MOBILE, AL – Gulf Coast Entertainment, L.L.C. today announced Mobile County as the future home of Alabama Motorsports Park, A Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Speedway.  The investor group controls approximately 3,000 acres in Mobile County, much of it located in the city of Prichard near Saraland and Chickasaw. 

The site is considered ideal by investors due to availability of sufficient contiguous land, enthusiasm of county and city officials, equidistance from traffic generators in Baldwin County and Biloxi, MS, and access provided to both local fans and tourists by I-10 and I-65.

Since the announcement concerning the proposed facility on September, 12, 2006, investors have met with various city and county officials in both Mobile and Baldwin counties.  As the discussions matured, the group eventually narrowed its choice to three sites prior to selecting the Greater Mobile location. The site selection process took just three months.  

“The process to select our site could not have gone any better,” stressed Mike Dow, president of the investor group.  “We worked with city, county, state and federal officials to develop a comprehensive and feasible plan. Summerdale Mayor David Wilson, for example, worked very hard on behalf of his constituents to put together one heck of a proposal, as did mayors and commissioners in Mobile County.  It was that sort of diligence by elected officials that made the decision so tough.  We’ll now begin work on permitting and finalizing details with the various governmental entities so we can stick to our plan to break ground in the fall of 2007.”

SITE SELECTION TIMELINE

September 12, 2006:  Announcement of proposed facility made.  In attendance were investors including Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kerry Earnhardt.
October 2, 2006:        Eliminated Baldwin County site near Foley Beach Expressway. Investors began focusing on Mobile site and Baldwin County sites near I-10.
November 2, 2006:    Announced revision to three sites under consideration with inclusion of Summerdale site, giving investors three potential sites with ample land.
December 15, 2006:   Investors announce Mobile County site as the future location of Alabama Motorsports Park, A Dale Earnhardt Jr. Speedway.

Alabama Motorsports Park, A Dale Earnhardt Jr. Speedway is a property of Gulf Coast Entertainment, L.L.C.  The entertainment complex is planned to house four racing venues, retail shopping, hotels, restaurants, an RV resort, and other venues such as music theaters.  The investors plan to open the complex for racing in the fall of 2009 and to be fully operational in 2010.  For more information visit www.alabamamotorsportspark.com