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$560 million being spent to turn the Las Vegas Strip Into an F1 Race Track this Fall

Revamping one of the most well-known streets in the world — the Vegas Strip — into a racing circuit might seem an impossible challenge. But the inaugural Formula 1 Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix, set for Nov. 16 to 18, is hustling to do just that in a $560 million civil-planning and engineering feat that is currently underway before the track goes hot.

“This is one of the most aggressive programs of construction and design I’ve seen, certainly in Vegas, as well as sports,” says Terry Miller, project manager for the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

In June 2022, John Malone’s Liberty Media, which owns Formula One Group, bought 39 acres of land on the northeast corner of Koval Lane and Harmon Avenue for the Paddock Building. Miller says that before they even had a design, the purchasing of construction materials began to avoid supply chain delays. In November 2022, F1 and Liberty Media hosted a groundbreaking ceremony. At the beginning of October 2023, they are expected to earn an occupancy permit.

“[Liberty Media] acquired Formula One about seven years ago. I was the lead mergers and acquisitions lawyer on the transaction. I got to know a lot about Formula One and their process,” says Renee Wilm, chief legal and administrative officer of Liberty Media and CEO of Las Vegas Grand Prix. “Then fast forward a year later to a phone call from my colleagues in London. They are very interested in holding a race in Las Vegas in 2023. They asked me if I would start going out to Vegas and begin the dialogue to get to know the regulators and the local stakeholders.”

From that point forward, things began to move rapidly, with Wilm rallying the support of business owners, Clark County Commissioners, the public works department and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA).

An extensive street-paving project required to create the 3.8-mile raceway (which runs from Koval Lane to Sands Avenue and then down Las Vegas Boulevard to Harmon Avenue) started in April, affecting the Strip and adjacent roads and disrupting driving for resort guests and casino employees who service the resort corridors 150,000 rooms. Locals once boasted that it only took 15 minutes to get anywhere within the easy-to- navigate city. That narrative has been replaced with gripes about gridlock and orange cones.

​​“We are holding an event that’s never been done before,” Wilm says. “There are other street races on our calendar, such as Monaco and Singapore, but even when you consider those, this is a living, breathing city, that’s 24 hours, nonstop action. To bring an event of this magnitude and shut down the roadways at the same time; there’s just no playbook for this.”

The road work involves taking out some medians as well as removing 5 to 10 inches of road that is then replaced with a denser pavement, followed by the application of a racing layer that “is smooth and has no ripples,” says Miller. The race track surface should hold about six years without having to be redone.

“The level of inconvenience that’s been caused this year is not going to be repeated,” Wilm says.

Miller notes the Las Vegas Grand Prix is doing what it can to minimize traffic disruptions, working one-on-one with each resort to address concerns.

“With our paving routines, we’ve tried to avoid shift changes [at resorts] and paving all the way across service drives so we can keep business functioning. It’s not just a civil engineering process. It’s a planning process. It’s a logistics process,” he says.

Completed in record time, the multistory Paddock Building — the length of three American football fields and located just off the Strip, behind Planet Hollywood resort — will cost an estimated $480 million.

In ground-floor garages adjacent to the starting line, each racing team will have three days to completely build out their space, constructing two cars onsite for the night race. Upstairs, there is the Paddock Club and suites as well as the Wynn Grid Club.

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by Anonymousreply 118November 20, 2023 11:54 PM

On the roof, there is an additional viewing area as well as a 28,000 square-foot video screen that sits on the roof horizontally that is visible from the air. Outside, across the track, the main grandstand accommodates 18,000 people with skyboxes set atop.

“There’s no other F1 facility like this one, it is going to be the largest. The accommodations we’ve given the teams are unprecedented because we went beyond what their requirements are. We gave them more because it’s Las Vegas. It’s going to be the North American headquarters for F1,” Miller says.

The Wynn Grid Club — which is being positioned as the “first-of-its-kind, year-round membership program” — sits overlooking the first turn with an outdoor terrace. According to the Las Vegas Grand Prix (LVGP) website, there will be “an intimate chef’s table and cocktail experience … spectacular food presentations and drinks by expert mixologists.” Among other perks it also includes a five-day ticket and exclusive F1 experiences like meet-and-greets.

“There will be a private elevator directly from the Wynn Grid Club into the Paddock in the center of all the drivers and action,” says Wynn Resorts North America COO Brian Gullbrants. “You’re going to see more than just the pits on the starting grid; you’re going to see the whole first turn.”

No retail price for this experience has been released yet.

Gullbrants tells THR that an F1 alignment is exactly what his guests wanted: “A team of people walked in the door about 18 months ago … Stefano Domenicali [CEO of Formula One Group], Emily Prazer [chief commercial officer, LVGP] and Renee Wilm and a whole team of people, and we sat down in a boardroom … and we said ‘yes’. And then we had a whole lot of details to figure out,” Gullbrants says. “We’re going to be the epicenter of all things F1. We will have the who’s who of the Formula One World staying with us.”

There will also be an additional non-branded-Wynn Paddock Club offering all the same amenities.

While Formula 1 provided a general specification manual that sets the size, area and track of the race, Las Vegas Grand Prix will exceed the experience found at the 22 other races around the world for the estimated 105,000 daily attendees, boasting the largest custom-built permanent Paddock building, more licensing agreements with venues, more major corporate partners and a plethora of A-list events.

Outside of the hospitality suites and luxury clubs, tickets range from general admission (at the new Sphere Las Vegas) and grandstands with food by Wolfgang Puck (located on East Harmon and West Harmon and atSphere and The Mirage) to premium clubs (Skybox, Heineken House, Legacy, HGV Clubhouse, Club Paris, Sports Illustrated Club SI, Red Bull Energy Station) with 10 zones throughout the track. Pricing per person on Heineken House starts at $8,000 plus taxes and fees; Club SI is $7,000; and Club Paris is $5,500.

Bellagio is building out its own Fountain Club and grandstands adjacent to its iconic water feature with food and beverage from restaurateurs Mario Carbone, David Chang, Michael Mina, Masaharu Morimoto, Bryan and Michael Voltaggio and Jean-Georges Vongerichten. The Mirage will do the same on its water feature. J Balvin, Major Lazer and Mark Ronson will headline the T-Mobile Zone at Sphere stage with Blue Man Group and Cirque du Soleil making appearances.

The launch of the Grand Prix in Vegas is part of a U.S. growth plan by Formula One Group, which already runs the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, and last year launched the Miami Grand Prix. One boost to the popularity of F1 in the States has been the ratings success of the Netflix docuseries Formula 1: Drive to Survive.

Another challenge for organizers is how guests and employees will access the 23,000 hotel rooms within the circuit when the race closes four streets from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. for three days.

by Anonymousreply 1August 21, 2023 3:45 PM

These resorts include The Venetian Resort Las Vegas, Harrah’s Las Vegas, The LINQ, Flamingo Las Vegas, The Cromwell, Horseshoe Las Vegas, Paris Las Vegas, Planet Hollywood, and Elara by Hilton Grand Vacations. To that end, the Grand Prix is installing three temporary bridges over affected roads. For example, the Flamingo Road bridge will be four lanes and about 800 feet long and take eight days to erect and tear down.

“One of the things that is significantly different is the city in which we’re building. When F1 approached Las Vegas, business owners, elected officials recognized how important it would be to have the circuit in the heart of the resort corridor. That’s not a small undertaking,” Miller says. “We had to make sure every [resort] understood the implications because when we put the track in place, there is disruption. We have to pave that entire circuit. Customers are disturbed, services are disturbed. We’ve been working for the last four months through all of those headaches, what those disruptions are going to be but more importantly, when we run this event, unlike Abu Dhabi or some others that are enclosed in their own area, we have to reopen the street after every race so that it can still be public thoroughfare.”

Wilm says that this dilemma has been one of the biggest ongoing challenges. “There were some people that had a visceral reaction to shutting down the Las Vegas Strip but the LVCVA was instrumental in helping to navigate those choppy waters and also to help us tell our story about what kind of benefits we bring to the town.”

Adds Gullbrants, “Two things our team members are really excited about are how many celebrities and drivers and stars are going to be here because they’re excited to take care of the best and the other is where are they going park for work.” Wynn’s employee garage is located within the race circuit. “We have alternative parking plans,” continues Gullbrants. “We have made temporary arrangements to put parking in nearby locations with transportation for our employees.”

The project has been wholly funded by Liberty Media, but in June, Las Vegas Grand Prix asked Clark County to cover $40 million of the $80 million needed for roadway infrastructure. The county is considering the proposition. For Vegas businesses, the bet is that the disruption will all be worthwhile. Research done by Applied Analysis estimates the race will inject a staggering $1.2 billion into the Vegas economy in the first year.

“I don’t think we’ve ever had an event with this much exposure from a media standpoint and reach globally. It repositions and establishes our destination in the minds of people outside of America, as more than just a place to gamble with flashing lights. Las Vegas is an unbelievable backdrop for global events,” Gullbrants says.

Formula One and Las Vegas are committed in a decade-long deal. Las Vegas will also host the Super Bowl just three months after the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix.

by Anonymousreply 2August 21, 2023 3:46 PM

I don't even like Formula 1 racing, but this is going to be fucking incredible.

To use the Las Vegas strip as a race track?

That's epic!

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by Anonymousreply 3August 21, 2023 3:47 PM

I always wondered what the Big Eye was being built for.

It's amazing that corporations can spend half a billion dollars to entertain rich people, but if you scour the streets of Vegas, you'll see tons of poor and homeless people all over the place.

We truly are in a dystopian age where the gap between the ultra rich and extremely poor, is creating this nightmare society.

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by Anonymousreply 4August 21, 2023 3:50 PM

It’s unconscionable to promote this kind of trash activity when we have serious climate issues and social issues pressing. Fuck the stupid cars. What’s waste. My family flys all over the world to watch these dumb races. Vegas is horrible.

by Anonymousreply 5August 21, 2023 4:25 PM

Half a billion dollars spent on a three-day event.

Do these people even realize how much good that money could do for the poor and homeless in Vegas?

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by Anonymousreply 6August 21, 2023 4:29 PM

It’s going to be a mess. They should’ve done major upgrades to Watkins Glen in NY if they wanted another US F1 track. That could’ve been a nice addition.

But it’s all about the ‘glitz’ and celebrity and party now. Miami and Vegas are jokes. Boo.

by Anonymousreply 7August 21, 2023 4:58 PM

I realize F1 has always been the ‘rich person’s’ racing, but now that Drive to Survive has made it popular in America, they want more glamour in the US. Well, Miami and Vegas aren’t going to be the US Monacos. It’s just going be be filled with poseurs and social media people. F1 has outgrown Monaco anyway.

R6 for real. I hope there’s some major donations to the homeless or other charities in Vegas during the race weekend.

by Anonymousreply 8August 21, 2023 5:03 PM

That’s right add a few more million tons of co2 to the atmosphere for entertaining betting junkies. Good going Vegas.

by Anonymousreply 9August 21, 2023 5:25 PM

Tickets are still available, although General Admission is sold out.

You can pay $2000 for a seat at "The Sphere"

As DJT would say, this event is going to be YUGE!

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by Anonymousreply 10August 21, 2023 5:25 PM

I'm a frequent Vegas visitor, so I get lots of offers from MGM properties and others.

At first I thought this email offer they sent me was ridiculously priced, but now that I think about it, the price could be worth it:

[quote] FORMULA 1 RACE PACKAGES

[quote] NOVEMBER 16 - 18, 2023

Drivers, start your engines! MGM is offering packages for the Formula 1 Race event in Las Vegas! We are pleased to continue our support of the sport of racing and its legion of faithful fans and invite you to join us to share the racing action!

Enjoy a three-night stay. For the race, located in the North Koval Zone in the Legacy suite, you will have three-day ticket access to this hospitality suite. The two-level structure will offer stunning views of the Koval Straightaway as they head into Turn 5.

3-day race ticket per room reservation All-inclusive premium food and beverages Ticket permits access to North Koval Zone only Transportation to a drop off location near the zone Requires stay over 11/16/2023 - 11/18/2023

3-DAY ROOM & RACE TICKETS for 2 People: $17,179 plus resort fee and taxes Full deposit due at booking. All sales are final. No cancellations. No refunds. Tickets will be received digitally 24 hours prior to the race. All inventory is first come, first served and subject to availability. Ticket inventory is extremely limited and due to high demand may not be available at time of purchase.

Crazy!

by Anonymousreply 11August 21, 2023 5:30 PM

Vegas is trash central. This is in keeping with that.

by Anonymousreply 12August 21, 2023 6:02 PM

For some reason, fans of car racing are incredibly trashy. Probably because car racing is stupid. Vroom vroom those cars are so fast. Wow. A high speed car crash. So much fun.

by Anonymousreply 13August 21, 2023 6:24 PM

[quote]The project has been wholly funded by Liberty Media, but in June, Las Vegas Grand Prix asked Clark County to cover $40 million of the $80 million needed for roadway infrastructure.

They'd better tell them to fuck off

by Anonymousreply 14August 21, 2023 7:49 PM

R13, yes especially in Vegas, just petrol heads and knuckle draggers.

by Anonymousreply 15August 21, 2023 8:20 PM

[quote] Las Vegas Grand Prix asked Clark County to cover $40 million of the $80 million needed for roadway infrastructure.

[quote] They'd better tell them to fuck off

I think the city would make that back easily in taxes tourists will pay from attending the event.

by Anonymousreply 16August 21, 2023 8:48 PM

r16 So what? The F1 people have enough money, and it's not like they're going to cancel the event. So fuck 'em, make them pay for it.

by Anonymousreply 17August 21, 2023 9:16 PM

R3 totally agree. It’s crazy: Monte Carlo on a triple dose of steroids, on the Strip? Yowza.

by Anonymousreply 18August 21, 2023 9:21 PM

Are the 17 thousand dollar accommodation bullet hardened. Their are a huge amounts of random bullets flying around in Vegas.

by Anonymousreply 19August 22, 2023 1:47 AM

R19 imagine being able to watch the race from your air conditioned suite at the Bellagio.

That would be magnificent!

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by Anonymousreply 20August 22, 2023 5:38 AM

Monaco, Singapore and Melbourne do this every year. NBD.

by Anonymousreply 21August 24, 2023 7:53 AM

Fuck off, R21.

This doesn't ever happen in a major US city.

And really, who cares about Monaco, Singapore and Melbourne?

Not us.

by Anonymousreply 22August 24, 2023 10:28 AM

Tell me you’re American without saying that you’re American, R21. Perfect response!

by Anonymousreply 23August 24, 2023 11:31 PM

Looks like I touched a nerve, R22. Nobody was impugning your sexual prowess or laughing at your cock. Grab a Bud Lite and calm down.

by Anonymousreply 24August 24, 2023 11:53 PM

The market can remain irrational longer than you can remain solvent

by Anonymousreply 25August 25, 2023 4:13 AM

It's only a few weeks away.

Anyone in Vegas?

How is the nightmare event coming along?

I would imagine that it's hell on residents.

by Anonymousreply 26October 29, 2023 12:47 AM

It’s gonna be fucking awesome! At night?? Seeing all those iconic hotels whiz by?

I’m with R3.

by Anonymousreply 27October 29, 2023 1:29 AM

Austin actually is the first F1 race in the US - it’s been held every year since 2012, except for 2020 (according to Wikipedia) but I’m OK with Miami and Vegas taking over, to be honest.

by Anonymousreply 28November 14, 2023 3:01 AM

A Formula 1 Grand Prix track is planned for Atlantic City.

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by Anonymousreply 29November 14, 2023 3:14 AM

It’s hard to believe that a) there’s something called “The Paddock Building” on the Strip, and b) its name hasn’t been changed by now.

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by Anonymousreply 30November 14, 2023 9:23 AM

[QUOTE]For some reason, fans of car racing are incredibly trashy

Aren't you thinking of NASCAR fans? I always assumed since F1 is international and Europe focused, it attracts more monied people. Not necessarily just "Eurotrash."

by Anonymousreply 31November 14, 2023 10:41 AM

I can't imagine this level of disruption for a surface that's going to last only SIX years.

by Anonymousreply 32November 14, 2023 11:05 AM

F1 isn't trashy. It's a mix of soap opera and cute guys. I'm surprised more gays don't like it.

by Anonymousreply 33November 14, 2023 11:16 AM

[quote][R19] imagine being able to watch the race from your air conditioned suite at the Bellagio.

Better than getting your footwear shit-covered in the Ladies room.

by Anonymousreply 34November 14, 2023 11:32 AM

[quote] It's a mix of soap opera and cute guys. I'm surprised more gays don't like it.

So is professional wrestling. We don’t like that either.

by Anonymousreply 35November 14, 2023 11:45 AM

Watkins Glen, Formula 1 Grand Prix racing 1961-1980. Anyone know why they stopped using this track? Area not flashy enough?

by Anonymousreply 36November 14, 2023 12:01 PM

Waste of t.money with no lasting benefit

by Anonymousreply 37November 14, 2023 12:04 PM

r37 Like tv shows, concerts, etc.

by Anonymousreply 38November 14, 2023 12:27 PM

[quote] F1 isn't trashy. It's a mix of soap opera and cute guys.

Can you explain the "soap opera" part?

I don't understand what you mean.

by Anonymousreply 39November 14, 2023 3:20 PM

They need to be racing electric vehicles.

by Anonymousreply 40November 14, 2023 6:05 PM

They need to be racing on foot.

Naked.

by Anonymousreply 41November 14, 2023 7:35 PM

Didn’t they do a few practice runs in Indianapolis?

My brother actually went to two F1 races in Indy.

I think the fairly new owners/management finally recognized the profitability of the states. They went from one race to three in quick succession.

I don’t hold out hope but I don’t want them to oversaturate the market. A NYC race? Hopefully that doesnt happen. Those people can go to ghetto Florida.

by Anonymousreply 42November 14, 2023 8:19 PM

[quote]I would imagine that it's hell on residents.

There was an article on Jalopnik this morning about the hell that everyday casino and restaurant employees are going through just to get to and from work (and of course the bosses brook no excuse for being late).

They're not getting extra pay, nor are the city or the casinos making accommodations for them. They have to add hours into their commutes. One person said the "incentives" being offered to them are the equivalent of an office pizza party while the bosses are making zillions.

by Anonymousreply 43November 14, 2023 8:44 PM

I think it's a safe bet that Marky Mark will be in attendance.

He loves sportscar racing and he lives in Vegas.

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by Anonymousreply 44November 14, 2023 9:52 PM

[quote] Can you explain the "soap opera" part?

I will try. I am new to F1-- I watch it because my boyfriend watches it. At first, I thought it was dumb, that they just drove in circles and everyone was waiting around for a crash. But, I became more interested as I understood more about the personalities.

In F1, there are ten teams, and each team has two drivers. The drivers are supposed to cooperate to advance the team's interests but of course, they also want to win on their own, so there's this weird friction built into each race and the entire season. For instance, Red Bull, the most dominant team right now, has one driver who always wins, Max, and another who's fallen on rough times, Sergio. Max is truly an amazing driver, but he is also a dick. So he doesn't do anything that would help out Sergio. I happen to like Max because he's such an asshole. A lot of people hate him.

Then there are interteam dynamics, meaning bad blood between drivers of different teams for different reasons. Also, some teams fire drivers who go to other teams, or lose their spot altogether. Between races, the drivers make cunty comments in the press. During the races, they sometimes make bitchy comments on the radio. There's always some drama going on.

Finally, some of the drivers are really hot. Ferrari has super hot drivers, Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc.

I wouldn't have ever started watching it on my own, but now I enjoy it. It's just two hours a week. Also, it doesn't have the cultural baggage of football or baseball and I don't feel a visceral hate for the culture surrounding it.

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by Anonymousreply 45November 14, 2023 11:27 PM

F1 will make some dataloungers angry because they don’t understand it. There is a strong fear of things that are unfamiliar. That is very American.

by Anonymousreply 46November 14, 2023 11:49 PM

I have nothing against F1 but the Las Vegas Strip has been really torn up and inconvenienced many visitors (Bellagio fountains off for two months) for an autorace just because they are hoping they can lure a few whales for the weekend. (A handful of whales may drop millions of dollars at the tables.)

The should have built a horse track and tried to one-up the Kentucky Derby.

by Anonymousreply 47November 14, 2023 11:53 PM

Forget it Jake, it's Vegas.

by Anonymousreply 48November 14, 2023 11:58 PM

Thanks R45, that was a great explanation!

I wonder if it will be broadcast on network television or (non premium) cable television this weekend?

I'd love to catch a little bit of the race, if nothing else than just for the views of the transformed Vegas Strip.

by Anonymousreply 49November 15, 2023 12:02 AM

I think it's being broadcast on ESPN. We watch it on a special F1 app and the commentators are excellent, especially this guy Sam who explains the technical stuff.

by Anonymousreply 50November 15, 2023 12:41 AM

R22 is correct. “This doesn’t ever happen in a major US city.

It only happens in small secondary towns like Las Vegas, Austin and Miami.

by Anonymousreply 51November 15, 2023 12:43 AM

[quote]I always assumed since F1 is international and Europe focused, it attracts more monied people.

I think so. Or at least more worldly fans.

by Anonymousreply 52November 15, 2023 12:55 AM

This is done purely for Asian and Middle Eastern whales. An individual whale may gamble $20 million on a trip.

by Anonymousreply 53November 15, 2023 1:03 AM

[quote] I'd love to catch a little bit of the race, if nothing else than just for the views of the transformed Vegas Strip.

It's a night race, so the Strip should look really stunning. Of course they shouldn't have dug up Vegas for this, but now that it's done, I'm going to watch it and enjoy it. The race doesn't air until 12am, timed that way so that European audiences can watch it at breakfast. Usually races air at breakfast time in the US.

Although the race is Saturday night, Qualifying is Friday night, and it also starts around 12am. Qualifying lasts an hour. How the drivers place in it determines their starting position in the Saturday race.

by Anonymousreply 54November 15, 2023 1:34 AM

The race starts at 1am EST on Sunday morning. The pre show/interviews/grid walk starts at midnight. I usually skip that. Don’t care about the celebrities.

I am curious to see how the drivers/cars will deal in the colder temperatures. It’s supposed to be around 50F that night. I’m rooting for Charles, he needs a win. I don’t hate the guy, but really, anyone but Max. He’s already won 17 of 20 races this year.

Yes, team Ferrari certainly are lookers. Fernando, Carlos, and Lewis are my top three would like to bang.

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by Anonymousreply 55November 15, 2023 2:35 AM

If not Max, I would like to see Lando win. He came back twice from the back of the pack in Mexico City and it was amazing to watch. He's never won a race.

by Anonymousreply 56November 15, 2023 2:38 AM

Meanwhile in Gaza…

by Anonymousreply 57November 15, 2023 2:51 AM

Lando will get a win next year.

Whenever I see him all I can think is he looks like a young, male Rachel Weisz. Strong resemblance.

by Anonymousreply 58November 15, 2023 2:53 AM

It's all about Fernando Alonso for me.

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by Anonymousreply 59November 15, 2023 11:11 AM

r45, TL;DR, it's Real Housewives of NJ in Cars. Or, The Amazing Race Around in Circles. Look at them go! Whose friends can change tires fastest? It's too exciting to think about.

Call me if one of the drivers gets anal in the garden from a pirate or dies in an actual grease fire.

by Anonymousreply 60November 15, 2023 2:47 PM

Alfa Romeo driver Valtteri Bottas is putting out a 2024 calender of pictures of his naked ass. Proceeds go to a men's health charity and prostate cancer research.

This guy cracks me up ;) I'm not into blonds, but I appreciate him literally showing his ass. You can check-out Jan, Feb, and March photos at the link.

Cheeky fellow!

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by Anonymousreply 61November 15, 2023 6:43 PM

NASCAR for Eurotrash.

by Anonymousreply 62November 15, 2023 9:29 PM

Every time I think of Las Vegas I think about the mass shooting and how much that hotel must have paid out to shut it up.

by Anonymousreply 63November 15, 2023 10:35 PM

You couldn't pay me $17,000 to go to the Strip during this mess and deal with hordes of people and hours of traffic delays. Also, my friend that works at the Wynn says this has been an inconvenience for months with the pavement torn up and traffic reduced down to a lane or two. Her commute to work is 2-3 times longer than it normally was. Also it doesn't help that they're upgrading the Tropicana exchange to get ready for the 2024 Superbowl.

And there were talks of imploding the Tropicana hotel and building a baseball stadium. I haven't heard if that's been approved or not or if they did get the Oakland A's to relocate to Vegas. But I would expect several more years of traffic disruption in the Strip area. Like I said, you couldn't pay me to go there. If I go to Vegas, I'll stay at one of the outlying places like Red Rock or Green Valley Ranch. They're still nice to stay at and you don't have the inconvenience of traffic and hordes of people.

by Anonymousreply 64November 15, 2023 10:45 PM

Carlos Sainz.

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by Anonymousreply 65November 16, 2023 12:41 AM

He looks better when he’s all suited up in his overalls.

by Anonymousreply 66November 16, 2023 1:55 AM

Omg that sounds like a fucking nightmare, R64.

I had no idea that all those construction projects were going on at the same time.

And also that Vegas is hosting the Superbowl in February 2024!

Vegas is going to be slammed with people and construction.

The rumors also seem to be true about wanting to build the baseball stadium.

After stealing the Oakland Raiders football team, Vegas now wants to steal the Oakland A's baseball team from them too!

So goodbye, Tropicana Hotel!

by Anonymousreply 67November 16, 2023 2:09 AM

Wow, what a coincidence.

Here you go, R64. Looks like that baseball stadium is going to be built after all!

[quote] MLB owners unanimously vote to approve Athletics' move to Las Vegas

The Oakland Athletics are officially relocating. The team's move to Las Vegas was voted on, and unanimously approved, by all 30 MLB owners Thursday.

The vote should end roughly a decade of speculation over the Athletics' relocation efforts. A's owner John Fisher initially explored building a new ballpark around the Oakland area in California, but those attempts fell through.

In April, Fisher turned his attention away from Oakland, purchasing a plot of land in Las Vegas where a new $1.5 billion ballpark would be constructed. That decision prompted numerous fan protests throughout the 2023 season. Athletics fans routinely wore green shirts featuring the word "SELL" in large, white letters across the chest.

Fans packed the park in June as part of a reverse protest to prove to Fisher that Oakland would support a successful team. Fans loudly chanted, "Sell the team!" during the game, a 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays.

After a back-and-forth with the Nevada legislature, Fisher reached a deal for funding in Las Vegas. With money secured, all Fisher needed was the approval of the other 29 MLB owners. That came Thursday.

The Athletics are still under lease at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in 2024. After that, the team's lease ends. The Athletics don't expect their Las Vegas ballpark to be ready until 2028, so the team may need to find a temporary place to play following the 2024 MLB season.

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by Anonymousreply 68November 16, 2023 4:15 PM

^ Ugh, just more motivation to stay away from the Vegas Strip for a couple more years. But thanks for the link R68, good to have the info that the A's are moving to Vegas.

by Anonymousreply 69November 16, 2023 4:57 PM

Las Vegas Athletics. Vegas A's. Hmm, might be time for a new name. Not sure I like it.

by Anonymousreply 70November 16, 2023 8:31 PM

[quote] Max Verstappen isn't wowed by the Las Vegas Grand Prix glamour

Max Verstappen is not looking forward to the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

The 2023 Formula 1 champion said as much Wednesday night in his pre-race media availability. Verstappen said the track down the strip was “not very interesting” while also saying that the inaugural event was “99% show and 1% sport.”

The 17-turn track includes part of Las Vegas Boulevard and is scheduled to begin at 1 a.m. ET so that it’ll be run at night in Las Vegas to show off the glitz of the Las Vegas Strip while those in Europe are waking up on Sunday morning.

When asked if he was looking forward to the race, Verstappen answered with a “no” and explained why. Via Reuters:

[quote] "I think it is 99% show, 1% sport," said Verstappen. "They (Formula One) still make money if I like it or not so it is not up to me.

[quote] "But I'm not going to fake it. I always voice my opinion in positive things, in negative things, that's just how I am.

[quote] "It's not really my thing.

[quote] "Some people like a show; I don't like it at all."

Verstappen is racing at Las Vegas to add to his record of F1 dominance in 2023. The three-time champion has already set the single-season mark for most wins and best winning percentage in a season (17 wins in 20 starts) and can put those records further out of reach over the final two races of the season.

While Verstappen was non-plussed about the Las Vegas race weekend, other drivers were much more upbeat. Lewis Hamilton said he was excited about the event.

"It's amazing to be here. I think it was something we spoke of, dreaming of having a race here, many years ago," Hamilton said at a news conference Wednesday night. "And it's very surreal to be here and it's exciting. You know, it's such an incredible place, so many lights. It's a great energy. Great buzz."

This weekend's race is not the first time F1 has raced in Las Vegas. The series held races there in 1981 and 1982 on a temporary track. The Caesars Palace Grand Prix was located where the Mirage and Forum shops are currently.

This go-round, Formula 1 and Las Vegas have a 10-year agreement.

"Every time we came here in the past, I think for everybody, was on holidays, and just to enjoy the city," Fernando Alonso said. "And now we are here for racing. And things become a little bit more professional and serious tomorrow. But, at the same time, we want to have some fun this weekend."

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by Anonymousreply 71November 16, 2023 8:33 PM

I like Max's bluntness. I heard that how a lot of Dutch people are. That true? It's funny.

by Anonymousreply 72November 16, 2023 8:52 PM

Max is an arrogant asshole.

This is what his victories and new legacy pay for. He’s the golden boy and many people follow him and as a consequence, this sport.

He’s the clear world champion right now.

Of course it’s all a fucking spectacle, it helps pay for your salary, dipshit.

The other drivers, at least outwardly, are showing excitement and enthusiasm. They know which side their bread is buttered on .

by Anonymousreply 73November 16, 2023 10:09 PM

That's the same feeling I had towards him, R73.

He sounds like an entitled, ungrateful cunt.

by Anonymousreply 74November 17, 2023 2:50 AM

[quote] Las Vegas Grand Prix: First practice cancelled after drain cover damages Carlos Sainz's car

Formula 1 canceled the first practice session for the Las Vegas Grand Prix less than 20 minutes after it began.

The session was halted after Carlos Sainz sucked up a drain cover from the track surface that jostled his car so hard that it forced him to stop. The session was red-flagged after Sainz stopped on the track and the FIA said it would not be resumed as Sainz’s car was being transported back to the garage.

The FIA later released a statement explaining it was the concrete frame around the drain cover that failed and it would have to check all other covers on the track:

[quote] "Following inspection, it was the concrete frame around a manhole cover that has failed. We now need to check all of the other manhole covers which will take some time."

It’s an inauspicious debut for the race weekend after its much-hyped arrival on the F1 calendar. The drain cover came up while Sainz was driving down Las Vegas Boulevard. The Las Vegas Strip serves as the backstretch for the track and was open to traffic on Thursday before the race weekend began.

The downforce F1 cars create can lift objects from a track surface if they are not secured. It’s not too uncommon for an incident like this to happen at a temporary street track.

The practice TV feed showed significant damage to the floor of Sainz’s car and other drivers also reportedly had issues with drain covers. Sainz had lifted off the gas for a yellow flag right before you could hear the impact on his car.

The second practice session is scheduled for 3 a.m. ET and it's currently unclear if it will be affected given that teams had so little chance to get acclimated to the track in the first practice session. Sainz's Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc posted the fastest lap just under 1:41 before the session was stopped.

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by Anonymousreply 75November 17, 2023 5:46 AM

I don’t think max is an asshole. He’s just all about racing. And he’s right- this Vegas Grand Prix is a spectacle. The track sucks, it’s all very rushed, and nothing but a cash grab (more so than most).

I appreciate someone being honest, even if it is harsh. But he can seem like a villain compared to someone like George, who is very mindful of what he says.

by Anonymousreply 76November 17, 2023 1:25 PM

That's scary at R75.

I hope there are no accidents during this race.

by Anonymousreply 77November 17, 2023 6:56 PM

This article about the race is very interesting. Some hotel rates have cratered; this guy got a room at the Flamingo during the race for $18.

It also quotes a lot of service industry members about how much of a pain in the ass it is to get to work, and how it's actually impacting them — no one wants to go to the Strip and they're losing tips.

[quote]“This race has made our lives a living hell,” said one cocktail server at the Flamingo, who said her normally 25-minute commute to work from Summerlin has been doubled and often tripled since preparations for the race began. “They started road work in April. They’re telling us they might not be completely done with the teardown until just before New Year’s Eve. And then what? Las Vegas is going to be back to normal for a few months before they get ready for the next race? Is this our new reality?”

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by Anonymousreply 78November 17, 2023 7:34 PM

[quote] They started road work in April. They’re telling us they might not be completely done with the teardown until just before New Year’s Eve. And then what? Las Vegas is going to be back to normal for a few months before they get ready for the next race?

And don't forget the Superbowl in February!

Omg, it sounds absolutely miserable.

by Anonymousreply 79November 17, 2023 7:36 PM

I imagine the locals who occasionally gamble or go out to dinner near the Strip are doing it at casinos far away from the area. Imagine fighting your way to work for fewer tips.

by Anonymousreply 80November 17, 2023 7:44 PM

I had a feeling the prices of tickets and hotels would drop closer to race time, but $18 for a room is hilarious! The people who jumped on reservations when this race was announced are probably kicking themselves. But, they’re probably rich, so maybe not.

You couldn’t pay me to go to an f1 race at Vegas. European tracks, Brazil, Australia, or Canada, sure. But not Vegas.

by Anonymousreply 81November 17, 2023 9:30 PM

First practice round didn't happen until 2:30 am because of a loose manhole (?), and they sent the fans home. They're pissed:

[quote]Las Vegas resident John Megna and his two adult children were seated in the Sphere grandstands Thursday evening, where [bold]they each paid $2,258 for three-day race tickets[/bold]. To only catch a few minutes of F1 drivers practicing before being forced to leave left a bad taste in Megna’s mouth, calling it “an absolute disaster for the fans.”

[quote]“Most fans wouldn’t leave after announcements were made, so police were used to clear the stands.”

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by Anonymousreply 82November 18, 2023 12:44 AM

Look at the sparks after Carlos hit the manhole cover.

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by Anonymousreply 83November 18, 2023 1:57 AM

No one is happier to see fools parted with their money than me. These locals must have just realized where they are living.

That being said, my sympathy is with the tens of thousands of service industry workers who have been inconvenienced and have lost tips due to the immense hubris of the casino owners who are chasing a handful of wealthy Asian gamblers. So many travelers avoided booking trips to Las Vegas this autumn because they were aware of the massive inconvenience and loss of iconic Vegas attractions like the Bellagio fountains.

This is all part of Las Vegas's perpetual existential crisis, worried that if it's not in everybody's mind constantly then the desert will come and reclaim it. It would have been cheaper to just implode the Luxor pyramid (which is probably going to happen soon anyway) and air it as a televised spectacle.

by Anonymousreply 84November 18, 2023 2:41 AM

True R84.

This F1 Race has turned out to be an unmitigated disaster.

And it also kind of proves that Vegas isn't quite ready for primetime.

If it can't successfully host an event like this, I think that other sports will take notice and say "No way Vegas."

Let's see how they host their first Superbowl in 2024.

by Anonymousreply 85November 18, 2023 2:48 AM

Even Indianapolis has hosted a fine Superbowls; it's not that hard.

The closest equivalent to the F1 fiasco - although it's relatively minor in comparison - was when Disney decided to decorate Cinderella Castle as a hot pink birthday cake for the Magic Kingdom's 25th anniversary. It was not well received. People fly from all over the world to have their picture taken in front of Cinderella Castle, adults have even been known to weep seeing it for the first time. It put a damper on many vacations and probably resulted in more than a few people holding off on travel.

But the fundamental is that you don't fuck with what people pay money for, because they will take their money someplace else like that. You can gamble almost anywhere now.

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by Anonymousreply 86November 18, 2023 3:44 AM

They should get creative and come up with something like Italy's Mille Miglia race with vintage cars. Now that attracts wealth.

by Anonymousreply 87November 18, 2023 4:12 AM

Vegas is trying to do too much, too fast. The Sphere, stadiums, multiple sports teams, super bowl, etc. The infrastructure just isn't there yet and can't keep pace. They're also talking about building a second airport on the far, far south side of Henderson somewhere on I-15. It's crazy.

by Anonymousreply 88November 18, 2023 4:37 AM

R88, Nevada is the second lowest educated state in the nation. All that money and none of it goes to education. That makes historical sense because most of the jobs are in service and those don't need higher education. As the city has grown, they need more doctors, nurses, teachers. Ambulance chasers, they have.

by Anonymousreply 89November 18, 2023 5:14 AM

[quote] F1 will not crack America with this Las Vegas grand prix clown show (Opinion)

The night of November 16, 2023 deserves a place in Formula One’s hall of infamy. It was not just that the first on-track action of a £400 million spectacle lasted all of eight minutes, when Carlos Sainz had his Ferrari chassis trashed at 200mph by a loose manhole cover. It was the fact that almost four hours later, fans were left shivering in the Nevada desert chill with nothing to watch, the scream of the engines replaced by the plaintive sound of Don’t Leave Me This Way over the public address system.

Max Verstappen is right: the Las Vegas Grand Prix, F1’s ultimate exhibition of style over substance, is a clown show. The hapless charade under the lights wrapped up a little after 4am local time, in front of bleakly empty grandstands, after second practice became – due to “logistical considerations for our fans and staff” – a fan-free affair. A few diehard insomniacs watched the action from a multi-storey car park opposite the Sphere. Long-suffering mechanics faced the prospect of still working at daybreak.

An event this breathlessly hyped could not afford to over-promise and under-deliver. Zak Brown, the McLaren chief executive, had billed it as the “largest sporting event in the world this year”. Well, for a start, it is not even the largest motor race in the United States. But before Brown’s hyperbole could be properly tested, spectators who had paid at least £400 a throw to enjoy the first session were treated to the sight of marshals inspecting manholes for an hour. By the time the whole grisly farce wound up at dawn, anyone with sense had long since repaired to the blackjack tables.

It is hard to overstate how ghastly a PR misfire this is for the sport. F1 sabotaged itself in similar style in 2005, when only six cars started in Indianapolis amid a row over tyre safety, and it took a decade for the sport’s image in the US to recover. Everything about this week in Las Vegas has been designed to purge the memories of the past, with extravagant drone shows a far cry from F1’s last visit to Sin City 41 years ago, when the circuit extended no further than the Caesar’s Palace car park. But even with a bottomless budget, the occasion has descended into familiar slapstick, with officials devoting more time to promoting a Kylie Minogue concert than to ensuring the race-worthiness of the track.

Frederic Vasseur, the Ferrari team principal, was rightly furious. “Unacceptable,” he said, aware Sainz could have been killed in sustaining such extensive and avoidable damage at such high speed.

But as he seethed over the gravity of the incident, the FIA moderator was doing his best to steer the press conference towards what truly mattered. “Let’s look bigger picture,” he chirped. “I don’t need to have a bigger picture than this one,” Vasseur shot back. “But if we could just talk about the Las Vegas Grand Prix, how big it is,” the PR man continued, blithely. “Talk to me about the activations that Ferrari are doing here.”

In other words, never mind the near-death experience. Just feel those sponsorship activations. Such are the lengths to which F1 will go to paper over the rank incompetence in its midst. Fortunately, Vasseur was having none of this desperate spin. “I’m not sure this is the right topic for me today,” he harrumphed. Instead, he left the crisis management to his Mercedes counterpart Toto Wolff, who petulantly quarrelled with journalists asking whether this latest buffoonery was a “black eye” for the sport.

It was a perfectly legitimate question, but Wolff, who had been linked with the F1 chief executive’s role until Stefano Domenicali’s appointment in 2020, erupted. “How can you even dare to talk bad about an event that sets new standards for everything?” he raged. “You’re speaking about a f---ing drain cover that has been undone. That’s nothing. Talking here about a black eye for the sport on a Thursday evening? Nobody watches that in European time anyway.”

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by Anonymousreply 90November 18, 2023 11:45 AM

Actually, people were watching, given that practice did not finish until past midday London time. And as for Wolff’s risible argument that the rogue manhole cover was a sideshow? The inadequacy of the track surface was the sole reason why F1’s debut on the Vegas Strip degenerated into such a sham. With delays mounting up, it was decided at 1.30am to send everybody home. An event asking as much £120,000 apiece for a corporate hospitality pass could not even find the staff to keep the stands open – and all this in a city where the time of day, as shown by the lack of clocks on casino floors, is meant to be an afterthought.

It was tempting to imagine Wolff’s reaction if one of his own cars had been ruined by the shoddy track. You suspect he would not have defended Las Vegas’ honour with quite the same alacrity. Then again, there is almost a three-line whip within F1 to pump up this race’s credentials for all they are worth. Few besides Verstappen speak out of turn or question all the “Vegas, baby!” fluff. But not even the most dedicated evangelists can disguise what a fiasco the past 24 hours have been.

F1 looks at itself as the slickest, smoothest sporting juggernaut on the planet. This was one day when it more closely resembled a clown cart.

by Anonymousreply 91November 18, 2023 11:45 AM

So now I'm wondering, will the show still go on tonight?

Did anyone complete a practice run?

If not, the track could still be too dangerous.

by Anonymousreply 92November 18, 2023 6:04 PM

[quote]Members of the county commission did not respond to interview requests, or declined to comment. Race organizers did not respond to a request for comment.

They know it's unpopular.

The Times interviewed a small-business restaurateur who's losing $6,000 a night because no one can access his place, as well as other service people who are paying the price for this fiasco.

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by Anonymousreply 93November 18, 2023 8:15 PM

Has the race started yet?

Where can I watch it online?

by Anonymousreply 94November 19, 2023 4:32 AM

On the F1 app. But they ask you to pay.

It hasn’t started yet.

by Anonymousreply 95November 19, 2023 5:12 AM

There’s some celebs there.

by Anonymousreply 96November 19, 2023 5:13 AM

The track looks really interesting.

There’s some turns where if you are not careful, you will meet the wall. 😳

by Anonymousreply 97November 19, 2023 5:14 AM

Plus, I’ve not seen any cameras pan to that fat, losers’ hotel.

by Anonymousreply 98November 19, 2023 5:16 AM

I live in Henderson, this debacle might as well be on Mars, but cutting down the Trees in front of the Bellagio remind me of Melania Trump cutting down the Flowering Crabs in the Kennedy rose garden.

If the Nevada Resort Association casinos can piss away half a billion on this (we remember the LV rebrand where casinos were to have a family theme park.), then Nevada can raise the Gaming Tax 1 fucking percent.

by Anonymousreply 99November 19, 2023 5:30 AM

Let’s go Charles! Anyone but max.

R97 I expect at least one person to crash into a wall. Some turns are tight. Too tight.

by Anonymousreply 100November 19, 2023 5:32 AM

Donny Osmond looks as bad as his sister with all that fucking plastic surgery.

😵‍💫🫨

by Anonymousreply 101November 19, 2023 5:47 AM

There’s your fucking Bellagio Fountains.

Such a fuss. 🙄🙄

by Anonymousreply 102November 19, 2023 5:49 AM

It's also on ESPN.

by Anonymousreply 103November 19, 2023 5:55 AM

Go Charles !!!

by Anonymousreply 104November 19, 2023 6:37 AM

Charles Leclerc is hot.

I've been watching for about 10 minutes, but I have no idea what I'm watching.

They're just going around, and around, and around.

Do sparks always come out from under the cars? It looks dangerous.

There was a small accident where car parts came flying out, but nothing major yet.

by Anonymousreply 105November 19, 2023 6:58 AM

Three more laps! Hang in there, Max!!!!

by Anonymousreply 106November 19, 2023 7:29 AM

It went better than I thought. Glad Charles managed a p2 at least. Max is like the freaking Terminator- unstoppable.

Someone stop him!

I’m glad Norris didn’t take out Piastri or Lewis when he wrecked. I have high hopes for Oscar. I’d rather Ocon got P3 instead of Checo, but oh well. Still don’t think Carlos’ 10 place grid penalty was right.

by Anonymousreply 107November 19, 2023 4:07 PM

What an exciting race! So much better than last week in Sao Paolo.

by Anonymousreply 108November 19, 2023 4:12 PM

So who won?

by Anonymousreply 109November 19, 2023 5:58 PM

Yeah. It didn’t look as cool as I thought it would.

Guess I was expecting it to look like an arcade racing game from the 80s or 90s.

The safety walls made the track pretty anonymous-looking. Could’ve been anywhere.

by Anonymousreply 110November 19, 2023 7:00 PM

Max won. He bitched about the race all week, and then he won. I love him-- he's kind of a dick and very Dutch.

by Anonymousreply 111November 19, 2023 7:06 PM

Glad it’s over. I was getting sick of all the Vegas stuff.

Next year I hope Max gets some damn competition. It’s much more fun to watch that way.

by Anonymousreply 112November 20, 2023 3:10 AM

Casinos: if you don't like it, you can suck it, peasants:

After the race at Bellagio between 1am-2am:

-About 70-80% of all tables had action

-One guy won $40,000 on high limit Top Dollar

-Of 10 craps tables on the main floor, 2 were $25 min, the rest were either $50 or $100 (all had action)

-$300 min for 3:2 BJ on main floor (4 tables, 2 vacant)

-$1,000 min 0 roulette in high limit

-$1,000 or $5,000 min high limit BJ

-One $5,000 BJ table had 3 people playing, another had a couple playing

-Two $1,000 BJ tables had 2-3 people playing

-The casino floor was busy, not necessarily crowded, but there were no shortage of people willing to gamble with the higher minimums.

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by Anonymousreply 113November 20, 2023 3:27 AM

The cost benefit analysis will never put them in the black. For the amount of business lost, as well.

Vegas used to pay insane amounts to Sinatra and Streisand because no one actually lost business from having them play their showrooms… this is different.

by Anonymousreply 114November 20, 2023 3:36 AM

Of course there’s celebrities there. Vegas loves suckers that part with their money and leave.

by Anonymousreply 115November 20, 2023 3:46 AM

There weren’t as many celebs as I thought there’d be. Miami was worse.

by Anonymousreply 116November 20, 2023 12:46 PM

Celebrities live a one hour flight from Las Vegas and go there all the time. No reason to trek out there for this.

If they want celebrities they need to do this in one if the cities they like like New Orleans.

by Anonymousreply 117November 20, 2023 2:00 PM

It's there to stay no matter what anyone thinks.

[quote]As the Strip got back to its usual bumper-to-bumper traffic Sunday, hours after cars were racing on it at 200 mph, resort executives affirmed what they had predicted all along — that [bold]Southern Nevada appears to have had the best week financially in its history[/bold], thanks to the Formula One Las Vegas Grand Prix.

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by Anonymousreply 118November 20, 2023 11:54 PM
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