When F1 traveled to Miami for the first time in 2022, it was expected to be a glamorous affair, with famous celebrities from all over the US attending the inaugural race in Florida. From an outside perspective, the race did live up to expectations, in terms of glamour, but lately, fans have been pointing out the downsides of traveling to the Miami GP.
Jalopnik spoke to fans who traveled to the first-ever Miami GP last year and the incidents that were revealed, won’t sound good to fans who plan on traveling to the Miami International Autodrome next weekend. As reported by Elizabeth Blackstock from Jalopnik, a fan named Alexandra Kueller got a ticket to last year’s race for free.
New week, new scenery 🇺🇸🌴
Hello again Miami 👋#HaasF1 #MiamiGP pic.twitter.com/uMzlfMsxVf
— MoneyGram Haas F1 Team (@HaasF1Team) May 2, 2023
Kueller, a new fan of the sport, quickly realized that the spectacle was aimed towards pleasing the corporates and sponsors, and not the spectators. She recalled how the entire layout of the venue was designed for the fans to walk around and spend money. But still, it felt “very capitalistic” to her.
Fans complain about shade at Miami GP track
Another fan complained about how everyone was getting affected by the heat at the circuit. Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross put in about $40 million on the construction of the Miami International Autodrome, so it was expected that the infrastructure would be top-notch.
Unfortunately, fans were left scrambling, to find some shade in what was a very hot afternoon in Miami. The track was huge, and so was the seating/standing area. However, a lack of shade made it very difficult for fans to enjoy the whole experience.
No more fake marina. Miami GP now has real water 🌊 pic.twitter.com/jxpfiibZhV
— Scherazade (@ScherazadeMS) April 30, 2023
“I had sweat through my shirt before I even got into the track,” a fan named Kate told Jalopnik. Her account describes how, by the time she got to her designated area, she saw “sweaty fans fighting for relief from the heat”.
There were other instances where long time F1 were disappointed with the ticket pricing, which went up to the range of thousands of dollars. As pointed out by another fan, majority of the spectators were in attendance, just to take pictures and videos to upload on their social media accounts.
American fans not happy with F1’s approach in The United States
There was a time when hosting even a single F1 race in the USA was subject to widespread debate. However, over the last few years, the sport has taken off in The States, and Drive to Survive has played a huge role in that. This season, there are three American races in the calendar, with Austin and Las Vegas set to follow Miami.
However, F1’s idea of treating the newer fans in the sport as ‘casual fans’ and not caring enough for them, may backfire in the future. In the interview with Jalopnik, several fans were adamant that they wouldn’t be returning to the circuit in Miami ever again. Ticket prices, poor infrastructure, and a general lack of entertainment (race-wise) were cited as the main reasons for this.
Last year, organizers in Miami reported that the Grand Prix weekend brought in a revenue of $350 million for the city. While this number can grow in 2023 and the coming few years, if fans continue to go home disappointed, F1 could once again circle back to its dark days in the US.
