Formula One’s $500million transformation of the Las Vegas strip is starting to take shape as organizers ramp up construction of the track ahead of this week’s Grand Prix.
But life in Sin City is continuing as normal for locals as they try to go about their daily lives while huge grandstands, towering fencing and VIP boxes are being constructed around the city.
The sport descends on Vegas this week for the city’s first Grand Prix in 41 years, and no expense is being spared by organizers.
Pictures show stands being erected in front of the iconic Bellagio hotel as drivers continue to use the roads that will soon become the arena for Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton.
Luxury suites next to the Bellagio fountains are also beginning to take shape with some seen with working TVs for the first time.
Grandstands and VIP boxes now dominate in front of the Bellagio and the hotel’s fountains
People go about their business in Sin City as the city’s transformation to an F1 track continues
An Elvis Presley impersonator will have 100,000 fans every day to sing to in Vegas this week
Huge fencing is put up along the edge of the track as locals continue to use the circuit’s roads
Cranes slot grandstands together in front of the Bellagio fountains, denying tourists a view
Construction in front of the hotel has brought barriers to pedestrian access with lanes of traffic also being restricted. It means tourists will be denied a view of the iconic fountains this week.
The roads that will soon become the racing arena for F1 drivers are still being used by the public but will be shut off in the coming days.
The city’s raft of pedestrian bridges are also being covered up so nothing can be thrown at the drivers and their cars as they reach speeds of up to 200mph.
Preparations have so far included draining the gondola area at the Venetian hotel, as well as the erection of temporary bridges for traffic.
According to a map of the race layout, this area is set to become The Venetian Zone, which will be a track-side viewing platform for guests to watch the action.
DailyMail.com reported on Monday morning that organizers remain confident they will sell out this weekend, despite reports that thousands of tickets remain unsold.
Amid the glitz and the glamor, reports surfaced last week that tens of thousands of tickets remained unsold, and that ticket and hotel prices had plummeted as a result.
To the contrary, race organizers have told Mail Sport that they DO expect to sell out the race, and are preparing for over 100,000 fans on each day of the event.
The city’s raft of pedestrian bridges are being covered up so nothing can be thrown at drivers
Traffic builds up on one section of the track that will soon see F1 cars reach speeds of 200mph
TVs are shown to be working in VIP suites for the first time, with NFL action taking center stage
F1 organizers estimate it will cost $500m dollars to turn the iconic strip into a racing circuit
DailyMail.com’s graphic shows the exact layout of the circuit, through the streets of Sin City
The first practice sessions will take place on Thursday night, with qualifying beginning at midnight on Friday night, and the race getting underway on Saturday night at 10pm local time.
The first edition of the Las Vegas Grand Prix will make it the first time that there’s a F1 race in Sin City since the 1982 Caesars Palace Grand Prix.
It will be the third Grand Prix in the US to take place on the 2023 calendar after the Miami and the United States Grands Prix in Austin, Texas.
Furthermore, the Las Vegas Grand Prix will mark the first time since 1982 that there will be three races held in the US in a F1 season.
The 3.803 miles (6.120 km) street circuit features 17 corners and a 1.181 mi (1.900 km) straight. The entire race’s length is 190.065 miles (305.880 km).
Drivers will have to complete 50 laps, with Red Bull’s Verstappen the clear favorite to win.