LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – As Las Vegas prepares for its second year hosting Formula 1, many have wondered whether the 2024 race week will live up to the inaugural hype.
“I’m really excited to see the race,” Philip Sevilla said of attending F1 in Las Vegas. “Experience everything.”
The stage is set on the Las Vegas Strip for year two of Formula 1 Las Vegas and fans told 8 News Now they are excited to see what it will bring.
“Just the whole vibe,” Donald Williams, who traveled to Nevada from Florida said. “The whole vibe of it being here in Las Vegas.”
Approximately 300,000 people from around the country and the world are expected to attend race week, a slightly smaller projection from last year.
Ticket prices have also dropped, with some Thursday practice round seats listed for just over $60 apiece.
“A little more affordable this time to come out here,” Williams told 8 News Now.
Therefore, will the Grand Prix sequel see as much success in Southern Nevada?
“Year two is projected to be a bit less than the inaugural year,” John Boyd, Economic Development Expert for Boyd Company said. “For a number of reasons.”
Boyd told 8 News Now those reasons come down to less construction leading up to the race, along with lower price points for tickets and hotel rooms.
However, he said even if the event doesn’t hit the same levels as 2023, it will still bring big numbers on and off the track, during what used to be a slow month on the Strip.
“The Formula 1 fan traveling from other parts of the globe,” Boyd explained. “Tends to spend four times as much money as the typical visitor to Las Vegas.”
Visitors who spoke with 8 News Now said they are already excited to see the transformation and more than ready for the green flag to drop.
“Even just walking here, seeing the track lights,” Sevilla concluded. “Seeing where they are going to race.”
As of Wednesday night, tickets were still available for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday on the Formula One website along with sites such as StubHub.
