Las Vegas Prepares for Its Newest Tourist Attraction as Formula 1 Comes to the Strip in November
The city of Las Vegas has rarely been famed for its sporting heritage but this winter that will all change as Formula 1 comes to the Las Vegas Boulevard Strip. This is a destination that’s been built on the success of its gambling industry, which remains a world leader. So much so that the city’s name has become synonymous with gambling brands across the globe. In the UK, Sky Vegas is a household name, with oddschecker ranking it inside its top ten operators for bonuses and the depth of its game library.
For one weekend, Vegas will soon be recognised as a motorsport hub, bringing the world’s best racing spectacle to the Strip on November 16-18, 2023. It’s not the first time that Vegas has hosted F1 races though. Back in 1982, the F1 World Championship saw the Caesars Palace Grand Prix stage the 16th and final race of the season, having hosted its first race on a temporary street circuit the year before.
The Caesars Palace circuit was just over 2.2 miles long and the new Las Vegas Strip circuit is set to be 3.8 miles long, raced over 50 laps. The circuit will feature a mixture of 17 fast corners and tight hairpins, as well as a huge 1.181-mile-long straight along the Las Vegas Strip, taking drivers such as Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen past some of the most iconic casinos and landmarks on the planet.
There’s still time to get a piece of the action
If you’re an avid F1 fan and you’re yet to experience the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas, this year could be the ideal time to book those flights. General admission tickets have already sold out at a starting price of $500, giving spectators access to the circuit for the practice sessions, as well as qualifying and the race itself. General admission allows visitors to enter the T-Mobile Zone within the Sphere, providing a 360-degree view of the action.
For true racing fanatics, a seat in the Grandstand is arguably the pinnacle, taking you up close and personal with these speed machines on the Las Vegas Strip. Grandstand tickets are dotted around the circuit, with various grandstands established. The West Harmon Zone, opposite the iconic MGM Grand, is still available, with tickets starting from $1,500 for a three-day pass. The Mirage grandstand is also still available, which offers an exceptional view of the straight heading out of Turn 12.
If money is no object and you’d like to experience world-class hospitality alongside world-class motorsport, the Premium Clubs offer an unforgettable three or four-day experience. These all-inclusive packages cover premium food and beverages across a host of shared hospitality areas.
Also, official F1 merchandise and souvenirs are also thrown in for those memorable moments and memories. So, if you’ve always dreamed of watching an F1 race in style while enjoying the Las Vegas Strip, this is the ultimate way to do it.
Is it going to be expensive to stay in Vegas over the race weekend?
You probably know what we’re going to say, don’t you? When demand outstrips supply, the hotels that adorn the Las Vegas Strip are rarely cheap and November 17-18 2023 is no exception. The cheapest price you’ll find at any of the race’s partnered hotel resorts is at the Excalibur, where rooms are starting from $452 per night. Harrah’s and Flamingo, which are both situated midway along the circuit’s main straight, are selling rooms from $574 and $675 per night respectively.
As for the plushest accommodation in Las Vegas, rooms in the Bellagio are available from $2,157 per night and Aria is offering rooms starting at $1,633 per night. It’s by no means a cheap experience, granted. However, this is one of the world’s premier sporting events coming to the entertainment capital of the world.
You’ll also need to factor in the cost of flights ahead of the race. Using an example from Skyscanner as of May 4, flights out of London Heathrow on Wednesday, November 15 and flying back on Monday, November 20 are available from £560 return. Bear in mind that this includes a changeover. The cheapest direct flights for these dates are £923 per person in economy class.
November’s Las Vegas F1 Grand Prix is an opportunity for “Sin City” to prove its credentials as a contemporary entertainment destination and you could still be part of it!
