Capital Economy, Business and Finance
F1 is coming to Las Vegas this weekend for the first time in 40 years, and the locals aren’t all happy. The Formula 1 circus says it will bring $1.7 billion to the city, but it’s so anxious to prevent non-ticket holders watching the race this weekend that plate glass on pedestrian bridges across the Strip has been covered with non-see-through film. Indignant pedestrians have been tearing it down, and the CEO of F1’s holding company has apologised for the disruption. There’s some credence to the claim that Grand Prix racing will boost net takings in the city’s big hotels. More than 100,000 visitors are coming for the race. The cheapest grandstand seats cost $1,500, the Guardian reports, and hospitality packages at Caesars Palace have been offered at up to $5 million. F1 has also had to build a permanent pit area from scratch, even though much of the event will be on (resurfaced) city streets. Whether it can deliver excitement as well as noise is questionable. Max Verstappen has won 16 of 19 races so far this year, and whatever Vegas is, it isn’t Monaco.