By Alan Snel, LVSportsBiz.com Publisher-Writer
The Las Vegas Grand Prix and reps for five businesses that say they were financially hurt by the Formula One car race in the Strip corridor in 2023 met Tuesday to try and hash out thorny issues related to a temporary race bridge on Flamingo Road that is being installed for the November F1 race event.
But for the businesses that say they lost millions of dollars because of the F1 event in 2023, it doesn’t seem like much was accomplished at the session.
In fact, the businesses are talking to a lawyer about filing a lawsuit against the Las Vegas Grand Prix, with one of the possible options being asking a judge for an injunction to stop Formula 1 from staging the Nov. 21-23 race event.
Ellis Island casino-hotel has already sued F1 and Clark County over allegations that the business lost millions of dollars because of lost business caused by the road race last November.
For Tuesday’s meeting between the grand prix and the five businesses, F1 says that the bridge this year will be installed for only two and a half months and will be reduced from four lanes wide to two lanes, which the grand prix believes will allow for more customers to reach the affected businesses.
Terry Miller, who handles traffic issues for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, and new grand prix employee Lori Nelson-Kraft, met the five business representatives like Jay’s Market owner Wade Bohn. The temporary F1 bridge, which spans Koval Lane, which is part of the 3.8-mile race track, sits in front of Bohn’s market.
(Disclosure: Jay’s Market is an advertiser on LVSportsBi.com.)
Bohn said he doesn’t believe the reduction of the bridge’s lanes from four to two will stop his business from losing money due to the 2024 grand prix event.
Nelson-Kraft released a statement on behalf of the Las Vegas Grand Prix., It said, in part: “We remain committed to communicating with local businesses in and around the circuit to keep them apprised of our planning and event efforts.
“We recently met with or spoke to local businesses along Flamingo Road about reducing the size of the Flamingo Road temporary bridge from four to two lanes and adding a pedestrian bridge on the north side of Koval Lane and Flamingo Road.
“The reduced bridge size will result in a shorter installation and dismantling timeline and allow access to local businesses to be maintained. We are pleased we had the opportunity to share the details with local business owners and greatly appreciated the productive conversations.”
A spokeswoman for the five businesses, Lisa Mayo-DeRiso, said the grand prix representatives were just “checking their boxes” and the businesses will continue talking with a lawyer about suing the race promoter.