Las Vegas GP Metrics Do Not Bode Well for Roger Goodell & the NFL’s Super Bowl Dreams, Will Vegas Be Able to Pull It Off on Time?

“Sin City” is used to having three hundred thousand visitors on a weekend. But this year, Las Vegas has its work cut out for itself. Steve Hill, who is the CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, said, “Formula 1 coming up in November and the Super Bowl in February will be the two most important events in Las Vegas in my lifetime.” Now that the Las Vegas Grand Prix is already underway, things are not looking good for the city.

The Super Bowl LVIII is also going to be held at Allegiant Stadium on February 11, 2024. This comes 7 years after the city first dreamt of an NFL Stadium and its own team. But is the Grand Prix an omen of what is to come?

Why the Las Vegas Grand Prix has been a disaster

Sports business analyst Joe Pompliano took to X to share why the Grand Prix has been dismissed as a disaster. Locals are complaining of longer commutes, road closures, and traffic. Ever since Las Vegas was announced as the destination last year, hotel prices have been slashed by more than 80% in a bid to fill up beds. And just days before the first race, 10,000 tickets remained unsold even though the prices were slashed by 40%.

Besides all the monetary challenges, it is also going to be one of the coldest F1 races in history. Formula One stalwarts such as Max Verstappen and George Russell have already criticized the arrangements done so far.

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When the NFL announced the introduction of bye weeks, the regular season was extended by one week. They originally set the Super Bowl to take place in New Orleans, but due to the extra week, it would’ve coincided with Mardi Gras. And so Las Vegas was chosen. With the Grand Prix a disaster, how does the scenario look for the Super Bowl?

Will the NFL manage to save the Super Bowl?

“I think I’d be making a mistake underestimating Las Vegas and how big a Super Bowl there will be,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said Wednesday. “Anything that happens in Vegas is big.” The NFL has set an ambitious goal for itself. It wants to rake in $25 billion in revenues by 2027. And Super Bowls with its $7 million-for-30 seconds ad slots, will be a major revenue puller. So, what are the chances that SB LVIII will also end up like the Grand Prix?

Very less actually. While the F1 is only picking up traction in America, football is “America’s favorite pastime“. And with Usher the performer for the half-time show, Allegiant Stadium does not need to worry about unsold tickets. Moreover, there has been genuine interest over the years for the SB to be held in “Party City”. Fans are not going to miss the SB just because of cold weather or traffic. While last year’s SB drew 115.1 million viewers, will it draw even more eyeballs this year?

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