Tap）和**河畔烤肉**（River Roast）的特色菜品。赛事周末还将引入多家本地人气美食品牌，如**比夫先生三明治**（Mr. Beef）、**布朗兹维尔酒庄**（Bronzeville Winery）、**列克星敦贝蒂烟熏屋**（Lexington Betty Smokehouse）、**罗宾逊肋排**（Robinson’s Ribs）以及**约瑟芬南方风味厨房**（Josephine’s Southern Cooking）。
利维公司首席执行官安迪·兰辛在新闻稿中表示：“纳斯卡芝加哥街头赛以独特的方式展现了我们城市与这项运动的魅力，看到车迷们的热情支持令人振奋。我们非常期待通过提供更高水准的餐饮服务和本土特色款待，将这个本已精彩的赛事推向新高度。”
芝加哥街道赛将再次采用一条全长2.2英里（约3.54公里）、设有12个弯道的赛道，路线贯穿格兰特公园，沿杜萨布尔湖滨大道南下，再经密歇根大道北上。比赛期间这些道路将封闭，沿途设置围栏、观赛看台及贵宾接待区。与往年不同的是，赛事方将用迁移后的音乐会舞台取代"天际线"——这座去年矗立在哥伦布大道旁的巨型临时建筑曾容纳最昂贵的观赛包厢，可俯瞰白金汉喷泉处的起终点线。
南方摇滚乐队扎克·布朗乐队（Zac Brown Band）将在Xfinity系列赛结束后登台演出，他们是第三届赛事中唯一的音乐头条表演嘉宾。不过美国纳斯卡车赛（NASCAR）还计划在庆祝活动中增设迷你高尔夫球场等适合家庭参与的活动项目。
为优化施工流程，主要道路封闭时间已缩短至18天。首次封闭定于周四开始（较去年推迟9天），巴尔博大道从哥伦布大道到杜萨布尔湖滨大道路段将实施封闭。所有道路预计将于7月14日前恢复通行。
单日普通入场券起售价为99美元，较去年下降三分之一；而高级看台预留座位的价格更是降低了近50%。12岁及以下儿童在成人陪同下可连续两日免费入场。
rchannick@chicagotribune.com
