Las Vegas: Local tourist office hands out tickets to wealthy people
For the first time this season, the Las Vegas Grand Prix is on the F1 calendar. The demand for tickets is huge. Even the big prices the organisers charge for a ticket apparently do not bother American fans. However, there is now noise about an initiative by the local tourist board.
Indeed, The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) is buying $7 million worth of tickets for the Grand Prix. Some of these tickets (worth $2.8 million) will be resold. The rest will be given away for free. Not to the less fortunate residents of Las Vegas, but to companies and individuals who can ensure that tourism continues to pick up in the gambling city.
Positive story
This could include travel agents. Or also influencers, who can post a positive story on their social media about the city, and in return get to go to Formula 1. Either way, these are mostly people who can easily afford the sky-high prices - a grandstand ticket costs $2,500 per person. The LVCVA's decision has therefore raised eyebrows among locals and media, according to local media reports.
Incidentally, ticket sales for the Grand Prix are running like crazy. All available tickets are currently sold out. A final batch of tickets will go on sale soon and these too are expected to leave the digital shop fast. Moreover, tickets will soon go on sale (for 500 euros), with no view of the track. Such a ticket allows you to take a seat on a large festival ground.
Not much to complain about, I’ll just go to the Canadien GP/Austin or Mexico for a LOT less money and stress! This is all basic marketing to increase demand by making a race more “exclusive”. Monaco utilizes the SAME EXACT markets formula for a boring PARADE! And it works! I hope Vegas is at least competitive..
How is this freebies for the wealthy supposed to increase the American fan base??
At every venue all the major sponsors have their own corporate rooms above the pit lane with the best views below and large TV screens inside for an enjoyable experience. They are also given ample VIP tickets to offer their highest valued clients to attend as their guests on race day. It doesn't matter that the majority of these guests don't know the difference between an F1 car and food truck. Being seen at the no1 ticket in town is all that it is about. No big deal.
For only 500€ you can go there, watch the race on tv, buy overpriced beer and food and go home and tell everyone you went to a real F1 race, as long as you leave out the part about the tv and you still haven't actually seen an F1 car. If you wrote this race as the plot of a movie it would flop because people would think it went too far making up the plotline.
Sickening. Not that I would want to visit that lousy excuse for a city anyway.
Bernie would be so proud. He never wanted the common man at his weekend millionaire races.
I really hope the circuit can be the scenario for an exciting race instead of the sleep-inducing Miami.
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