The Inaugural Grand Prix Event In Vegas Shook Off Pre-Race Jitters

There’s been a lot of promotion surrounding the first Formula One race in Las Vegas, but after a rocky practice run there were some concerns about whether the inaugural Grand Prix race would live up to the hype.

In the end, however, race night proved to be a spectacle worthy of Sin City’s reputation for extravagance and fun.

From trouble to triumph

Thursday’s practice run was marred by a crash, damage to another vehicle, and some general concerns over the state of the track, which weaves through the Vegas strip. Just days later, however, the result of lots of preparation and investment could be seen by everyone involved … from the race teams to the promoters to the fans.

Part of that success is due to the fact that F1 owner Liberty Media opted to singlehandedly address the task of preparing for the race and getting the word out. Here’s a glimpse of what that process looked like:

• Instead of spending money on promotion, the company took on that task itself
• Nearly four miles of Vegas roads were completely revamped and upgraded
• An entirely new pit complex had to be built from scratch, including lots of amenities

With more than 100,000 tons of pavement needed to resurface the roads used for the race and all of the construction and promotion required for a successful racing launch, estimates indicate Liberty Media dropped $500 million or more on the project ahead of Saturday’s event.

Promoters promised $1.3 billion in revenue, establishing a win-win for Vegas and LibertyMedia. And despite mounting concerns about traffic, ticket prices, safety and more prior to the green flag, all the reviews from Saturday’s heart-pumping race seem to point to a long and successful partnership for F1 and Las Vegas.

Chris Agee November 21st, 2023

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