F1's big chance in the US - will Miami's debut impress?
Miami has long been a destination spot for many organisations, for obvious reasons. The weather, the night scene, and the atmosphere are unmatched. When it comes to America, it is nearly impossible to find a better location for whatever type of event.
This weekend a new flavour of entertainment descends upon South Beach. For the first time since 1959, F1 will race in the sunshine state, with a stunning 3.363-mile circuit around the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. This will mark the 11th site in the United States to ever host a F1 race. Expectations are that this could become one of the premier races on the F1 calendar.
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The appetite for more racing in the U.S. is something that has been building for a few years now.
At the end of March, F1 announced that a third race in the U.S. will be held beginning next year. The Saturday night race in November will feature a 3.8-mile circuit on the Las Vegas strip, where cars could reach a top speed of 212 mph. The question immediately becomes, is that too many races in this market?
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton summed it up well. "Growing up knowing how amazing this sport is and seeing there was still quite a disconnect between the U.S. and the rest of the world in terms of the passion for this sport, it's really amazing to see we've finally cracked it and there's a growing love in the States.
"It’s such a huge country," Hamilton added. "Having just one race here isn’t enough to really be able to tap into the sporting culture and really encapsulate the fans. "Miami is going to be incredible."
It will certainly be a must-see event, although many people will not be able to afford a ticket.
According to Seat Geek, the race in Miami is the most in-demand motorsport event that the site has ever had, with an average resale price of $2,414 per seat. By comparison, the price was $311 for the Daytona 500 and $361 for the Indianapolis 500. The F1 race at Circuit of the Americas has an average resale value of $1,019 per ticket.
McLaren CEO Zak Brown has more than 1,000 guests coming to the event, and could have twice that number if allowed. "I've been around F1 for 20 years and I'm used to going to grands prix but I've never seen anything like it," he said in a statement.
Celebrities are a normality at F1 races, but this weekend will feature some of the brightest of the bunch. Some of the figures expected are Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Tom Brady, David Beckham, Dan Marino, Venus and Serena Williams, James Corden, and Wyclef.
F1 is one of the fastest growing sports in America, with an estimated 36 million fans in the U.S. right now. One of the reasons for the surge is the Drive to Survive series on Netflix. Another reason is the injection of young talent into the sport, with Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris, and George Russell just to name a few. This year also has quite a bit of parity, compared to previous seasons.
Kevin Harvick recently voiced his concerns over young American karters now saying that they want to be the next Verstappen or Hamilton rather than the next Dale Earnhardt or Scott Dixon. He wasn't alone in those thoughts. Alexander Rossi, the last American driver to race in F1, also voiced his opinion.
"It is concerning, especially when you look at the U.S. market share," Rossi said. "With three races, it's something we need to be aware of, certainly continue our development and plan in terms of what we're doing with IndyCar, with the driver personalities, the teams, the representation we have out there. I think it's certainly a moving target."
If anything has been learned in recent years regarding the landscape of motorsports, it is that they all should aim to work together. Comparing one to the other is often inevitable, especially if they are racing on the same circuit. Trying to diminish the value of one in favour of the other does neither entity any good. Instead, their positives must be the main focus of conversation.
Some of the drivers have been able to get a feel for the layout of the track using simulators. They all seem to agree that it should be a hit. "I've tried it and I must say it looks pretty awesome," said Pierre Gasly. "It seems to be a really good track for overtaking," Valtteri Bottas added. "On paper, it looks good. And I'm sure as an event it’s going to be pretty amazing."
That is the key, as this is the first of a ten-year contract for the event.
Make no mistake. This is an event that has been prioritised by the teams and the series, because it’s the latest one in a market that is exploding. In an effort to capitalise on that, the sport is putting absolutely everything it can into trying to ensure the weekend is a success.
Fans of IndyCar will likely have more of an interest in the race this weekend. Open wheel racing is very similar, and the two have many similarities and connections that each can relate to. NASCAR fans may not have the same interest, but the curiosity should still be there. While some prefer one type of racing over everything, there are many more that like multiple forms of racing in their diet.
The on-track product will ultimately seal the fate of this event, but expectations are that it will be a home run. With the weekend just hours away, it certainly looks on paper like all parties knocked this one out of the park.
