Las Vegas, its Strip, its neon lights, its casinos, its crazy nights and soon its Grand Prix: an event of pharaonic dedication for F1 to conquer America that “will be the greatest race ever”, promised Lewis Hamilton.
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The British pilot, seven-time world champion, said these words last November. A phrase as high-pitched as the engine of his Mercedes, at the wheel of which he had just drawn “donuts” by smoking his tires, in front of thousands of fans and curious people who gathered in the heart of “Sin City” during a Promotion aimed at giving a taste of the upcoming show.
The big gathering has been set for the night of Saturday 18th November and will be the 22nd and penultimate Grand Prix of the season. That of a dissolution perhaps, so that the laurels weave. Also that of a revenge, more than forty years after the first two “Parking Races” on the property next to the Hotel Caesars Palace, a “Very Bad Trip” that illustrates the impossibility of establishing oneself on the American market at the time.
But times have changed a lot. Since taking control of Formula 1 in 2017, the American company Liberty Media has pursued an expansion strategy in the land of Nascar and IndyCar. And this is reflected in a rapidly growing interest, fueled in particular by the Netflix series Drive to Survive, also with skyrocketing viewership on ESPN.
“It’s serious”
In addition to the established USA GP in Austin (Texas), the one in Miami (Florida) was also included in the calendar last year. And Las Vegas to complete the set, with a gamble that F1 General Manager Stefano Domenicali is hoping to win.
“This is an incredible moment for us. I obviously remember when we were in a parking lot here. But this is serious. It’s a big statement of confidence and belief that F1 is strong here and will be even stronger going forward,” he told AFP in November.
AFP
F1 boss Stefano Domenicali.
Now, eight months after the deadline, construction of the building, consisting of the pit area and paddock, has begun. This place, funded by Liberty Media with $500 million including the purchase of the land, will be permanent and will be visited by tourists all year round.
Incidentally, “construction and construction times vary depending on the infrastructure in the individual areas. We’re really going to start work in June,” Las Vegas GP CEO Renee Wilm told local broadcaster KTNV in late January.
The idea is to build the 6.12km street circuit with 14 corners in sections, the route of which will pass by various unmissable places such as the MSG Sphere events hall, the Bellagio or the Caesars Palace, without disturbing the everyday hotels . Pedestrian bridges will also be placed over the city’s main thoroughfares, which will be closed for the GP.
“Partnership for life” desired
“A lot of things are only finished at the last minute,” warned Mr Domenicali, however. “But we are dealing with an incredible professionalism of the people who work with us.”
Looking ahead, Ms. Wilm knows “it’s going to be a tough weekend for traffic” in Las Vegas. “But we believe the experience we’re creating and the value it brings to the city will far outweigh the downside.”
According to a report by Applied Analysis, the economic benefit of the Grand Prix was estimated at US$1.3 billion. That’s potentially double the Super Bowl ($600 million). More than 900 million will come from on-site viewer spending, estimated at around 100,000 a day over the weekend.
While the cheapest tickets have been set at $500, the range is wide. There are also packages for very large fortunes, ranging from $1 million to $5 million (!) and guaranteeing almost unlimited access.
The F1-branded money machine appears to be in its infancy in Vegas, as local authorities earlier in February approved a plan to close the Strip for the next decade during the GP. “We anticipate a lifelong partnership,” said Clark County Commissioner James Gibson.
And Stefano Domenicali, to rub his hands: “In the United States, we are only scratching the surface of what we can do”.