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By Randy Cannon, LVSportsBiz.com F1 Writer
While Clark County and Las Vegas Grand Prix race organizers negotiate a controversial $40 million request by F1 race promoters for road paving along the race route, construction crews are working double shifts to complete the grand prix paddock project in time for the highly-anticipated November 18 race event.
During a recent exclusive behind-the-scenes tour, LVSportsBiz.com received a detailed look at the massive 300,000-square-foot construction project at Koval Lane and Harmon Avenue just east of the Strip.
To receive historic grand prix race context, LVSportsBiz.com was joined by William D. “Bill” Weinberger, the former Caesars Palace vice-president responsible for the 1981-1982 Caesars Palace Grand Prix events.
Naturally, this modern paddock project is a contrast with established Formula 1 venues. F1 and Clark County have a 10-year deal for this race, which is a 3.8-mile circuit that includes a healthy stretch of the Strip, plus a segment that skirts the MSG Sphere Las Vegas.
The Las Vegas Grand Prix building broke from established conventionality when it was announced that F1 owner Liberty Media purchased 39 acres for $240 million to build this venue.
Formula 1 was declared the primary promotional entity for the Las Vegas Grand Prix events, a significant shift from the typical contracted promotion of its race events.
In Las Vegas, F1 and the Las Vegas Grand Prix are now also the property developers and facility. Keep in mind Caesars Palace constructed no permanent facilities for its race events other than for a tight,
twisting race circuit through its parking areas more than four decades ago. Indeed, Caesars Palace housed their race paddock in its adjacent tennis pavilion, itself something of a temporary building.
Insiders involved in the Las Vegas road race project noted that F1 directed the design team toward the track in Austin, Texas and the Miami GP facilities as examples of what not to do, further underscoring absolute F1 ownership of the Las Vegas race. The design team is led by the renowned track designer Tilke Engineers & Architects.
Technical architects and engineers are all Las Vegas-based, Klai Juba Wald Architects, John A.
Martin Structural Engineers, Finnegan Erickson Mechanical and Electrical Engineers, and
Kimley-Horn Civil Engineers.
Construction is being managed by Las Vegas builder Penta Building Group.
The ground level of this three-story structure will house the team garages while upper levels will be dedicated to VIP seating, hospitality, and displays — space that will sold via tickets valued in the thousands of dollars for the night-time grand prix race in November.
The race tickets are too expensive for most Las Vegas locals, and the LVCVA is touting the event as a major tourism draw that will pump millions of dollars into the hospitality industry. The hotel ticket package deals are as high as $5 million (Caesars) and $1 million (Wynn).
The building’s roof deck is also being developed to provide special facilities for fans to view the race.
Cooperation of local Clark County government and utility companies was essential to the compressed
construction schedule of the Las Vegas Grand Prix circuit and facilities.
Observers noted the willingness of local authorities to streamline review and approvals for the
project, particularly as to the use of the Strip for the circuit’s main straightaway.
F1 wants Clark County to pay $40 million toward the road work, resurfacing and infrastructure of the race course. Keep in mind, Clark County is also on the hook to sell $180 million in bonds for a another high-profile major sports project — the Athletics baseball stadium that is drawing a total of $380 million in government money under a recently signed state bill.
Weinberger recalled the days when local government gave a round of “no’s” to his Caesars Palace Grand
Prix.
Another element of the paddock project is the electrical power delivery facilities of the garages. Alternating current frequency conversion from US to European standard is integral, as is the
required receptacle types for the array of F1 garage tools.
Special design care was also taken for the heavy power load of the tire warming systems required for the F1 cars.
The paddock notably provides garage space for thirteen teams, somewhat tipping the future expansion plans of F1, recent comments by the president of F1 to the contrary notwithstanding.
The tour also included discussion of the circuit itself, especially as to spectator access and the over-excavation and repaving of the street sections.
Construction of the racing surfaces is well underway in accordance with FIA specifications for Formula 1, its premier sanctioned racing class.
Several special-use pedestrian bridges are also being planned over and across the circuit.
Existing bridges over the Las Vegas Strip, however, will likely be screened and covered to minimize congestion and to prohibit foreign objects being thrown onto the track.
A tunnel is being constructed to provide access under the circuit and into the otherwise track-locked paddock campus.
Of interest, significant design and construction effort is focused on environment and sustainability.
Energy use, water use, thermal efficiency, material selections and environmental practices have
all played a part in reducing the eco-impact of the facility, a marked departure from the no-limit
gambling, smoking, and drinking scene of F1’s neighbors in Las Vegas.
That departure also raises the question of how the 39-acre complex will be used for the other 51
weeks of the year.
On that, speculation remains that Liberty Media, F1, and the LVGP will continue to aggregate
adjacent property and develop their own F1-themed casino resort in the future.
In the meantime, move over Monaco and the Casino de Monte-Carlo. After more than 40 years, Formula 1 makes ready its long-awaited return to Las Vegas.