Photo by Julian Paefgen on Unsplash
Las Vegas officials are exploring how to hold more events at the city’s Grand Prix Plaza without giving the facility an unfair advantage over Strip resorts and local stadiums.
Las Vegas Grand Prix Plaza officials are hopeful the $500m venue can be used all year round rather than just during race weekends in November. The likes of Journey, Keith Urban, Kylie Minogue and John Legend, plus Blue Man Group and Cirque du Soleil, entertained fans during last year’s race weekend.
At a meeting of Clark County Commission – the body which governs Las Vegas – Commissioner Marilyn Kirkpatrick said race officials have expressed the desire to host a multitude of events. Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that these would include nightclubs, a concert venue, race experiences and private events such as luncheons and fundraisers, at the Grand Prix Plaza.
However, the track’s proximity to the Strip caused concern for some commissioners, who want to avoid it gaining an unfair advantage. In particular, they said a blanket events licence for the Grand Prix Plaza would make it easier to host events there compared to other locations that must navigate complex licensing restrictions.
“That asset is a marvelous building,” said County Commissioner Jim Gibson. “This is not a discussion so much about the race as it is about the facility. There are all kinds of events that have wanted to take place there and they have been authorised. But we need to get to a place where the licensing is something that is fixed and in place as opposed to having to deal with it on an ad-hoc basis each time something comes forward.”
Grand Prix Plaza plan to be developed
The commission directed Vincent Queano, the county’s director of business licenses, to work with gaming industry officials and staff to develop parameters for licensing events at the Grand Prix Plaza. Queano would then later bring the plan back before the board for discussion and potential approval.
Grand Prix Plaza includes the pit building, an on-site race track and other areas within the 39 acres located on the northeast corner of Harmon Avenue and Koval Lane.
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