Honda Indy brings global spotlight and economic opportunity to Markham

By Gene Pereira, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

Markham is officially stepping onto the world stage.

When the engines ignite for the inaugural Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham from August 14 to 16, it won’t just be a historic weekend of motorsport—it will be the launchpad for the city’s long-term economic and tourism future.

Announced in September 2025, the landmark five-year partnership between the City of Markham, Green Savoree Toronto ULC, and IndyCar is the largest sporting event ever hosted in York Region. For city leaders, the focus is clear: capitalize on this massive global spotlight to put Markham firmly on the map.

For years, Markham has thrived as a high-tech corporate hub, yet it remained a hidden gem on the international stage.

“It’s a good news story for the city,” says Markham Ward 5 Councillor Andrew Keyes, who also serves as the Chair of Destination Markham. “It’ll certainly give the city a lot of exposure internationally that we didn’t have before.”

That exposure will certainly help the city. Keyes recalls a telling reaction from outside the region when the multi-year deal was first made public.

“One thing I heard outside of the city when the race was announced was, ‘Where the hell is Markham?’ Nobody had heard of Markham, and all of a sudden, this big race is coming here. That’s precisely what we were hoping the effect would be.”

With an expected live crowd of 150,000 or more visitors flooding Markham Centre, local hotels, restaurants, and retailers are gearing up for a massive economic injection. However, the true jackpot lies in the broadcast. Over 350 international media representatives will cover the race, bringing television cameras and global eyes directly to the streets of Markham.

“That’s got tremendous value in terms of highlighting what the city has and really putting us on the map,” Keyes explains.

Hosting an event sanctioned by the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) is the ultimate municipal resume builder. Successfully managing the intense logistics of a temporary street circuit signals to organizations worldwide that Markham is open for business.

“We’ve already seen an uptick in interest in the city,” says Keyes. “Not just in major events, but business as well from an economic development perspective. It’s the sort of thing that gets some attention. It gives us some credibility in the sense that if the city is able to manage an event of this scale in a short period of time, it suggests that it’s well-managed and probably easy to work with.”

By pitching itself to IndyCar, city leaders went through a rigorous self-evaluation.

“This is also a gift to say we earned it,” Keyes notes. “We had to sell ourselves to the Indy folks and present the city as a viable location, but through that process, we learned a lot about ourselves. We learned why Markham is an attractive destination for a major event like that.”

There are several key selling points. One is the city’s superior transit and access. Unlike Toronto’s highly congested street grid, Markham offers streamlined regional access via the Unionville GO Station (located right at the main grandstands and pit lane), the 400-series highways, and robust local public transit.

Markham also offers premium infrastructure, which includes a strong inventory of modern hotels, diverse dining, and world-class facilities such as the Markham Pan Am Centre.

Another selling point is the snowball effect, a process where a small, initial action or event grows in size, importance, or intensity at an increasingly faster rate.

“We’re hoping it doesn’t just bring visitors,” Keyes says. “We would love to attract more major events… introducing the city to large groups of people, who then take that good message back home.”

While a minority may worry about the logistical footprint of a temporary street course, Keyes is confident that the long-term payoff will dwarf any temporary growing pains.

“The benefits, I would say, will far outweigh any minor inconveniences,” he says.

To ensure the entire community shares in the excitement, the city is transforming the race into a week-long, inclusive festival.

While an official date has yet to be announced, it’s expected the festivities will kickoff a week early with an opening ceremony at CF Markville Mall, featuring an authentic IndyCar on display and an appearance by Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti.

On race weekend, the gates of the track will open on August 14, allowing the public to experience the speed and sound of world-class racing for free.

Fans will also be able to head just down the road to the Indy Weekend on Main Street Unionville event, featuring live music, local food, and family activations all weekend long.

“We’re excited about the race, but we’ve always said it’s not just about the race,” Keyes explains. “There are so many things associated with it. You don’t have to be a race fan to enjoy the experience. We’re trying to get the word out to the residents of Markham: ‘Yeah, come and partake!’”

To see a preview of where the high-speed action will unfold this August, you can check out the Downtown Markham IndyCar Promo Video showing the vibrant urban core that will host the temporary circuit.