Raceway puts breaks on festival plans

More than one year after submitting its initial application, Sonoma Raceway management has withdrawn its request to modify the facility's Sonoma County use permit – and thereby ended plans to stage an annual four-day music festival.|

More than one year after submitting its initial application, Sonoma Raceway management has withdrawn its request to modify the facility's Sonoma County use permit – and thereby ended plans to stage an annual four-day music festival.

The change comes, said Raceway officials, after assessing the likely costs and timetable associated with review of its proposal.

The requested modifications would have not only paved the way for an annual music festival, but would have helped Sonoma Raceway achieve a variety of other updates to the raceway's operating conditions and general plan classification.

'As it has played out, we've had to face the unfortunate reality that the costs, schedule and overall uncertainty of this process do not match up with the business opportunity we had hoped to pursue,' said Sonoma Raceway President and General Manager Steve Page. 'We are disappointed not to bring this exciting new event to our region, but ready to re-focus our efforts in operating this world class motor racing facility.'

Updates to come.

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