The Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear returned to the Streets of Downtown Detroit in the summer of 2023. Back home on the streets of the Motor City for the first time in 32 years, the June 2-4 Grand Prix weekend delivered incredible attendance, television viewership and total audience numbers across multiple platforms, along with significant charitable contributions raised during the event’s annual fundraiser.
Bolstered by sold-out grandstands on Sunday of race weekend, as well as unprecedented free access across more than half of the venue over the course of the three-day weekend, the Grand Prix welcomed an estimated total crowd of approximately 150,000 people to Downtown Detroit on the first weekend in June. In addition to the paid attendance areas inside the event’s footprint, the Grand Prix featured a more inclusive event than ever before in its Downtown return with free access provided all weekend in Hart Plaza, Spirit Plaza, the Detroit Riverwalk and all along Jefferson Avenue through courtesy viewing platforms and activation areas on the blocks immediately north of Jefferson.
According to Nielsen ratings information, viewership from the new 1.7-mile street circuit on the Streets of Downtown Detroit also produced impressive results. Featuring the cars and stars of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, the Chevrolet INDYCAR Grand Prix on Sunday, June 4 posted a total audience delivery (TAD) of 1.098 million viewers across television, digital and out of home viewing. With the race televised on NBC and streamed live on Peacock, that total represents an increase of 179% from the 2022 TAD in Detroit when the final INDYCAR race on Belle Isle was broadcast on the USA Network.
Nielsen reported that Sunday’s INDYCAR race drew a .65 national household rating – the second-highest rating for the event since 2014 and more than 40% above the five-year average. The Chevrolet INDYCAR Grand Prix had the highest viewership of any sports programming on NBC over the course of the week and the audience reach more than doubled the results of the 2022 Grand Prix. This year’s broadcast marked the third-highest viewed NTT INDYCAR SERIES race of 2023 behind the Indianapolis 500 and the season opener on the streets of St. Petersburg, Fla. Detroit race viewership saw its biggest growth among the female audience with an incredible increase of more than 273% from last year’s total audience results.
The strong national ratings were powered by tremendous local viewership. Led by programming and coverage through local NBC affiliate WDIV Local 4, the Detroit designated market area (DMA) led all U.S. markets with a 4.73 rating and a 19 share. This represents the highest ratings for the event in the Detroit DMA since 2016.
The Grand Prix also delivered for its identified charitable causes during race weekend. The annual PwC Grand Prixmiere presented by Chevrolet, held on Friday evening June 2 at Campus Martius Park and Cadillac Square in Downtown Detroit, featured nearly 500 attendees as the event raised over $1 million in contributions for five Detroit-area organizations. Through Grand Prixmiere ticket sales, as well as some unique auction items and experiences, funds were raised to benefit the Belle Isle Conservancy, Boys and Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan, Detroit Public Safety Foundation, Detroit 300 Conservancy and the Pope Francis Center in Detroit. Since 2014, the PwC Grand Prixmiere presented by Chevrolet has helped raise more than $7 million for local charities.
With fans traveling from across the United States as well as Canada and from across the globe, the Grand Prix provides a great opportunity for Detroit to shine and showcase all that it has to offer. The event will not only garner coverage from the various race broadcasts, but it will also show Detroit in a different light with the beautiful views and endless opportunities along the Detroit River and on the unique international waterfront between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, Canada
For information - including hotels, attractions and restaurants - about visiting Detroit during Grand Prix weekend or throughout the year, please visit www.visitdetroit.com.
