Formula 1 ignites pulse of the people in Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — Las Vegas, start your engines!

Formula 1 racing into our city at top speed with just five months before hitting the finish line on the Las Vegas Strip.

From Summerlin to Henderson, many across the valley are feeling the adrenaline of such an international event happening right in their backyard.

"I feel like it will be a plus to the city, I feel like it would be a good add to the city."

"Well, we need more sports teams. I mean why not? All the betting from whatever team or whatever state/city you play in, all the betting comes from here."

The big race is expected to generate nearly $1.5 billion in revenue for our economy, adding an estimated 7,000 jobs in the first year alone, something some locals say is the true win.

"I think any major sport coming to las vegas is going to generate more revenue for the city, especially an event like Formula 1."

For others, economic impacts are not enough to shift their minds into excitement gear.

"I think it would be a pretty cool experience, but at the same time, the traffic's going to be...The traffic and the construction and everything else that's going to be changing and it's already pretty hectic and crowded in las vegas."

The 3.8-mile racetrack under construction, weaving its way through hot Las Vegas attractions like the Bellagio fountains and the MSG Sphere. The Strip - a location some say is already congested.

"There's a lot of desert out there. Instead of the strip, you know, it's already packed with a lot of people already, so why pack it more?

Taylor Barton with the Las Vegas Mini Grand Prix, Las Vegas's premiere racing attraction, says that the benefits that come with a race like F1 out-race the drawbacks.

"Having something like F1, which is a world sport, come to our city, there is going to be some growing pains in that," says Barton. "As a community, we need something like F1 to come to Las Vegas. We need these events for tourism and all the people that travel here. It definitely benefits every business, it doesn't just benefit one, it benefits a lot of people."

As for those not too thrilled for the race coming, locals say -

"You gotta look at the big picture, not just the small one. We're in the state of Nevada, our state flower is the traffic cone. It hasn't been different for the last I don't know, two decades, it's not going to change. This city is ever growing, ever developing."