• Loading stock data...
Sunday, July 6, 2025

From Hype to Staple: Miami GP Now a Formula One Fixture

  • Ticket pricing and viewership have fallen, but the high-profile race is still becoming core to the local sports scene.
  • Frequent celebrity sightings provide a hefty dose of extra sizzle to the event.
Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

There is likely no way to ever match the hype and intensity of the Miami Grand Prix’ debut in 2022, but Formula One and race organizers are aiming for the event to remain a high-profile fixture of the sport’s calendar. 

The main event—set for Sunday after two days of practice, qualifying, and ancillary events—will be back at the track developed outside of Hard Rock Stadium (above), as will the faux marina that is designed to help provide that South Florida feel and stands as one of the race’s most distinguishing features. But the challenge for the Miami GP will be to move fully beyond the initial novelty status and solidify its position as a core part of F1. 

The initial race two years ago drew an average audience of 2.6 million, representing the most-watched live F1 race in U.S. history, while secondary ticket prices soared to as much as $32,000. Last year’s average TV audience for the Miami GP fell to 1.96 million, but it still ranks as Formula One’s second-largest live American viewership total.

This year, Miami GP organizers slashed the price of a three-day Campus Pass general admission ticket to $450, down from $590 a year ago, while the resale market for a single-day pass for Friday’s preliminary events has fallen to as low as $20. Secondary pricing for a single-day ticket for Sunday now begins at less than $200, roughly a third of the low-end pricing typically seen two years ago. 

Still, the Miami GP is also quickly becoming a core part of the local sports scene.

“Miami loves events like this. It’s one of the best weekends of the year for all of South Florida,” Jason Shatsky, CEO of TicketRev, a Boca Raton, Fla.–based ticket marketplace, tells Front Office Sports. “There’s a lot of excitement around the fact that F1 is in town.”

Who’s Who

Celebrity sightings have also been an integral component of the Miami GP scene, as the first race drew the likes of Michael Jordan, Tom Brady, and David Beckham, while last year featured Patrick Mahomes, Lindsey Vonn, Serena and Venus Williams, and Shaquille O’Neal.

This year is slated to draw arguably the biggest celebrities of the moment: Travis Kelce and his girlfriend, pop icon Taylor Swift, who are reportedly joining Mahomes and his wife, Brittany. Given Swift’s halo effect on the NFL universe during that league’s 2023 season, F1 officials would certainly relish a similar boost in Miami. 

“The aspect of wanting to see and be seen [at the race], that’s parallel to the entire city, and there are tons of networking events, parties, celebrations, and brunches all surrounding this race,” Shatsky said. “And some people [drawn to the event] don’t even end up going to the race.”

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Liverpool to Pay Diogo Jota’s $20M Contract to His Widow

Jota had two years remaining on his contract.

American Celebs Want to Be Sports Owners. Soccer Is Where They Start

As U.S. team prices climb, investors set their sights abroad.
Bill Ackman
exclusive

Billionaire Bill Ackman Prepares for ‘Once in a Lifetime’ Tennis Match in..

Ackman says he’s “peaking next week” at the Hall of Fame Open.

Featured Today

Baseball’s Celebrity Row: Behind MLB’s First-Pitch Ritual

Often planned, sometimes spontaneous, the ritual throw is baseball’s celebrity row.
July 4, 2025

3,000 Hot Dogs, $20K in Prizes: Behind the Nathan’s Eating Contest

Nathan’s serves up thousands of hot dogs and $20,000 in prize money.
July 3, 2025

Geoffrey Esper Can’t Catch a Break at Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest

“Hot dogs is not one of my favorite competitions of the year.”
June 29, 2025

The Battle Over Wimbledon’s Ambitious Expansion Plan

A classic NIMBY standoff on one of the most hallowed grounds in sports.
Jul 2, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) heads to the dugout prior to the first inning against the Chicago White Sox at Dodger Stadium.

MLB Changes Are ‘Showing Great Results’: Former CFO

Big stars playing in major markets “make a real difference.”
July 2, 2025

NHL to Rejoin Olympic Ice in Milan—and NBC Set to Cash In

NHL players last competed in the Olympics in 2014.
Michael Johnson
July 3, 2025

Grand Slam Track Still Owes Athletes $13 Million: Source

The new track league hasn’t paid athletes in full yet.
Sponsored

Hottest Matchups Following NFL Schedule Release

The NFL released the 2025 regular-season schedule, and anticipation is already building in the ticket marketplace with four months to go.
Sophie Cunningham
July 2, 2025

WNBA Expansion Decisions Show League Prioritizes North, NBA Ties

One player ripped the league for its geographic choices.
exclusive
July 2, 2025

PGA Tour Slashes FedEx Cup Winner Pay From $25M to $10M

The FedExCup is reworking how it distributes its bonus money.
Red Panda
July 2, 2025

Red Panda Hospitalized After WNBA Halftime Fall

The beloved performer was taken off the court in a wheelchair.
July 1, 2025

WNBA Roster Limits Under Fire After Vanloo’s Valkyries Release

Kaitlyn Chen remains on the Valkyries roster.