Super Boat International, the organization that plans offshore boat races in various area of the country, hopes to remain in Michigan City for years to come.
John Carbonell, president of SBI, the organization that puts on what local refer to as the Great Lakes Grand Prix, said plans are to move forward with a five-year contract extension for the event that draws thousands of visitors to the Michigan City lakefront in early August. If approved by the La Porte County Convention and Visitors Bureau board of directors, a new contract will be enacted beginning with the 2015 event and end in 2019.
"(Michigan City) is a real nice site and all the racers seem to like it," Carbonell said. "We would like to extend it five more years once we tweak a few things."
"We'd like things to move along pretty fast because we already have to begin scheduling for next year soon," he added.
Super Boat International and the CVB are currently on a three-year contract that is set to expire in 2015, Carbonell said. But if a new agreement is reached, the final year of the past one would be null and the new contract will begin in 2015.
"Everything seems to be fine, and we are looking forward to coming back next year," Carbonell said.