“Getting the Heck Out of Miami”- F1’s Outrageous ‘$’ Ask Leaves NASCAR World in Utter Disbelief

This year’s Miami Grand Prix is all set to be a special weekend for Scuderia Ferrari as they debut a splash of blue on the iconic red challenger. Naturally, a lot of eyes are on the weekend, and NASCAR fans are eagerly anticipating one of motorsports’ grandest events in America.

However, fans acclimatized to Stock Car Racing’s pocket-friendly ticket prices and food choices may be in for a rude awakening. Although it’s no secret that F1 boasts extravagance and grandeur unlike any other motorsport, the cost that fans need to pay to get that experience in Miami just didn’t sit well with many NASCAR insiders.

Are the Miami GP prices a little out of touch with reality?

Currently, it’s no secret that the United States is facing major financial dilemmas. From the increasing Consumer Price Index and Inflation rates to unimaginable housing costs, the average American consumer cannot afford to spend as lavishly as Formula 1 is expecting. The organization had already run into altercations with locals and residents during the Las Vegas GP over some of the tactics deployed.

From blocking the view of tourists to impeding traffic for residents, F1 didn’t connect with the American audience the way it intended to. That being said, it appears that the 2024 Miami GP and some of the costs of items have truly pushed the American motorsports community to the edge. Starting with the grandstand tickets, fans can expect to shell out more than 600 dollars just to have a seat for all three days!

For a three-day general admission ticket without a seat, fans will now have to shell out $450 instead of the $590 that was required last year. Here’s where a lot of you would say, that leaves us with $140 that could be spent wisely throughout the weekend. But after taking a look at the prices for food items and beverages at the GP, it’s safe to say that certainly wouldn’t suffice.

As the Miami GP kicks off this weekend, some NASCAR aces also made their way to the HardRock Stadium in a bid to watch the grand event. But when Ryan Ellis went through the food menu, he was met with a sight that needed to be addressed on X. The driver shared with some sarcasm; “F1 is a little more expensive than NASCAR”

In the attached photo, fans got a good idea of what to expect from the menu at the HardRock Stadium for the race. Starting with the chilled items, the cheapest item on the list, the Yellowfin Tuna Poke, everything costs at least a staggering $180! That itself would wipe out all of the savings from this year’s GA ticket. But perhaps what would baffle some fans even more is the cost of adding an ounce of Caviar as a topping: $400!

Instead of opting for Caviar, fans could almost purchase another GA ticket for friends or family. It’s also worth mentioning that a bottle of water costs $25 on the menu! With such exorbitant prices, the NASCAR community couldn’t help but share their disapproval of X.

The NASCAR community boycotts the Miami GP in favor of NASCAR’s budget-friendly pricing

Going over Ryan Ellis’ revelation, veteran spotter Freddie Kraft gave fans a $1000 budget to pick items from the HardRock menu. Seeing how a Lobster Roll ($280) cost more than an entire weekend of action at a NASCAR race, fans didn’t want to spend money on the Miami GP food choices. One user shared with brutal honesty, “Is nothing and keeping the $1,000 an option?” Another user tweeted their witty plan, “I’ll pocket the $1,000 and pre-game at a local eatery haha.”

For most fans, the only option on the menu that made sense was the Carne Asada Nachos, which still cost $180! This fan shared their financial plan with the budget; “I’m getting the carne asada nachos and 2 months of groceries with the change.” But some pointed out how they’d much rather visit the NASCAR stalls for food instead. One fan stated, “I’d rather have hot dogs and hamburgers in the infield at any NASCAR track. Much better ambiance 🏁🏁🏁”

On NASCAR circuits like Martinsville, food items like the infamous $2 Jesse Jones hot dog have been a classic for decades. So when fans can get nearly a hundred hot dogs for the price of one item at the HardRock Stadium, why spend any money at the GP? A user pointed this out, “I better stick with Martinsville hotdogs” which prompted another fan to share the menu at Eldora Speedway, which consisted of food items well below $5 and drinks below $2. This fan would have rather flown to Eldora with the remaining money, “A plane ticket and a pizza burger.”

Similarly, other users also shared their wishes to buy NASCAR tickets for the entire family instead, “4 NASCAR tickets and some 180.00 Nachos for the road trip to watch real racing”. At the end of the day, fans were left feeling rather displeased with prices at the Miami GP. One user summed up the NASCAR consensus, “I’m getting the heck out of Miami. More of a bring your own beer to the track type of fella.”

After taking a look at how Formula 1 continues to create distance from America’s core motorsport audience, one question pops up, is the Miami GP charade more business than racing?