The Florida race represented an unusual joint venture between F1 and the local promoter but Vegas is different again – it’s entirely the baby of Liberty and F1, with no middleman. The organisations are working with Liberty subsidiary and leading concert organiser Live Nation.
A close association with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority helped to get all the necessary agreements with the local authorities and the casinos that the track will pass by, and on whose land parts of the track and grandstands will sit.
Indeed, F1 names the “founding partners” of the event as Caesars Entertainment, MGM Resorts International and Wynn Las Vegas, along with “presenting partners” MSG Sphere, Resorts World Las Vegas and the Venetian Resort Las Vegas. If you have the big players in town in your side, you’re pretty much set.
And given the high prices quoted for tickets and accommodation packages everyone is banking on it being a huge success. No support races and a 10pm Saturday night start time will certainly be different – it can be pretty cold at that time of year in Nevada.
Building a grand prix circuit in bustling Las Vegas
Bold plans are one thing, but what about the practicalities? It takes weeks and even months to build up the facilities for any street race event, and that is why Liberty pulled off a clever move by buying a plot of land not far from the Strip on which it is building a permanent pit and paddock facility, starting grid, and the opening run of corners.
Not having to erect and disassemble temporary pit buildings in the middle of a city represents a massive shortcut for F1 and it follows the example of Singapore, where the government provided the land for the pit and paddock. It contrasts with Baku, where everything is shipped in each year and built up in the city’s main public square.
The permanent facility will also have a year-round use as F1’s toehold in the city, with potential for a memorabilia shop and regular events.
There was talk of the paddock being split into two areas with one part far away from the pit buildings, and even a suggestion that the starting grid would be several corners away from the pitlane in a more prestigious spot, but it seems that a traditional layout will be used after all.