LAS VEGAS – There has never been a quicker, more jaw-dropping 180-degree spin than the one Max Verstappen made in his first Las Vegas Grand Prix a year ago.

Dutch He hated the event even before it came — the local population was also outraged, but for different reasons – and argued that the showcase event for Liberty Media’s F1 portfolio had become a spectacle rather than a sporting event.

The huge, illuminated Globe on the Strip rotated driver images, prices for everything from tickets to hotel rooms were sky-high, and Liberty is believed to have spent close to $1 billion promoting its first Formula 1 event. (Most of this money was spent on one-time costs such as land acquisition, permanent pothole construction and road resurfacing).

Verstappen, who was nearing his third consecutive title last November, was in a bad mood even before the opening ceremony. LED lighting, a large drone display and musical numbers took place in front of an estimated 30,000 spectators, and at the end the drivers were led out of elaborate boxes/stages to don their fire suits. There were many bumps from there, Including a valve cover that flew out of the manhole during initial drilling and nearly destroyed Carlos Sainz’s car.

But when Verstappen crossed the finish line to claim his 18th win of the season, he shouted “Viva!” In Las Vegas!” on the radio. And his smile was enormous as he watched the massive fireworks display on the Strip.

Just like that, a race towards failure It has been branded as one of the best of the 2023 season.

The encore came with the first practice for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, which is planned to be held on Thursday night. A lot has changed, and it actually started a year ago after a race that was considered one of the most competitive and interesting races of the season.

Changes from 2023

An economic impact report released months after the 2023 race showed the race generated a net economic impact of $1.5 billion; This made this the most lucrative event in Las Vegas history, according to analysts.

Participants spent 3.6 times more than the average visitor, creating an economic impact of $884 million, and the race generated $77 million in tax revenue, again the highest in city history. More from the Super Bowl in Las Vegas in two months.

Race organizers supported about 2,200 jobs to build the course and permanent pit paddock, but even without this time, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority expects at least $250 million in revenue this year.

Local businesses complained they lost millions of dollars last year due to incessant construction that disrupted customer access, but there was little criticism this time. Renee Wilm, CEO of LVGP and a long-time Liberty Media employee, admitted that organizers did not adequately communicate with the local community about potential headaches.

“The tone has changed dramatically,” Wilm told The Associated Press, calling new communications director Lori Nelson-Kraft a “force of nature” who has built relationships throughout the city.

Wilm added community events hosting foster children, backpack and sneaker giveaways, parties with DJs and events at the Grand Prix Plaza; it was all an effort to “really give back to the community that has significantly helped us feel more welcomed this year.”

What’s up?

Riders don’t have to attend an elaborate opening ceremony and then burst out of boxes. Wilm said they would instead be guests at a private dinner in the paddock on Wednesday night.

This year there is also a free off-site fan area for non-attenders and an additional 10,000 general admission tickets at three new fan areas; some have access to bleacher-style bleacher seating. There are single-day event tickets available rather than too many three-day packages, and all valve covers are properly secured to prevent the same incident from happening again. Ferrari debacle that caused a practice session to continue until 4am

Wilm said the changes were aimed at spectators wanting to experience the event, but not on the price scale applied in year one when Las Vegas was the most expensive grand prix on the F1 calendar. Single-day general admission tickets start at $99.

The Ferrari Challenge has been added as a support event so fans can now see more of the F1 spectacle. Global stars Ludacris, Alesso, OneRepublic, Snakehips and Vandelux will perform on the T-Mobile and Heineken Silver stages.

community investment

LVGP donated $1 million in cash to local nonprofits and $1 million in event tickets to honor residents identified as important contributors to the community, including local education staff, Make-A-Wish patients and others. Organizers also added community watch parties, an F1 fan experience and “Graduates on the Grid,” which will allow UNLV engineering students to tour Grand Prix Plaza and meet with F1 teams.

It remains luxury

Although the incremental costs of the inaugural race exceed Liberty estimates (mostly in one-time infrastructure costs), the paddocks and garages will still be transformed into Las Vegas’ most popular restaurants. Access to the Paddock Club Rooftop offers 360-degree views of the rink, and an ice rink has been added.

paddock fun

ESPN added a “Putt Stop” to the paddock so everyone inside, including fans and drivers, can play miniature golf. Evian Club Hydration is a new pop-up bar, like the MGM Rewards Paddock Bar. There is also a sushi restaurant and Heineken Bar.

Start times

Yes, the race will start at 22:00 local time because that’s when big events in Las Vegas usually start. However, adjustments have been made to the training program to ensure that sessions no longer start at midnight. This also allows audiences to return to their hotels in time to watch late-night shows.

What hasn’t changed?

It’s unclear whether Verstappen earned any recognition from the event, but the Red Bull star heads into Saturday night’s race leading the driver standings as he approaches his fourth consecutive title. Verstappen, who achieved a spectacular victory in Brazil two weeks ago, is 62 points ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris with three races remaining.

There are only 86 points available in the remaining three races of the season. If Norris cannot beat Verstappen by at least three points in Las Vegas, Verstappen will become champion.

Assuming Norris is flawless in the last three races and gets the better of Verstappen, he can still win. The maximum points Verstappen could give to his lead was 26 points in Las Vegas, which would leave him with 36 points heading into Qatar and the final in Abu Dhabi.

The prospect of a champion being crowned in Las Vegas has led to an increase in tickets, Wilm said.

___

AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing