MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Drive through Gate 9, over the Turn 6 bridge, through a short fan zone and you’ll encounter a vibrant, eye-catching aqua blue. The surface is smooth and serene. Four yachts are moored there, all surrounded by a pretty marina.
A picturesque environment. The kind that makes you feel like you’re in a tropical setting by an ocean – except for one notable thing.
Even though the yachts are real, the water they “float” on is fake. The plywood is laid then covered in blue vinyl, with waves and ripples designed into the covering to create the impression that the yachts are floating. So the Miami Grand Prix appears to have a waterfront backdrop despite being located in the Miami Gardens of the landlocked Hard Rock Stadium, which is also home to the NFL’s Miami Dolphins.
“We joke about it a lot internally,” said Tyler Epp, president of the Miami Grand Prix, according to Business Insider. “We never took ourselves too seriously with the marina. We are not sitting on the edge of the Pacific Ocean or the Red Sea like at the Formula 1 race in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. But Miami is all about boats, beauty, culture – and that’s the credit of the team, who wanted to create an opportunity for people to experience this in a unique way.
Dolphins owner Stephen Ross and club CEO Tom Garfinkel originally envisioned the Miami Grand Prix in downtown Miami. Had this plan come to fruition, the picturesque waterfront setting, indelibly linked to Miami, would have occurred naturally. However, the reluctance of municipal authorities caused these plans to fail, requiring a plan B.
And just like that, the idea of running along the ocean disappeared with the move to Hard Rock Stadium. After all, it’s difficult to showcase the ocean when the Atlantic is several kilometers away.
“We’ve been very committed, from the beginning, to the Miami brand,” Miami Grand Prix Chairman Tyler Epp said in 2023. “We’re going to create Miami as the lens through which people watch the race. “
So, the idea was born to create the type of visual associated with South Florida by creating a replica marina, complete with a yacht club. During the third edition of the Miami Grand Prix, the scenery of turns 6, 7 and 8 became an identifying symbol linked to the race.
Organizers admit the decor is ironic. Since its public unveiling in 2022, the marina has been the subject of many jokes and memes on social media. But they, and those participating in the festivities at the marina, will tell you it’s no big deal. What has been created is a fun atmosphere that achieves the goal of giving the circuit as authentic a “Miami vibe” as possible despite the obvious restrictions.
“It’s as unique a viewing experience as possible,” said Harris Glaser, president of Midnight Express Powerboats, which purchased two of the four available slips. “And honestly, when you’re at the top and you look down, it looks like water. The aesthetics of the dock also help.
As Glaser speaks, qualifying for Saturday’s sprint race is underway, with cars buzzing every few seconds. Not that too many people seem to pay much attention to it. The action on the track is secondary – at best.
Instead, most seem to be enjoying the festivities on this sunny afternoon.
Across the “water,” a DJ plays a steady stream of hip hop, from 50 Cent (“Just a Little Bit”) to Snoop Dogg (“Drop It Like It’s Hot”) to Lil Jon and The East Side. Boyz (“Get Low”) among the rotation. The lively music forces some participants to dance on the boat decks. And if you want an adult beverage, there’s no shortage of options as each of the two Midnight Express yachts offers an assortment of bottles of hard liquor and beer on ice.
I spent some time by the water at the marina. pic.twitter.com/HDKGh5883V
– Jordan Bianchi (@Jordan_Bianchi) May 4, 2024
Even though it’s a facsimile, the vibe still has a very Miami feel – exactly what the race organizers pitched to Hasler when they approached him about the opportunity years ago. is over three years old.
With Miami-based Midnight Express and its powerboats attracting a consumer similar to one who would likely find the Miami Grand Prix Marina environment appealing, Hessler thought it made sense. He quickly signed up, becoming the first to do so. He politely declined what he paid to have two of his boats brought into the marina to (primarily) serve as suites for him and his guests, but the fact that he did this every three years indicates that He found the investment to be worth it.
“It’s expensive,” Hessler said. “Very expensive.”
While “water” may be fake, these boats certainly aren’t. Both Midnight Express boats are active vessels, each equipped with five 450-horsepower engines. On Tuesday, they will be transported from the circuit to a dock in the Atlantic, 10 miles away.
No, the Miami Grand Prix doesn’t adjoin a real body of water as originally planned, but race organizers got creative to achieve their goal. And the finished product largely fulfills its function.
“It’s the Monaco experience in Miami,” Glaser said. “It’s pretty incredible to achieve something like that.”
Madeline Coleman contributed to this story.
Top photo: Jordan Bianchi/Athleticism