‘Stop the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix’: Businesses that lost up to $30M start petition

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) - Las Vegas Valley businesses impacted by Formula 1 closures and traffic disruptions announced a petition to “Stop the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix” and get the community to weigh in on the pending 2024 Las Vegas race.

The petition is spear-headed by a group of seven business owners around the intersection of Flamingo Road and Koval Lane who said they lost $30 million due to disruptions. The petition asks locals to voice their concerns with the 2023 race and its impacts, and calls for public input and a full review of the issues with last year’s race before a Special Use permit is issued for fall 2024.

“They should not issue another permit until they look at the whole total picture,” said Gino Ferraro of Ferraro’s Ristorante, who calls for a meeting with county leaders and locals who have been impacted. “They can hear what we have to say: what the the culinary people that work in the industry on the Strip, that took them hours to get to work,” Ferraro said.

Clark County had no comment regarding this petition, nor did Chair Tick Segerblom. Clark County officials previously told FOX5 that “the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix race will move forward as planned this year November 21 -23, and in the coming years reflective of the Board’s action to reserve and authorize use of the public right of way for the next three years,” said county official Jennifer Cooper to FOX5 earlier this year.

Clark County did hold a meeting with public comment in March for its review of the inaugural race’s successes and challenges, and mandated that the race submit an expedited traffic plan May 1.

On May 1, county officials said F1 submitted their traffic plan on time, but its currently still in a “draft” form. FOX5 reached out to F1 officials on the contents but have not heard back.

Read below the details of the petition as provided in a media release:

“We know many more people were negatively impacted by the F1 race in 2023,” added Randy Markin, Owner of Battista’s Restaurant and Stage Door Casino. “Uber drivers, casino employees, and other business owners up and down the Las Vegas Strip were negatively impacted. We firmly believe that we need public input on this event that proved to be devastating to my business and others.”

Madgy Amer, who lost all of his small businesses, including the restaurant Tex Mex Tequila on Las Vegas Boulevard added, “I do not want to see anyone else suffer like we did during the F1 race, and we ultimately could not take the revenue losses and had to close. F1 needs to be held accountable and the 2024 race will have the same result unless something is done to not impact the Las Vegas Strip; its employees, visitors and businesses.”

FOX5 reached out to F1 for a response on the petition.

Last Wednesday, Las Vegas Grand Prix Chief Executive Officer, Renee Wilm, acknowledged disruptions and promised a significantly different experience for locals in year two-- including greater efforts for community engagement.

“We are not doing what we did last year. It was a 9-month long beatdown, and for that we will be eternally grateful to the resident of Las Vegas for tolerating us,” she said. “This year, significantly less construction. We will start installing barriers and lighting fixtures. It will be done on a rolling basis, but it won’t be until much late this year, really until sometime in September/October,” Wilm said.

“Year one was tough in so many ways, and we want to create an incredible race and incredible fan experience, but also be a better member of this community,” she said. “Good communication. Good community engagement. And we’re really excited about what we have coming forward this year,” Wilm said.

Wilm said she is proud of the economic impact on the Las Vegas Valley, which was estimated to be $1.2 billion. The LVCVA reported tens of millions of dollars in tax revenue generated, and other public officials reported significant gains in international tourism.

To learn more, see the Change.org website.

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