Kansas Speedway boss excited about track's future (NASCAR.com)
September 29, 2009
Jeff Boerger has been presiding over since it was little more than a gleam in the eyes of International Speedway Corp.
With the next race in the 2009 Chase to the Sprint Cup to be held at the track that held its first race in 2001, Boerger talked about his hopes to build a casino overlooking the track, how his passion for hunting helped him land his job at ISC, and what kind of youth basketball coach he is.
Q: Can you give us an update on the possible future construction of a casino at your speedway?
Boerger: It's an exciting time to be at Kansas Speedway, not only because of the race coming up but because we have a lot of exciting opportunities on the horizon—especially working with our new casino partner in Penn National Gaming. They're the top industry leaders within the gaming field, and we're the top motorsports company in our field—so it's a good match. We are proposing to the state of Kansas for Phase 1, roughly $400 million to build a casino that would overlook the race track in Turn 2.
A proposed casino would overlo… NASCAR.com – Sep 29, 12:20 pm EDT A proposed casino would overlo… NASCAR.com – Sep 29, 12:20 pm EDT YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index = 1; YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_lazy_images = [http://d.yimg.com/a/p/sp/turner/5f/fullj.49bf1dec54acc1db148eb57c53265b1e/1.on.1.jboerger.kansas200909290.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=129&yc=1&wc=184&hc=204&q=70&sig=LyEMAMfEHzVW0QGIoxCf5g--]; YAHOO.util.Event.addListener(window,load,YAHOO.Sports.articleLazyLoadCarousel.init); 1 of 2 NASCAR Gallery function prev_photo() { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index > 0) { goto_photo(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index – 1); } else { goto_photo(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index); }}function next_photo() { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index 0) { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_prev, prev); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_prev, prev_disabled); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_prev, prev_disabled); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_prev, prev); } if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index < YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index) { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_next, next); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_next, next_disabled); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_next, next_disabled); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_next, next); }*/}function goto_photo(p) { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos) { for(i = 0; i < YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos.length; i++) { if (i == p) { YAHOO.util.Dom.setStyle(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos[i], display, ); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.setStyle(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos[i], display, none); } } if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page) { YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page.innerHTML =(p + 1); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index = p; } } update_buttons();}YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_init = function () { YAHOO.util.Event.addListener(article_carousel_prev, click, prev_photo); YAHOO.util.Event.addListener(article_carousel_next, click, next_photo); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index = 0; YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page = YAHOO.util.Dom.get(carousel_page); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos = YAHOO.util.Dom.getElementsByClassName(item, div, leadphoto); if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos) { goto_photo(0); }}YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_init();
That creates not only a lot of excitement for Kansas Speedway, but it's going to create a lot of revenue and economic impact and wealth for the state of Kansas and our region. The process that we're currently going through, the Kansas Lottery and Gaming Review Board will make their decision in December. But we like our chances. We've partnered with our competitor, so there is only one application left in this process. We're very bullish on not only gaming within our region but on working with our new partners to help make it happen.
Q: Assuming you get approval, when would you expect ground to be broken on the casino and when would you expect it to be completed?
Boerger: Again, we're not taking anything for granted. But if we are chosen, the construction period will start most likely in 2011; we'll be open most likely in 2012.
And then we're not only hoping to begin construction of the casino project, we're also going to petition NASCAR for a second Sprint Cup event along with building a road course that would have the capability of hosting a Grand Am event. So as we continue to move forward, there are a lot of developments that we're getting into that are very exciting. At the end of the day we believe it not only will drive revenue for our shareholders but it also will generate revenue for the state of Kansas and create jobs, tourism, and a lot of positive things for this area.
Q: So what do you figure the odds are for you guys getting all this done?
Boerger: I like our odds. Because we're the only [casino applicant] and because of all the upside that our project brings to the state of Kansas, I'm very optimistic and confident that we'll get this done. But again, we have to go through the process and we've got to get everything out in front of the review board to make sure they're comfortable with what we're proposing. We're excited about the Hollywood [casino] brand; we're excited about the scope of the project. … We just think we can enhance the entire region as far as tourism.
Currently we draw about 10 million folks on an annual basis. That's including Kansas Speedway, and all the development that has occurred around the race track. We are the model in the country now as far as how you develop around a sporting facility. We've heard from folks all over the country who would like to match what we've been able to do in terms of development here in Kansas. It's truly been a public-private partnership with the state. It just continues to grow and get better each and every year.
Q: With all that going on, what do you like to do to unwind away from the track?
Boerger: My first love is my family. I love hanging out with my wife [Beth] and kids [son, Jake, and daughter, Kate]. I'm a guy who loves coaching his son's basketball team. I've got 9-year-old twins who are very active, and we do a lot of stuff.
My other passions are hunting and fishing here in Kansas. Before the race track came to the state of Kansas, the highest tourism attraction was pheasant hunting. Obviously we blew that away. But there are a lot of pheasant out here in north central Kansas. I do a lot of pheasant hunting, quail hunting, all kinds of bird hunting. Turkey hunting, but I've also gotten into deer hunting, as well.
Probably my favorite passion, though, is going all over the state of Kansas to go bass fishing, as well as walleye fishing. It's a lot of fun and the funny thing is that's how I really got started with this company.
Q: How was that?
Boerger: I worked for an organization called the Kansas City Area Development Council, the regional economic development group. When ISC started this process to try to expand into the Midwest, I was fortunate enough to work on the project through that organization—and that's where I met Grant Lynch, who is a big outdoorsman [as well as vice president of ISC Strategic Projects].
At one of our meetings, we had talked about going pheasant hunting. And one thing led to another after that and he eventually asked me if I'd like to go work with them at ISC, and I said yes. The outdoors is really what brought Grant and I together, and in turn brought me into ISC. So I was fortunate in that regard.
I've also been fortunate in that I've been involved with the project from Day 1 on the recruitment side all the way up through now on the operation side. So it's been fun not only to watch Kansas Speedway grow, but to watch the entire area grow around it. It's been phenomenal.
Q: Getting back to family matters, you said you coach your son's youth basketball team. What kind of coach are you?
Boerger: We've been fairly successful. My kids love the sport. Being from Kansas and the tradition that Kansas has in basketball, from the Jayhawks winning a couple national championships since I've been around, it's been enjoyable to take the kids to watch the Jayhawks play. I graduated in '88 when they won their first championship.
But Jake's team has done very well. … Last year our record wasn't what I expected, but that was probably because of the coaching.
Q: So are you a Bobby Knight-type on the bench?
Boerger: No, I'm pretty calm. Obviously with kids that age, it's all about the basics and helping them grow up. You really can't yell at an 8- or 9-year-old, in my opinion, and teach them what you want to. It's all about teaching them the basic skills and that's what we concentrate on, so maybe they can take it to the next level. I played ball in high school, but they may need someone else to start coaching them if I can't turn our record around.
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