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By Alan Snel, LVSportsBiz.com Publisher-Writer
LAS VEGAS — It was hard to miss the convergence of bigtime and controversial sports on the Strip Thursday.
In the morning, Las Vegas learned the MLB Athletics won expected approval from baseball team owners to move to Las Vegas to build a stadium on the Strip while at night Formula One race teams practiced for a grand total of eight minutes before a speedy car lifted up a drain cover along the 3.8-mile course that includes a healthy section of Strip in a straightaway. Two cars were ruined by the drain cover along the street course during the first practice session.
The A’s news was met with a yawn by the average Las Vegas resident. If they are not a stadium construction worker or a baseball game usher, a local probably said wake me up in 2028 when the A’s stadium opens on the Strip. Nevada is on the hook for $380 million in public money to help build the $1.5 billion, 33,000-seat A’s stadium at Las Vegas Boulevard and Tropicana Avenue. The $380 million in government stadium funding includes $120 million that Clark County is contributing.
Thursday’s other headline was Las Vegas bracing for Formula 1 car racers to take to Koval Lane, Sands Avenue and the Strip in practice sessions before the much-hyped 50-lap street race at 10 PM Saturday.
A mere eight minutes into practice Thursday night, a utility drainage cover was lifted up by a race car. It was an embarrassing night as fans were told to leave the circuit before the start of the delayed second session after the first practice session was scrubbed.
On Friday, Las Vegas Grand Prix CEO Renee Wilm, and Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali issued a statement after a driver hit a drain cover on Thursday night:
We know this was disappointing. We hope our fans will understand based on this explanation that we had to balance many interests, including the safety and security of all participants and the fan experience over the whole race weekend. We have all been to events, like concerts, games and even other Formula 1 races, that have been cancelled because of factors like weather or technical issues. It happens, and we hope people will understand.
We’ll let F1 explain:
Following last night’s incident involving a water valve cover, LVGP, F1 and the FIA decided to take extra precautions to ensure the integrity of the track prior to the resumption of racing. These additional measures required multiple hours to fully complete, which led to a significant delay in the race schedule. Given the lateness of the hour and logistical concerns regarding the safe movement of fans and employees out of the circuit, LVGP made the difficult decision to close the fan zones prior to the beginning of Free Practice 2.
It’s an absolute F1 mess here in Las Vegas, where locals were advised by the Las Vegas Grand Prix that it’s a good idea to stay away from the race event if you do not have a ticket or are not involved in the race. Locals were feeling blue.
While MLB and F1 are worlds away from each other, Las Vegas’ hotel owners, tourism leaders and chamber boosters have backed using public money for both sports developments by pitching them as a tourism generator.
And welcome to a pair of unlikely new sports partners on the Strip.