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Miami race like hosting Superbowl for 10 years

10:06, 12 May 2018

bySam Bytheway

Mayor of Miami, Francis Suarez says hosting a Formula 1 race on the streets would be like hosting the Superbowl "every year".

The first step in the approval process, which was agreed in a Miami city commission meeting on Thursday, sets the way for in-depth negotiations with F1. The targeted outcome is a hosting a grand prix in the Biscayne Bay and Port area next year.

Miami will host the 2020 NFL Super Bowl, so the first Miami GP, planned for next October would take place four months before the Superbowl at the Hard Rock Stadium.

"This is huge – this is authorization from the city commission supporting my agenda item to begin negotiations with Formula 1 formally,” Mayor Suarez said.

“It’s an indication that there is political support behind the having the most-viewed racing in the world coming to Miami.

“We would be the 22nd race on the F1 calendar, the second race in the United States, probably the only city in the world that has F1 and all five major [U.S.] sports. So, for us, it’s a big deal.

“It's a re-emphasis of us as a global city and it's going be something that's great as an economic driver, an economic impact for the city. And obviously, it's going put us on the map in this premier racing venue.

“The next step is that the city manager will come back with, hopefully, a vetted and negotiated a 10-year deal, to have it here for 10 consecutive years. We would have, essentially, a Super Bowl – in terms of economic impact and global visibility – every year for the next 10 years.”