Las Vegas bets high: 'This will be the biggest sporting event of the year'

The new race on the calendar, the Las Vegas Grand Prix, promises to be particularly grand, and especially very American. F1 is building for the permanent paddock complex and expects the race to be the biggest sporting event of the year.

Liberty Media has invested heavily in the third Grand Prix to be held in the United States. For the Las Vegas GP, the owners have bought a piece of land to build permanent F1 facilities. Although the race is only seven months away, construction is moving at a fast pace to be completed on time.

Reuters spoke to project manager Terry Miller and reports that construction should be finished by September, so that it is well in time for the race on 19 November. Miller already describes the construction site as "the heartbeat of the event". Las Vegas Grand Prix CEO Renee Wilm added: "We think this is going to be the biggest sports and entertainment event of the year."

The city is strongly committed to sporting events and is bringing in other major (US) sporting events besides Formula 1. Wilm: "There is an absolute transformation going on in this city and we are thrilled to be part of it." Three months after the Las Vegas GP, the city will also host the famous Super Bowl, the finale of the NFL season.