How DYING VEGAS TOURISM will affect the LAS VEGAS F1!

This article unpacks recent reports showing a dip in Las Vegas tourism and explores what that decline might mean for the Las Vegas Grand Prix in November. I’m Kym Illman — I’ve covered the Las Vegas GP since its inception, and I love the event: dramatic night-time photography, a lively paddock, and a city that always delivers spectacle. But the Grand Prix also lives and dies by visitor numbers, hotel occupancy and ticket demand — so let’s dig into the numbers, the mechanics behind the event, what it will cost to attend in 2025, and whether the race’s future is at risk.

Where Vegas stands: visitor numbers and economic impact

June visitor statistics for Las Vegas are worrying: 3.1 million visitors in June this year compared with about 3.5 million in the same month last year — an 11% drop. That difference of roughly 400,000 visitors represents hundreds of millions of dollars in lost revenue to the city. For a destination that relies heavily on tourism dollars, those declines matter.

Why does this matter for the Las Vegas Grand Prix? The event’s success hinges on an influx of tourists who book hotels, buy tickets, eat and drink in the city, and shell out on premium experiences. Reduced inbound tourism could translate to lower hotel occupancy, weaker ticket sales, and less on-site spending overall — all of which affect the event’s bottom line.

How the Las Vegas GP is unique (and why that matters)

The Las Vegas GP is not run the same way as most Grands Prix. Typically, a race promoter pays a fee — often tens of millions — to Formula 1 for the right to host the event. That guarantees F1 a fixed revenue stream from the promoter. Las Vegas is different: Formula 1 effectively runs the show directly, owning the land the paddock sits on and taking on the commercial risk that a promoter would normally shoulder.

That risk has downstream consequences. When ticket sales and on-site revenues fall, Formula 1’s overall profit drops. After costs are deducted, the remaining money is split roughly 63% to the teams and 37% retained by F1. So a weaker Las Vegas weekend can reduce the money distributed to teams at season-end, while a bumper Las Vegas would lift those payouts.

Contract extension, subsidies, and the economics of the race

Despite visitor softness, the city has shown continued commitment. The initial three-year arrangement was recently extended by two years to include 2026 and 2027, and the municipality will inject $10 million a year into the event. The Las Vegas GP has reportedly pumped around $1 billion into the local economy each year — numbers that make a city reluctant to walk away, even if short-term tourism dips bite.

Hotel pricing and availability: better deals than the launch year

Year 1 of the Las Vegas GP saw Super Bowl-level pricing on hotels. Back then, rooms were scarce and rates were sky-high. Fast forward to the present and most hotels have rooms available for the race weekend with lower average rates. In recent months, average room rates fell from $175 per night to $163 per night — about a 7% drop.

Some hotels are trying to sweeten the deal: Resorts World Las Vegas, for example, temporarily waived resort fees (which can be up to $55 per room per night) and parking fees through a specified date. Other properties may follow suit — and if that extends into the Grand Prix period, it could materially reduce the cost to attend.

What it will cost to attend the 2025 Las Vegas GP: three budgets

I researched likely trip costs (flights, accommodation, transfers, food & beverage, and tickets) as of Sunday, August 10. Here’s a realistic view of three budgets: shoestring, midrange, and top-shelf luxury.

Shoestring / budget option

• Accommodation: cheapest hotel found on Hotels.com for the four-day period — $165 (including fees).
• Transfers: budgeted $48 return via Uber.
• Tickets: cheapest 3-day T-Mobile general admission pass — standing room, $834 per person (you’ll likely need two passes if attending as a pair).
• Food: budgeted $25 per day per person at the circuit (very frugal).
• Flights: return flights from Los Angeles on Spirit $79; from New York on United $411.

Estimated totals for two people: around $2,239 from Los Angeles and $2,903 from New York. Worth noting: some locals and visitors can watch portions of the race for free from nearby public vantage points (car parks on Harmon have been suggested), but that’s not the official experience and comes with sightline and comfort compromises.

Midrange / comfortable option

• Accommodation: Paris Hotel, four nights — $1,373.
• Transfers: $48 return Uber.
• Grandstand: Main straight grandstand seat — $1,983 per person.
• Food & drink: budgeted $300 per day for two people (more relaxed dining and beverages).
• Flights: business class from New York roughly $1,440; from Los Angeles around $517.

Total for two people from New York comes in at a little over $9,400; a couple of thousand less coming from Los Angeles. This package gets you good seats on the main straight, nicer accommodation, and a comfortable travel class.

Top-shelf / ultra-luxury option

• Accommodation: Aria Sky Suites — $7,200 for four nights.
• Hospitality: Gordon Ramsay’s Garage hospitality package (on pit lane) — around $28,000 per person; two people equals $56,000.
• Food & entertainment outside the circuit: budgeted $2,500 per person for the weekend — high-end restaurants and nightlife.
• Flights: private jet. Research showed $8,500 one-way for private flights from LA ($17,000 round-trip). From New York, a Challenger 300 style private charter could be around $80,000 return.

Estimated totals: roughly $85,376 for two people traveling from Los Angeles, and roughly $150,000+ for two people flying privately from New York. These top-end experiences will almost certainly be filled — the premium suites, hospitality packages and private aviation spots typically sell to corporate and ultra-wealthy clients.

Ticketing and hospitality changes for 2025

A notable shift this year: general admission and most grandstand tickets no longer include food and beverages. For the first two years, hospitality was packaged with many tickets, which drove higher ticket prices and, last year, led to shortages and wasted food when stands ran out. F1 and organizers have changed course — food and beverage are now charged separately at the track, with selected hospitality packages still offering inclusive perks.

There is one quirky exception: a new grandstand package on the exit of turn 3 (Cobble) reportedly includes free beer. Also, F1 released single-day tickets on August 14 with a variety of options. I like that F1 is now promoting prices inclusive of tax and fees — that makes comparisons far easier.

Timing change: an earlier, more TV-friendly start

One of the biggest practical changes for 2025 is the local start time. Year 1 kicked off at midnight local time (3:00 AM in New York), which was impractical for many viewers. Year 2 moved to a 10:00 PM local start (1:00 AM New York) — better, but still late. For 2025, the race starts at 8:00 PM local, which equals 11:00 PM on the US East Coast — a far more palatable time for live TV audiences. European viewers will still have to deal with early starts (4:00 AM in the UK), but the move should boost domestic US viewership and stadium convenience.

Why I still love the Vegas GP — racing and spectacle

Despite the critiques — celebrity focus, spectacle, and occasional tackiness — the Las Vegas GP produces great visuals and strong on-track action. Last year delivered 181 overtakes, mainly down the strip straight, which makes for compelling racing and exciting photos. Being near the end of the season, there’s also a chance a championship could be decided in Vegas, even if a final-race showdown is still my bet.

Attendance trends and what to watch

Attendances slipped from 315,000 in Year 1 to 306,000 in Year 2 (a 3% drop). With tourism headwinds, there’s real interest in what Year 3 will show. Will lower hotel and flight rates, improved ticket pricing transparency, and the movie-driven interest in F1 (more on that below) offset softer general tourism? Only the November numbers will tell.

The movie effect and potential upside

One potential boost: the new F1 movie has been a box-office hit, grossing around $550 million worldwide and ranking among the top movies of 2025. That exposure brings new viewers into the sport — many of whom may attend their first race, and Las Vegas could be their race of choice thanks to the city’s allure and the spectacle of a night race.

Conclusion — cautious optimism with eyes on the data

Las Vegas tourism softness is a genuine concern and will affect the Grand Prix if trends continue. But there are reasons for optimism: lower hotel rates and promotional incentives could attract price-sensitive fans, the race’s new 8:00 PM start is TV-friendly for the US audience, and the hit F1 movie could bring new spectators. The fact that the city extended the contract and provides a $10 million annual injection also signals ongoing municipal support.

Whether Vegas delivers a bumper year or a muted weekend depends on how the broader tourism picture evolves between now and November. Either way, I’ll be there covering the race and capturing the action — and for photographers and race fans, Vegas remains one of the most photogenic and eventful stops on the calendar.

FAQ

Will Las Vegas cancel the GP if tourism continues to fall?

Highly unlikely in the short term. The city extended the contract through 2027 and commits $10 million annually. F1 also owns the paddock land, so both parties have incentives to keep the race running while they try to optimize attendance and revenues.

Are ticket prices lower this year?

On the whole yes — promotional pressure, new single-day ticket releases, and removal of included food/beverage packages have produced more reasonable price points compared to the launch year. There are still premium hospitality packages that cost tens of thousands per person, but general admission and many grandstands are more accessible.

Is it cheaper to travel from the West Coast or East Coast?

It depends on your travel class and whether you fly commercial or private. Budget travelers from LA showed much lower flight costs in recent checks (Spirit $79 return) versus those flying from New York (United $411 return). Luxury private aviation from New York, however, pushes costs into six figures for two people.

Will the change to an 8:00 PM local start increase US viewership?

Yes — moving the start to 8:00 PM local equates to 11:00 PM East Coast time, which is far more viewer-friendly than previous local starts. It should boost live US viewing numbers, especially on the East Coast.

Is the race still worth attending for photographers and hardcore fans?

Absolutely. The Las Vegas GP is visually spectacular, delivers overtaking, and provides paddock activity that photographers love. Despite the glitz, the on-track product is engaging, and for many fans it’s a bucket-list event.