By Toni Hitchcock, LVSportsBiz.com Guest Columnist
There has been a small rebellion against the much hyped Formula 1 race in Las Vegas.
The privacy screen that was put in place by F1 on a pedestrian bridge over the Strip has been torn, returning the view of the Las Vegas glitz and glamor back to the tourists and locals alike.
After all, the Strip is the crown jewel of Vegas. And the LVCVA public tourism agency and Clark County commissioners handed over the Strip and local streets to F1 promoter Liberty Media and the Las Vegas Grand Prix without a second thought to the people that live here, the workers who commute to the Strip and those who come to the world-famous road every day to experience it.
Racing is part of my family. One of my father’s favorite films was “Grand Prix.” It begins with F1 cars revving, and the hustle and bustle of race day. Since I come from a family of car lovers, I was excited by the announcement that Clark County had a ten-year deal to host Formula One on the Strip.
The county and tourism agency touted the Nov. 16-18 race event as a boon for Las Vegas’ hospitality industry during a time of the year when tourism numbers are lower than those of the rest of the year. It was great to see a new, exciting sport join the growing roster of bigtime sports options that has taken hold of the Las Vegas market.
But once the dust over the hype news settled and the construction began, my excitement soured for myself and many others.
For me, it began with the trees at the Bellagio on the Strip. They tore down the (much-needed and loved) 20-year-old trees in front of the famed Bellagio fountains. In a place where every ounce of green is cherished and helps with air quality and shade to keep cool, their removal stung.
F1 – 1 Las Vegas – 0.
Then there is the ongoing construction that continues at a breakneck speed trying to meet the
race deadline.
We live about 15 minutes from the Strip. During the summer, I decided to have a little two-night staycation at Bally’s Horseshoe to play in one of the World Series of Poker events. Not wanting the hassle of driving there, I decided to grab a Lyft. What normally takes 15 minutes turned into nearly an hour as my driver was forced to negotiate the chaos of narrowed roads, wayward tourists, and the rush of employees trying to make their way to and from their jobs along the Strip.
Any local can tell you that traffic has been a disaster from the moment F1 broke ground to prepare the “race track.” Is this something we can expect every year for the next ten years?
F1 – 2, Las Vegas – 0.
I understand the lure of placing the F1 track smack in the middle of the Strip. It’s the powerful, signature and glamorous feature of Las Vegas. It’s what everyone comes to see.
But that is also the problem: it is what everyone comes for, not just race fans, for one long weekend. The track created a landlocked island, and it remains to be seen just how employees are going to get to and from their jobs during the three-day event this month, let alone how tourists are going to navigate to spots outside their own casino resorts.
For a place that thrives on tourism, these disruptions before and during race weekend seem to be more harmful than not.
F1- 3, Las Vegas – 0.
Speaking of employment, what about the businesses that are located along the race route that
have been effectively blocked off from their usual foot traffic?
The story is that they’ll make back their lost money lost and then some come race weekend. How will that happen if they are still difficult to access? And they are expected to take this hit every year for the next ten years. F1 is expecting restaurants with views of the race to pay for the privilege of the view through licensing fees, and in turn those restaurants will have to make up that cost somehow.
F1- 4, Las Vegas – 0.
While we’re talking about the race’s cost, how about the extra cost after road repairs and paving began that Clark County is being asked by F1 to pay? The Las Vegas Grand Prix wants Clark County to pay $40 million toward repaving. Seems like someone didn’t do their research thoroughly. And when Clark County pays, we all foot the bill for through taxes.
F1 – 5, Las Vegas – 0.
But wait! We get to see a Formula One race in person right in our own back yard! Well, provided we
can afford it. I didn’t need that second kidney, right?
This is one of the most expensive F1 races in the world, the most expensive if you want a premium experience.
Remember when the Las Vegas Grand Prix hyped a deal to give locals a discount? It was announced that we would be able to get tickets for only $200. How fantastic! Only after heading to online check-out did many folks realize that these “locals” tickets weren’t for the actual race, but a practice day. It was a practice. Locals were thrown crumbs while Formula One tried to look like the good guy.
F1 – 6, Las Vegas – 0.
As excited as I was at the beginning of all of this, I can say I will not be attending the F1 race here in Las Vegas.
I will not be watching it either. I will be staying well away from the Strip, likely not even going out at all to avoid any traffic and hassles even remotely associated with the event.
What seemed to be a victory for Vegas is turning into a “Formula” for disaster.