LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — The race is returning and so is the criticism.
The F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix is now set for November 21-23 of this year.
The Clark County Manager will present a public debrief about F1 during a regular board meeting in March.
An exact date has not been released.
On Wednesday, a County spokesperson confirmed the temporary bridge on Flamingo is coming back too.
And some business owners are not happy.
“Nothing about this race is good for the city, zero,” says Gino Ferraro of Ferraro’s Ristorante at Paradise and Harmon. “I go against anybody to say that. And I will say it a million times.”
Ferraro estimates he lost roughly $3 million during the inaugural race last year.
Road closures and detours make it nearly impossible for visitors to get anywhere in the resort corridor easily.
He believes the reputation of Las Vegas itself, was hurt.
“They’re going to ruin this city,” he says. “People that came here prior to the race they don’t experience Las Vegas. They experience a carnival. They can’t get around. People at the convention center are stranded, people cannot get Uber. They get in a cab they pay $120 to go a mile.”
And he’s not alone with his concerns.
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Jimmy Singh’s Las Vegas Souvenirs and Gifts sits right on the racetrack route on Koval.
“I’m not ready for F1,” says Singh. “I’m never ready for that.”
He says the temporary bridge on Flamingo blocked access to his business.
While it was taken down in January, the County says it will be rebuilt ahead of the race.
His message to county leaders?
“I need some help,” says Singh. “Whatever I lost they can recover. Then we can say we are okay.”
For now, he’s grateful to be restocking his shelves.
Boxes of bracelets and water bottles being unpacked Thursday morning.
Singh says Super Bowl traffic helped recoup some losses from F1.
But both he and Ferraro agree, something must change before this year’s event.
“I don’t know what they’re planning but if the bridge is there, I’m 100% sure our business is totally different,” says Singh.
“They should move the track somewhere else,” adds Ferraro. “Las Vegas doesn’t need exposure to be popular in the world. We have the best brand in the world, we don’t need exposure for the race they should put it somewhere else.”