The Las Vegas Grand Prix officially partnered with Ellis Island Hotel, Casino & Brewery, a shift in their relationship following a contentious legal fight after the 2023 event.
Ellis Island, located adjacent to Grand Prix Plaza on Koval Lane, will now be an official venue of the Formula One race, which winds its way through the middle of the Vegas Strip area.
Key takeaways
- Ellis Island Casino joined the Las Vegas Grand Prix as an official race venue partner.
- The casino previously sued the race over access disruptions but later dropped the case.
- The partnership includes fan zones, event hosting, and local outreach during the Nov. 2025 race weekend.
This comes after Ellis Island sued Las Vegas Grand Prix organizers in April 2024. The casino asserted the inaugural 2023 event brought enormous disruption to its business through limited access, congestion, and road closure.
In a turnabout, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported Ellis Island and the Las Vegas Grand Prix entered into an agreement that repositions the casino as a key participant in the high-profile event. The deal includes naming Ellis Island an official venue for the 2025 race weekend scheduled for Nov. 20–22.
Information regarding spectator zones, hotel packages, and race-week events Ellis Island hosts will be revealed over the coming months.
The first Las Vegas Grand Prix in 2023 was met with both appreciation and grievances. Although the race brought global exposure and hefty tourist spending, and had a $934 million economic impact in its second year, residents and business owners voiced dissatisfaction with prolonged construction and road closings.
Preparation and dismantling work lasted nearly nine months, including repaving public roads and constructing a temporary pedestrian bridge. The extensive nature of the infrastructure work had a considerable effect on traffic flows and access roads.
Grand Prix shuts down some operations
Ellis Island's complaint alleged the interruptions substantially impacted customer access and caused losses amounting to several million dollars. The suit sought damages over $50,000, and Ellis Island's attorney stated the losses were considerable and directly resulted from the incident.
Clark County court records indicate the suit was dismissed last September. While the terms of the dismissal aren't publicly available, the decision cleared the way for renewed contact between the parties.
Organizers took steps to minimize problems for the 2024 race. The temporary bridge was cut in half from the previous year's size, and the overall amount of roadwork was significantly lower.
In addition to infrastructure changes, Las Vegas Grand Prix officials included local outreach initiatives. These involved ticket giveaways to Southern Nevada residents and priority ticket-buying access to locals ahead of the general public.
As part of the new partnership, Ellis Island will also host the Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation of Nevada's yearly Halloween Bash at the Grand Prix Plaza, adding a charitable component. The move also signals a wish on both parties to continue the relationship and make a positive local impact beyond race weekend.
