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Organizers outline NCAR layout, parking and STEM outreach as grandstand construction begins in March
Summary
Commissioners received a large update on National Championship Air Races planning: an 84‑acre footprint with pits, vendor areas, STEM programming for thousands of students, 12,000 auto parking spaces, 500 RV slots, and a grandstand erection schedule starting in late March.
Roswell — City and event staff presented detailed plans for the upcoming National Championship Air Races (NCAR) events and associated infrastructure on Feb. 4, including site layout, volunteer recruitment, STEM outreach, vendor plans and a construction schedule for a new grandstand.
Bobby and other air‑race organizers outlined an 84‑acre event footprint that will include a fenced competition area with separate crew entrances, a 3,900‑foot extended apron designed to carry heavy loads, a pit area with 20 team slots, a transit aircraft parking area near FBO operations, roughly 500 RV spaces and an estimated 12,000 automobile parking spaces. Organizers said parking, traffic flow and vendor operations are being planned professionally and that safety requirements — including separate crew and public access points and an emergency vehicle lane — are built into the layout.
STEM and volunteers: event staff said they expect more than 10,000 students to participate in Friday STEM programming tied to the event, provided at no charge for regional school groups; organizers also plan volunteer recruitment events in February to prepare personnel for May and for the larger September races.
Grandstand and construction schedule: Mac and project managers told commissioners that foundation work for the grandstand is expected to start in March, with steel deliveries mid‑to‑late March and steel erection beginning in late March. The builder estimated approximately 20 weeks of construction; staff said they are working to compress the schedule to finish well before the September event and avoid penalties.
Other logistics: staff said they are coordinating with the state Department of Transportation on aprons and chip sealing and with local chambers and economic development offices to publish region‑wide hotel, food and transport information by March. Organizers said they are engaging local vendors, coordinating food‑service logistics and planning to bring in commercial food supply where necessary to meet demand.
Ending: Organizers requested continued coordination with city staff and community partners to finalize permits, security planning and traffic/parking logistics; staff asked commissioners and local stakeholders to help publicize volunteer sign‑ups and the February business seminar aimed at local restaurants and suppliers.
