Every year, Sports ETA hosts its annual meeting of membership, more commonly known as Sports ETA Symposium.  This gathering of the best and newest contributors to our sports event and tourism industry is an opportunity to showcase many facets that drive sports in North America and beyond. Las Vegas, Nevada was our convergence point in 2026 with spectacular results.   

In our January 2026 edition of the Sports ETA Facility Showcase, we showcased one of the two facilities that were showcased and toured in this year’s 2026 sports ETA Facility Summit in Las Vegas.  Over eighty professionals from fifty-seven organizations attended this year’s Facility Summit and its day of learning. From start to finish, we program some of the best professionals to participate in interactive learning presentations throughout the day.  No Facility Summit would be complete without stepping foot on facilities that impact sports in a destination.  This edition will close the circle and showcase Grand Prix Plaza, home of the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix. 

A Driven Experience 

Grand Prix Plaza is home to the state-of-the-art Las Vegas Grand Prix Pit Building. When not hosting their annual race, as part of the worldwide racing circuit, the 39-acre, multi-use complex is home to the world’s largest and most dynamic Formula 1® attraction. This entertainment destination features more than 100,000 square feet of F1® attractions, including: 

• F1® X: The interactive Formula 1 experience offers guests a tech-driven journey through a cutting-edge 4D exhibition with legendary artifacts, iconic F1 cars and hands-on activities where visitors can design their own virtual F1 car. 

• F1® DRIVE: This official F1 karting attraction takes place on part of the actual Las Vegas Strip Circuit® where guests can experience the speed, sights and sounds of Formula 1 in high-performance karts with F1-inspired features including an LED steering wheel display and ERS technology. 

• F1® HUB: The F1HUB is the heart of Grand Prix Plaza and features F1 SIMULATORS, a flagship F1 store and elevated food and beverage offerings at F1 HUB Lounge. 

“As Grand Prix Plaza returns for its second year, it marks another exciting chapter for Formula 1 enthusiasts in Las Vegas,” said Benjamin Larvie, General Manager of Grand Prix Plaza. “It’s a place where visitors of all ages can connect with the sport, celebrate its history and experience the speed, precision and thrill that define Formula 1. For year two, we’ve taken Grand Prix Plaza to new heights, offering returning guests new ways to engage in the sport, while giving first-time visitors an action-packed introduction to the world of racing.” 

Creating The Ultimate Fan Experience 

Formula® 1 in Las Vegas shifted from a once-a-year spectacle to a year-round immersive fan destination. With Grand Prix Plaza now reopened, the home of the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix has transformed into the world’s largest F1® fan experience, a multi-attraction complex where visitors don’t just watch the sport; they live it. 

The reimagined 20,000-square-foot F1® X experience anchors Grand Prix Plaza with a deep dive into the past, present and future of the sport. This is not a traditional exhibit; it’s designed for fans to immerse themselves in the world of Formula 1. F1 X cultivates learning, creating and experiencing Formula 1. 

One-of-a-Kind Design

As North America’s first and only official F1 karting experience, F1® DRIVE runs on part of the Las Vegas Strip Circuit®, the first- and only-time karting has ever operated on a section of a Formula 1 track. The redesigned 1,470-foot circuit features 22 turns, including a hairpin, chicane, double apex, constant radius and a technical segment. The newly designed track has been widened to allow for more overtaking, encouraging fans to let their competitive juices flow. 

These aren’t your standard go karts. Drivers use F1-inspired electric machines capable of 30 mph, complete with Overtake Mode and ERS-style turbo boosts, live LCD steering wheel data and even virtual race engineer radio communications offering strategy cues and lap tips. 

Experiences range from full Grand Prix race formats with practice, qualifying and podium finishes to family-friendly sessions and fastest-lap trials. Newly improved spectator viewing areas from the lobby add to the atmosphere, turning every run into a mini–Grand Prix Sunday. 

KEY DIFFERENCE MAKER: Turning Weakness into Strengths 

Each year, the Sports ETA Facility Summit starts with a high-level discussion of the day’s theme. This year, we covered Facility Funding & Finance. Two of the top sports professionals from Las Vegas shared their vision in building sport facilities in Las Vegas.  This year’s Fireside Chat featured Lauren Flint, Senior Vice President of Operations, Las Vegas Grand Prix and Steve Hill, CEO/President, Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority. This unique discussion “revved” up our engines for a great day of Facility Summit learning.  Ms. Flint provided several key takeaways but none more impactful than turning weakness into strengths.  Any facility has pluses and minus.  This sage advice of turning a perceived weakness into a strength requires vision and fortitude.  Ask yourself, how can I apply this to my facility and make a positive improvement? 

What “weakness” do at your facilities that you can turn into a “strength”? 

What onsite asset can you turn into an experience for visitors to explore? 

A special thank you to Fallon Porter and Tommy Chalk with Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix for contributing and providing valuable content for this month’s showcase. Credit to Grand Prix Plaza for the images.  

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Want to showcase a facility in your destination? 
Contact: Vince Trinidad at Vince@SportsETA.org

Miss a previous Facility Showcase? Check them out here!