F1’s 2024 Vegas GP faces less local resistance after positive debut
Red Bull Racing/Red Bull Content Pool
As Formula One gears up for the second Las Vegas Grand Prix, the local community is showing increasingly positive reception compared to the race's controversial debut last year.
The premier $500 million event, which includes racing down the iconic Las Vegas Strip, faced significant backlash in its inaugural year due to road closures and disruptions affecting local businesses. However, Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei has assured that this year's race will see far less disruption.
According to an April report from Clark County, the economic impact of the race last year was substantial, nearing $1.5 billion. Better preparations and increased familiarity with the event's structure have alleviated many of the previous concerns.
"It was definitely an easier sell [this year]," said Emily Prazer, Chief Commercial Officer for F1 and Las Vegas Grand Prix, Inc. "I think, obviously, we were just trying to build a racetrack last year, and it was all very unknown. And with that, we're not repaving the whole of Las Vegas this year."
The unique nature of F1's involvement in the Las Vegas GP, where it doubles up as both promoter and commercial rights holder, had added layers of complexity last year. Prazer acknowledged the frustration F1 faced due to some criticisms that were unrelated to the race itself.
"We were also blamed last year for things that were not us. People just assumed -- there was a traffic cone out, that meant it was F1. We're not the type to kind of bite back. Formula 1 don't argue in public. It's not who we are. So we never really commented on some of the 'Oh well, F1's building this like 20 miles away from the track'. Like, 'really?'. So there was a lot of that last year," said Prazer.
To mitigate issues, F1 has worked closely with the Clark County Commission and certain commissioners to improve communication and streamline processes. "This year, we've worked much, much more closely with the Clark County Commission and a couple of particular commissioners that have really actually educated us on how we should communicate with the locals and making sure that our traffic management plan was submitted in enough time for them to be able to review it and give us feedback and work with us on it," Prazer explained.
Changes have also been made to the controversial Flamingo Road bridge, which spans Koval Street. The bridge has been reduced from four lanes to two in an attempt to reduce congestion and minimize the impact on local businesses. "The bridge is going to be smaller so the local businesses around there will be less affected. So we're just taking those next steps. But like I said at the beginning, a year one event is a learning curve. I think you continue to learn. But hopefully that has shown," she added.
Additionally, a fan festival will take place in the days leading up to the event on Nov. 24. F1 has also confirmed that this year's Las Vegas Grand Prix will feature an ice rink on the paddock roof for VIP guests of the Paddock Club, while the Ferrari Challenge championship series will be part of the support bill.
The positive momentum and collaborative efforts seem to indicate a smoother experience for both F1 and the Las Vegas community this year.
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