Miami set to vote on proposed Grand Prix plans next week
- Published on 23 Mar 2019 13:30
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- By: Fergal Walsh
Miami's City Commission is set to take a vote that could move the proposal for a Formula 1 Grand Prix in the city closer to reality.
The vote is scheduled to take place on March 28th.
F1 previously looked ready to add Miami to the calendar for the 2019 season, however that deal was delayed by the city after a meeting that was held last September.
Liberty Media, F1's commercial rights holders, have been working with the city ever since in an attempt to resolve the delays. However, progress was not being made smoothly, with stickiness appearing between the involved parties.
Bayfront Park Management Trust has jurisdiction over the used my much of the track around the harbour area. The situation is not easy as the F1 organisation, promoter South Florida Racing, the City of Miami are also involved in the deal.
But it is now believed that a deal is starting to form, and now the City Commission is set to vote on whether or not plans for a 2020 race can be taken further.
The resolution that will be voted on comments: "The City Commission wishes to authorise the City Manager to execute the Host City Agreement and the Park Use Agreements for the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix, between the City of Miami ("City"), the Bayfront Park Management Trust ("Park"), South Florida Racing, LLC. ("SFR") and Formula One World Championship Limited ("Formula One"), in a form acceptable to the City Attorney (collectively, "Agreements").
"The City Commission wishes to allow SFR and Formula One to run the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix from 2019 through 2029 with a fan festival to be held in October of 2018 pursuant to the Agreements."
It's added that the resolution is being put forward "after an advertised public hearing, ratifying, approving, and confirming the City Manager's finding that competitive negotiation methods and procedures are not practicable or advantageous; waiving the requirements for said procedures."
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Replies (11)
Login to replyf1dave
Posts: 782
Just say no.
Fergal Walsh
Posts: 46
Not a fan of a Miami race?
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Again, I get that this looks like an interesting proposal from a marketing PoW, but from most other PoWs, why not host it on any of the really awesome tracks the U.S is in possession of? Indy, Watkin's Glen, Laguna Seca, just pick one, doesn't even have to be one of those I recall on top of me head, and we'd be thrilled. To me, this venture risks alienating those who would actually like seeing an F1 event, while also being a hazzle for the people living in that area, and probably not make a venue decent enough to spark sufficient attention. Marketable, sure, but so is a lot of things. I am, in theory, a very marketable fella, yet I don't think you'd like my Sith-lord bum anywhere near your company.
Ram Samartha
Posts: 1,172
Those tracks can't really handle the large crowds that F1 wants to attract or has much else in the way of attractions for fans, and Indy? C'mon, that was one of the worst GP tracks ever, and it's in Indiana for f**k's sake.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
And the tracks have ample time to make sure they can take bigger crowds. They are in the U.S, you say you guys cannot afford to maintain your tracks and make sure they are up to date, be it through state funding or sponsorship? The fundaments are there already, just build them up. As for Indianapolis: it is indeed in Indiana, yet that doesn't seem to hinder the track from getting more or less fullbooked for major events. And while the F1 track was mediocre at best, Indy is a pretty flexible track, and could be adjusted into something better. Again, the fundament is there, just build on it.
cricho
Posts: 80
Remeber when F1 raced in indianapolis F1 circuit how hard it was for the cars and pilots. Remember the banked corner part of the indi oval coming in to the checkered flag ?? That corner was really gnarly and showed us some awsome racing and crashes over the years. Tire manufacturers had a real hard time with that one...... I loved it!
keep mixing t up F1!
Ram Samartha
Posts: 1,172
I hope it goes through. We need another race in the US and it's a great new market for F1.
cricho
Posts: 80
Welcome to Miami, Bienvenido a Miami !
F1 race here would be a blast! Another USA F1 race would be great!
North Americans love motorsports an F1 is stil a bit of a euro/world sport..... Lots of new fans and oportunities for F1 to grow in the US.
Not to mention the oportunities for a PR / new sponsor possibilities and expansions for the sport.
cricho
Posts: 80
This is F1 covering some of the ground it has lost to FORMULA E. They are trying to take the races to the people, to downtown suburban areas ready in every way for this event. Personally y love mixing up the gnarly and technical street circuits with the highly designed Herman Tilke GP tracks.
Its F1 , best pilots in the world, youve got to mix it up!
RogerF1
Posts: 501
I think that’s a good point to mix it up although I’m not a great fan of street circuits you are right, it takes the racing to the fans - hopefully it’s a big enough event to get ‘a lot of (local) bums on seats’ - “asses” for our American readers as you might be offended by ‘bums’. Will Miami work a miracle to design a street circuit that creates more than the usual miniscule amount of overtaking opportunities? Here’s hoping.
Ram Samartha
Posts: 1,172
I like to see it mixed up too, but not a big fan of ovals or watching cars drive around in cirles. It turned out to be a pretty big disaster for F1.