The organizers of the Las Vegas Grand Prix expect to see an increase in ticket sales off the back of this weekend’s United States Grand Prix in Austin.
Circuit of The Americas welcomed 440,000 people in 2022 and is looking at a similar figure this year, but chairman Bobby Epstein recently admitted to RACER he felt it had been a little slower in selling out due to interest in the inaugural race on the new Las Vegas circuit. For Las Vegas Grand Prix CEO Renee Wilm, each event has a unique selling point but she believes the interest created by Austin’s USGP will lead to further ticket sales for next month’s race.
“I do think there’s a symbiotic effect,” Wilm told RACER. “When you look at the U.S. races, all three are so different. Miami, you have East Coast, you have the glamour, the Latin America theme. Austin, heartland of America, like a big carnival fair mentality, fun cowboy boots. And then you look at Las Vegas, pinnacle of glamour and speed. When you look at all three of those together we’re really, I think, firing on all cylinders here in America.
“So I do think that there will be some additional boost coming out of Austin and it always re-ignites American interest. And we are seeing by and large, the demographics for our buyers and Vegas are largely North America, which I think will probably change going forward.
“The European fan base, I think was a little skeptical of what Vegas would be like in year one. So they’ve hung back in terms of the ticket buying, and we’re seeing most of our demand very strongly out of North America.”
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While Wilm insists interest in the race has “absolutely” remained at a high level, she also says it’s not just ticket prices that can influence people committing to attend the race.
“Hotel rates are still pretty high, which I do think is having a little bit of an impact … I think some people are probably waiting to see if those rates adjust before they they decide where they’re going to stay,” she said. “But, significant interest.
“There’s been a boxing match ended, there are some concerts that are being added for that weekend — our partners are fully aware there’s going to be a lot of people in town who may not have a ticket to sit (at the) track, but they want to be part of what is going to be an epic weekend of Las Vegas.”