Bumpy start for Formula 1 fans: a storm, construction in the streets and a service stop in the metro overshadowed the second day of the Canadian Grand Prix festivities, Friday in Montreal. Despite everything, many fans took to the streets of the city center.
“This year, because of the rain, it’s a little quieter,” noted Fabien Pilon, salesman in an official event merchandise store on Rue Sainte-Catherine for the second year.
Last year, Fabien Pilon sometimes finished work around “1 or 2 a.m.” due to the busy business. If he recognizes that the rain has an effect in this regard, someone who describes himself as a “fan” of Formula 1 does not derive any less pleasure from the event.
The traders met by The Press on Peel, Crescent and Sainte-Catherine streets all claimed to have fewer customers than last year due to the rain and the work.
That said, “when the weather is nice, it’s like last year: the world is bustling, it’s fun, there are cars in the streets. It’s like a bit of a party,” says Mr. Pilon.
Fans agree. “The Grand Prix is like Christmas or Thanksgiving,” explains Brent Patterson. He found himself at Ziggy’s Bar, on Crescent Street, with his friends Adrien Vigneault and Steve Lapointe, unable to go to the circuit due to the storm.
The walls of the bar notably display the uniforms of Jacques Villeneuve, Fernando Alonso, and a Hamilton cap. The atmosphere is warm and friendly. The owner of more than 30 years, Ziggy Eichenbaum, knows almost every customer there. The Grand Prix is a big week. He recorded an 80% increase in sales there.
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PHOTO ROBERT SKINNER, THE PRESS
Montreal Formula 1 Grand Prix festivities on Crescent Street
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PHOTO ROBERT SKINNER, THE PRESS
Racing cars are on display at various locations throughout the city center.
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PHOTO ROBERT SKINNER, THE PRESS
Different exhibitions are offered to racing enthusiasts.
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PHOTO ROBERT SKINNER, THE PRESS
A few miniature cars catch the eye of passers-by.
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PHOTO ROBERT SKINNER, THE PRESS
People downtown for the festivities took photos with the cars on display.
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The construction is disturbing
The observation was not the same for the restaurateurs on Peel Street: a significant drop in traffic was already being felt… because of the construction.
On Thursday, Jorge Ferreira, owner of Café Vasco da Gama, anticipated the repercussions of the construction site at the corner of Peel and Sainte-Catherine streets. Compared to the same day last year, he observed a drop of approximately 40% in traffic.
This year, Peel Street traders have not obtained the necessary permits for the usual Peel Paddock due to redevelopment work which has been taking place since March.
“It’s usually the biggest weekend of the year, even more than Christmas,” he says, presenting the empty terrace of his café, in the middle of dinner time. Mr. Ferreira believes that this year will be different, due to the absence of the attractions that usually enliven the street.
Véronique Auger, new Formula 1 fan, visits Peel Street for the second year during the Grand Prix weekend. This year, she brought two of her friends with her.
“We quickly decided to go to Crescent, because there was nothing on Peel apart from restaurants because of the construction,” she says.
Same story with Jorge Ferreira’s niece, who is also the general manager of the Ferreira restaurant, located a few steps away. “People are not angry with us, fortunately, but they are just disappointed for Montreal,” said Sandra Ferreira.
The terrace of the Iberica restaurant went from 50 to 20 seats this year, explains the manager, Christopher Ramirez.
According to Alain Creton, owner of the Parisian brasserie Alexandre et Fils for 47 years, the situation could be much worse. “We could be negative, but we have people and that’s all that matters. »
Frustration on the subway
In the afternoon, the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) had to close access to Jean-Drapeau station, on Sainte-Hélène Island, for 45 minutes, due to the violent storm. A message broadcast in the metro erroneously announcing the cancellation of Grand Prix activities sowed confusion.
At the Berri-UQAM station, hundreds of supporters crowded in front of the escalators leading to the yellow line.
“We’re frustrated, that’s for sure,” said Alexandra Lehouiller, who had bought her ticket the day before “at the last minute” to attend the first free practice session on the Gilles-Villeneuve circuit.
“We were ready, we would have endured the rain, we have our umbrellas,” she added.
“I hope they will let us pass at some point, because if we compare with Saturday last year, there was a lot more rain,” said Gabrielle Tanguay, who will attend the Grand Prix for the second year in a row.
“Some spectators had the reflex to take refuge at Jean-Drapeau station to protect themselves from the rain without taking the metro,” explained the STM in a written statement to explain the closure. “Faced with this situation, the STM made the decision to broadcast an audio message in the Jean-Drapeau and Berri stations in order to prevent the crowd at Jean-Drapeau station from gaining in importance and thus prevent the fluidity in the station from being disrupted. compromised, thus creating a security issue. »
Around 1:05 p.m., Formula 1 fans regained access to Parc Jean-Drapeau and the Gilles-Villeneuve circuit began to welcome people at 1:25 p.m.