Formula 1 returned to Las Vegas for the first grand prix in 41 years in 2023. The race was won by Max Verstappen from Red Bull, who raced on a new track that includes the famous Las Vegas Strip.
However, there was a lot of criticism about the cost of tickets when they first went on sale. Some ticket packages cost almost $1,000 for just the Thursday practice. But as the event got closer, the prices dropped a lot.
The company behind the event, Las Vegas Grand Prix Inc, which is owned by F1’s commercial rights holder Liberty Media, tried to learn from the mistakes made in Miami’s first year. They wanted to make sure they didn’t offer super expensive hospitality options.
Renee Wilm, the CEO of the event, talked about the lessons they learned at a motorsport event in Miami. She said they wanted to make sure more fans could enjoy the race without breaking the bank.
Wilm mentioned that they focused too much on expensive VIP hospitality and not enough on making tickets affordable for everyone. So, this year, they’re changing things up. They’re adding 10,000 more affordable tickets. Some will be closer to the track, while others will be in areas like the Flamingo Zone, perfect for entry-level fans.
Tickets for the 2024 event are available on the LVGP Inc website. General admission tickets start from $150, while the top-level hospitality packages cost $12,500.
Wilm also shared her personal wish for the Las Vegas GP to be the last race of the season in the future. However, she understands that they need to be respectful to their partners, especially those in the Middle East where the season finales have been held since 2014.
Wilm believes that organizing such events has made them more sympathetic to the challenges faced by promoters. She sees the potential for the Las Vegas Grand Prix to be a great finale for the season, but acknowledges the need for compromise with their partners.
