The Miami Grand Prix has cleared a major hurdle in its bid to join the Formula 1 calendar following a key vote this week.
Miami commissioners were voting on a piece of legislation which would require the event to be approved by both the City of Miami Gardens and the county, and if passed, would have likely dealt a major blow.
However the vote was tied 6-6, meaning the legislation wasn’t approved and therefore the event doesn’t require approval from either and plans for a Grand Prix can continue.
“We are happy that the commissioners reaffirmed again today that the Hard Rock Stadium entertainment complex is a regional facility that exists to benefit all of Miami-Dade County,” Miami Dolphins CEO Tom Garfinkel said.
“We are glad to put this long-delayed vote behind us so we can begin to make the multi-million dollar private investment required to bring a race here, and have positive and productive conversations with local leadership about the many benefits that a global event of this nature brings.”
Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez assured locals that the new track layout, which cuts out a public road, will ensure the race is wholly contained within the stadium grounds, and a report into noise levels proved it wouldn’t impact the local area.
“To further address the concerns of Miami Gardens residents, the Dolphins commissioned an acoustical impact study that focused on the Formula 1 track that would go on the Hard Rock Stadium property and measured maximum sound levels inside the nearest homes during race times,” said Gimenez.
“The maximum sound levels inside the nearest homes would be below 76 decibels. This is well below the level of other events held at the stadium such as concerts – including the recent SuperFest Miami – with the implementation of recommended sound mitigation strategies.”