Las Vegas Grand Prix Formula One 2023 race date announced
The Las Vegas Grand Prix is slated to occur Nov. 16-18, 2023, on the Strip, Formula One announced Tuesday.
Practice and qualifying for the race will take place Nov. 16-17, with the race itself occurring Nov. 18. Plans call for the race to start at 10 p.m., under the lights of the Strip.
“The Las Vegas Grand Prix is going to take F1 race weekends to the next level,” Formula 1 CEO and President Stefano Domenicali said in a statement. “Staging a Grand Prix in the sports and entertainment capital of the world has allowed us to plan a truly spectacular celebration that has never been seen in our sport before, in the greatest arena on earth.”
The grand prix will see cars reaching speeds of more than 200 mph during the 50-lap race at night in and around the Strip on a 3.8-mile course that features three main straights and 17 corners.
Las Vegas’ Formula One race dates were announced as part of the full 2023 F1 calendar that includes 24 races. Las Vegas is one of three races to be held in the United States, with the other two being held in Miami (May 7) and Austin, Texas (Oct. 22).
“We are excited to announce the 2023 calendar with 24 races around the world. Formula 1 has unprecedented demand to host races and it is important we get the balance right for the entire sport,” Domenicali said. “We are very pleased with the strong momentum Formula 1 continues to experience and it is great news that we will be able to bring our passionate fans a mix of exciting new locations such as Las Vegas to the Championship with much loved venues across Europe, Asia and the Americas.”
An opening ceremony is planned for Nov. 15, 2023 at the paddock building F1 is constructing on the northeast corner of Harmon Avenue and Koval Lane. The event will feature music acts and other Las Vegas entertainment, while unveiling the multi-use building. In June, Liberty Media, F1’s parent company, closed on the 39-acre plot of land for $240 million.
Las Vegas will host the race for at least three years beginning next year, but officials noted during the race’s announcement that they hope to make it a long-term addition to F1’s annual calendar.
MGM Resorts CEO Bill Hornbuckle said last month that room rates during the race’s weekend will be three times or more higher than normal.
Hornbuckle noted MGM Resorts’ ticket buy will be between $20-$25 million, which the resort giant will use to create ticket packages for the event.
“There are packages that sell for that event at $100,000 retail,” Hornbuckle said.
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority will spend $19.5 million over three years to sponsor F1 races in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
Last month F1 opened up a pre-registration ticketing portal. Upon signup, fans were asked to donate $7.77 to the Las Vegas Grand Prix Foundation. Money raised through that will go toward local hunger relief organizations including Three Square Food Bank and The Just One Project.
“The entire city is buzzing with excitement for next year’s race,” Domenicali said. “We are truly overwhelmed by the response on our pre-registration portal and the donations received. We have far surpassed our goal of providing over one million meals to the local community.”
Contact Mick Akers at makers@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2920. Follow @mickakers on Twitter.
