No ticket? No problem!
People who couldn’t get a ticket to the Las Vegas Formula One Grand Prix found an ingenious loophole, turning escalators into moving grandstands.
Parts of Sin City were transformed for the epic race, which took place in Nevada and was attended by stars from around the world.
There was controversy after last year’s event, with concerns about the impact on local businesses and lack of accessibility due to high ticket prices.
One of the main criticisms was the lack of accessibility for most fans to attend, and Clark County banned stopping in pedestrian tunnels, with a $1,000 fine for those caught in line.
Fortunately, F1 fans found a solution; climbing an escalator to catch a glimpse of the race, and an amused fan uploaded a video to social media.
“You can’t stop and watch the Las Vegas Formula One Grand Prix without a ticket and stopping in a pedestrian zone or on a viewing bridge will get you a ticket, a fine or worse trouble,” said user Jen. who goes by @vegasstarfish online, posted on X.
She shared that locals and tourists have been using the escalators at Spring Mountain and Las Vegas Blvd outside the Fashion Show Mall, near where the race is taking place.
People who couldn’t get a ticket to the Las Vegas Formula One Grand Prix found a clever loophole and turned escalators into moving grandstands.
Jen explained that as long as people keep moving, security will leave them alone.
“It’s not ideal for watching the entire F1 main event, but it’s great if you want to be right next to the track for a minute to take a quick photo,” he shared.
His video showed F1 enthusiasts going up and down nearby escalators, many of them filming the event, to avoid being fined for stopping on one of the prohibited walkways.
Another fan revealed his unique way of watching the event, posting on X, formerly known as Twitter, to share that eager fans could watch the Las Vegas GP via CCTV footage from the city.
‘F1 TV is too conventional. “I’m looking at CCTV traffic cameras,” Chris Aurelio wrote.
Attached to the post was a CCTV screenshot of an F1 car on the track.
Clark County last week began enforcing a “pedestrian zone flow” ordinance that prohibits people from “stopping, standing, or engaging in an activity that causes another person to stop” on pedestrian bridges and surrounding escalators and stairs. .
Those caught disobeying the ordinance can result in a $1,000 fine or up to six months in jail.
Savvy F1 fans found a solution; climbing an escalator to catch a glimpse of the race, and a funny fan uploaded a video to social media
One of the main criticisms was the lack of accessibility for most fans to attend, and Clark County banned stopping in pedestrian tunnels, with a $1,000 fine for those stuck in line.
The Las Vegas event is one of three American races on the Formula One calendar.
This year, events have already been held in Austin, which serves as the United States Grand Prix, and in Miami.
According to NBC, tickets for the race cost from $250 for single-day general admission to $12,500, depending on ticket packages.
Max Verstappen was hailed by many Formula One fans as the GOAT – i.e. the greatest of all time – after securing his fourth World Drivers’ Championship on Saturday night.
The 27-year-old finished fifth at the Las Vegas Strip Circuit, but that was enough to put him 63 points clear of Lando Norris in the standings with just 60 left to play.
Norris finished sixth in Saturday’s race, which was won by George Russell ahead of his Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton.