The Las Vegas Strip is gearing up once again for the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix, taking place November 21-23, 2024.
But are racing fans? According to the race organizers themselves, it is estimated that just over 100,000 spectators will attend, only a third of last year’s turnout.
Key Highlights
- The race’s permit application estimated the number of spectators at 102,000.
- Last year, 315,000 people attended the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
- The Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority believes disruptions will be lessened this time.
- Local businesses have sued F1 and Clark County for lost revenue caused by race construction.
Sophomore Slump for the Las Vegas Grand Prix?
The 2023 edition of the Las Vegas Grand Prix was one of the city’s most highly anticipated sporting events of the year. The new race circuit, highlighted by the main stretch right down Las Vegas Boulevard, was expected to be a spectacle.
And it was. According to ESPN, F1 said 315,000 spectators attended race weekend. The Special Event Permit Application filed by the Las Vegas Grand Prix for next week’s iteration, though, estimates a much lower attendance figure.
Dug up by LVSportsBiz.com, the permit application estimated the number of spectators at 102,000, a far cry from the 315,000 F1 said came out for the 2023 Grand Prix.
Lori Nelson-Kraft told LVSportsBiz.com that the numbers count two different time frames: “I believe last year’s number included how many guests collectively attended each of the three nights.”
That certainly could be true, but the application does list the event dates as November 20-24.
Construction Disrupted Local Businesses
The Las Vegas Grand Prix was not particularly well received by locals, as the construction in the months leading up to the event disrupted traffic, businesses, commuters, and tourism.
In May, Brian Yost, Chief Operating Officer of the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority (LVCVA), told Racer.com that because of the work done in 2023, problems should be fewer this year.
“We will not be going through the same level of disruption we went through last year in terms of the track build,” Yost said. “The track has been paved, it is now in good shape — with all of the water valve caps secured — so we’ve eliminated that hurdle. We knew there would be a level of disruption, that level will be reduced this year.”
The specific issue Yost referenced was a loose drain valve cover that Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz hit during a practice session, resulting in significant damage to his car.
The practice session, an event people paid to watch, was canceled after 10 minutes.
Lawsuits Aplenty
For some local businesses, the disruptions were so bad that they have taken legal action. In January, a group of nine business owners demanded $23 million from the LVCVA to make up for revenue they say they lost because of the Grand Prix.
Construction blocked access to some establishments, preventing foot traffic. Restaurant owner Gino Ferraro said he lost an estimated $2 million.
We as a community got bamboozled, we got fooled. This has not ever happened before. It just steamrolled out of control.
– Randy Mark, owner of Battista’s Hole in the Wall restaurant
“How can our Las Vegas leadership allow local businesses to struggle and suffer for a three- or four-day event? Who profited? A few hotels? It doesn’t make sense,” Ferraro told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Among the lawsuits are one by Battista’s Hole in the Wall restaurant and Stage Door Casino, filed this summer against F1 and Clark County. The plaintiffs, whose businesses are on Flamingo Road between Las Vegas Boulevard and Koval Lane, claim they lost millions because of the race.
“We as a community got bamboozled, we got fooled. This has not ever happened before. It just steamrolled out of control,” Battista’s owner Randy Mark told LVSportsBiz.com.
Over on Koval Lane, Ellis Island Casino, Hotel & Brewery said it also lost millions of dollars and sued both the Las Vegas Grand Prix and Clark County in April.
In September, Judge Joanna Kishner told Ellis Island that it must produce evidence of a “total obstruction” or else she might not allow the case to continue.
Sources
https://lvsportsbiz.com/2024/11/13/f1-says-las-vegas-grand-prix-will-have-102000-spectators-next-week-fraction-of-the-315000-it-claimed-in-2023/
https://www.espn.com/f1/report?id=600026789
https://www.onlineunitedstatescasinos.com/news/ellis-island-vs-las-vegas-grand-prix-lawsuit-399919/
https://racer.com/2024/05/30/las-vegas-gp-promises-reduced-disruption-in-2024/
https://lvsportsbiz.com/2024/09/04/businesses-file-lawsuits-against-formula-1-clark-county-for-las-vegas-grand-prix-mess-in-2023-alleging-race-event-cost-businesses-millions-of-dollars-and-county-improperly-fast-tracked-permit-proces/
