Doug Bonjour is a veteran sportswriter with more than a decade of experience, including in the realm of sports betting. He’s written for the New York Times, Associated Press, CBS Sports and Hearst Connecticut Media...
Read Full BioThe F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix is partnering with Ellis Island Hotel, Casino & Brewery, the same establishment with which it once had a significant legal battle.
“We are thrilled to be growing our partnership with Ellis Island,” Emily Prazer, President and CEO of Las Vegas Grand Prix, Inc., said in a statement last Friday. “Over the last two years, we have committed to working with the community and local businesses to ensure they are part of the race-week excitement.
“Ellis Island is not only a great partner for us but also offers fans another exciting viewing location along the circuit.”
This year’s event spans over 50 laps and is scheduled for Nov. 20-22.
From Lawsuit to Partnership: A Turnaround for Ellis Island and F1
The announcement marks a stark shift from a contentious legal battle, in which Ellis Island officials claimed the inaugural 2023 F1 event disrupted its business by impeding access to nearby roads for several months due to congestion and closures. This included resurfacing along the 3.8-mile track and installing a temporary bridge.
The lawsuit, filed in April 2024, sought damages in excess of $50,000, with Ellis Island’s attorney, J. Randall Jones, claiming the property lost “millions of dollars” due to the race. Documents allege that race organizers failed to communicate the extent of the road closures.
“F1′s announced construction schedule, inclusive of paving and constructing the [temporary] Flamingo Bridge, would continue to fluctuate with no advance notice to Plaintiffs, with each construction event impeding and interfering with Plaintiffs’ customers’ ingress and egress, as well as the ingress and egress of Plaintiffs’ vendors and other third-parties it conducts business with, which caused disruption to those contracts and Plaintiffs’ business and business dealings,” the lawsuit read.
According to Clark County records, Judge Joanna Kishner dismissed the case in September.
By most accounts, last year’s race saw far fewer logistical issues. This was credited mainly to less roadwork and the reduction of the pedestrian bridge to half its original size.
New Partnership to Feature Viewing Areas and Fan Experiences
As part of the partnership, Ellis Island—located adjacent to the Grand Prix Plaza on Koval Lane, less than one mile from the Las Vegas Strip—will again host a designated spectator area for race weekend. It also plans to offer special hotel packages. According to a press release, more information will be released in the coming months.
The Grand Prix Plaza area will also host the annual Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation of Nevada Halloween Bash, which the Ellis family has supported for decades.
“As we enter into this partnership with our neighbors on Koval Lane, we look forward to working with Las Vegas Grand Prix to extend our offerings at Ellis Island during race weekend and beyond,” Gary Ellis, owner of Ellis Island, added.
