In spring 2021, Wilm began making regular trips to Nevada to make those stakeholder connections and show “that we were here.” Wilm added, “This wasn’t just gonna be a flash in the pan event, but that we were committed to being part of the long-term fiber of (Las Vegas).” These meetings were critical, Wilm said, because “once things truly started opening up, we would be in a position that we’d be able to hit the ground running on this project.” That included Clark County (which regulates the Strip), the county commissioners, and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA). The onus landed on Liberty Media, the Colorado-based mass media company that owns F1, and its Chief Legal Officer and Chief Administrative Officer, Renee Wilm, to connect with Las Vegas officials. hadn’t lifted its travel restrictions yet, F1’s personnel couldn’t enter the country. Then-F1 CEO Chase Carey said they should inquire about the possibility of a Las Vegas race.īut there was a problem. The ball for this “pipe dream” began rolling during the COVID-19 pandemic.į1 managed to scrape together a 17-race season in 2020 while planning for the future. “But you’re standing outside the Bellagio Fountains, and you’re just thinking, ‘Imagine Formula One cars going past.’ It’s insane.” No ‘flash in the pan’ “It was a complete pipe dream because so many had tried and failed,” said Prazer, who’s since become the Las Vegas Grand Prix’s Chief Commercial Officer. As the COVID-19 pandemic shut down cities and countries, the Las Vegas Grand Prix - the Monaco of the U.S., as some may say, given the glitz, glam, and casinos - was born and built on the foundation of trust and an eye for opportunity. It seemed like a passing thought while F1 focused on getting the new Miami Grand Prix signed.īut that thought came to life during one of the world’s darkest times. While other third parties have wanted to bring the race back, F1 never entertained the idea, Prazer told The Athletic. This wasn’t a new idea - F1 raced around the Caesars Palace parking lot in 19. As they walked Las Vegas Boulevard, they wondered: “How cool would it be to have a race in Las Vegas?” At the time, both worked in race promotion for Formula One. While F1 might charge similar fees at other street course locations like Monaco, Las Vegas establishments hope to entice high rollers to visit multiple times a year, which could be jeopardized by exorbitant fees.And in the fall of 2019, Emily Prazer and Chloe Targett-Adams came to town. One of the major concerns among Vegas venues is the potential burden of passing these fees along to their high-rolling customers in the form of stratospheric cover charges, possibly exceeding $2,000 per head, which could discourage frequent visits from patrons. The letter sent to venues such as Planet Hollywood and Black Tap Craft Burgers and Beer, situated along the race route, contains a subtle threat: " Las Vegas Grand Prix will use reasonable efforts to maintain sightedness from licensee's venue to the track/race," according to an overview of the F1 proposal. Las Vegas venues fret over potential stratospheric cover charges amid Formula One's licensing fee demands Salespeople representing Renee Wilm, the CEO of Las Vegas Grand Prix and Liberty Media's chief legal officer, have reportedly even threatened to shine lights towards the viewing areas of unlicensed venues, potentially blinding guests trying to catch a glimpse of the nighttime race. " It seems insane that they are asking for money for a public event that is taking place in the streets." " They are literally shaking people down, saying they will obstruct views unless they pay them," one casino owner on The Strip expressed frustration according to the New York Post.
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