Glenn Coleman
Nov 19, 2023 - 01:10

Secondary tickets surge F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix sellout unlikely

Las Vegas Grand Prix ticket sales surge on secondary market, but fall short of CEO's prediction. Tickets on sale for 2024.

The Las Vegas Grand Prix, which took place on Saturday night, saw a surge in ticket sales on the secondary market. However, there were still plenty of tickets available for the Formula One race on the Ticketmaster site as of early afternoon. Despite Race CEO Renee Wilm's promise that the event would be sold out, it seems unlikely that it will reach that goal.

The first-year LVGP has been plagued by various on- and off-track issues, which have dampened the enthusiasm of race fans, locals, and even drivers. Despite this, tickets for next year's race, scheduled for November 21-23, 2024, have already gone on sale. Fans can secure their spot by putting down a deposit starting at $250.

When tickets were initially released for this year's race, the cheapest option was $500, with Nevada residents later offered a limited number of tickets starting at $200. Despite the challenges, the surge in ticket sales on the secondary market demonstrates a high level of interest in the event.

Tickets on the secondary market have seen significant price increases, with the lowest-priced ticket reaching $1,613. Betting on the race has also been strong, with sportsbooks projecting record-setting handles for a motor sports race. Some sportsbooks have reported tremendous betting activity, with fans eager to place bets on their favorite drivers.

Max Verstappen, who had already clinched his third successive F1 championship prior to the race, was the favorite at FanDuel Sportsbook. He has been critical of the race, emphasizing the focus on entertainment over the actual driving. Pole sitter Charles Leclerc is listed just behind Verstappen, and he has praised the track as "an amazing venue."

The race faced challenges from the start, with a delay due to damage to a Ferrari and spectators not being allowed to stay for safety and legal reasons. A class-action lawsuit was filed against the Las Vegas Grand Prix on behalf of fans.

Despite these issues, the race has seen strong ticket sales and betting activity, indicating a high level of interest and engagement from fans and bettors alike.