Atlantic City GP? New F1 Atlantic City Track Gets Approval

Atlantic City, New Jersey, home to many dead American Dreams, is set to see a new Formula 1-style racetrack, along with a housing and shopping complex, in a $2.7 billion project that has been approved by the city council. The site of a former airport, Bader Field, will be transformed into the new F1 Atlantic City track, with landfilling required in parts of the back bay area.

The developer behind the project, DEEM Enterprises LLC, has ambitious plans for the area, including the construction of a 2.5-mile track, over 1,000 units of housing, 234,000 square feet of retail and commercial space, and several parking garages. The project is expected to take between six to nine years to complete.

Despite concerns from some residents, the developer has assured locals that the F1 Atlantic City track’s racing will be mainly conducted by electric cars (so it should be called the Atlantic City ePrix?), minimizing noise and environmental concerns. Bader Field has already been a venue for some motorsports events in the past, including the Global Rallycross Championship in 2016 and autocross events hosted by the area’s SCCA chapter.

However, the success of the project remains to be seen. New Jersey is known for ambitious but ultimately unsuccessful developments, with the “American Dream” mall taking over a decade to complete and costing $5 billion. It has been struggling to stay afloat since its partial completion just before the pandemic.

Nonetheless, the approval of the F1 Atlantic City track project has sparked excitement among racing enthusiasts and locals alike, as it promises to bring jobs, economic growth, and entertainment to the area.  We’re game.