The storied Providence, Rhode Island, cyclo-cross race, now the KMC 'CrossFest, has been forced to find a new venue so that the event could continue to grow. It had become the most popular and heavily attended cyclo-cross race on the New England calendar, and as such news of the move was a bitter pill to swallow for much of the cycling community. Roger Williams Park had become known for its challenging courses, festival atmosphere, and memorable races.
Event Director Richard Fries explained the situation through the event website.
"We realized this past spring that we had exceeded the capacity of that park and, frankly, that entire city. We heard your comments on parking and lodging and crime," Fries said."And despite our generating more than $2 million of economic impact each year, the city steadily raised every fee and restriction to levels that could only be described as prohibitive. We would have had to raise entry fees by $20 to remain there. We did not want to do that to our customers."
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The race organization then reached an agreement with Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park, located on 500 acres of rolling hills in sleepy northeast Connecticut, 38 miles from the Providence venue. The land has held racetracks for 76 years, and an 18-hole golf course for 65 years. This new venue solves the problem of parking, has an on-site restaurant and will be able to hold night racing under the lights of the racetrack.
A challenge at the new venue appears to be that most suitable housing for the athletes is about 15 miles away in towns like Southbridge and Sturbridge. In addition, contractual agreements that the racetrack has with beverage vendors will affect the beer garden, which had been so popular in Providence.
Thompson Speedway has been owned and operated by the Hoenig family for four generations, since before it became a racetrack. Its birth was actually the result of an act of nature.
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