Devon HenryThe next massive sports event in The Valley could take place right on the streets of Phoenix.
Officials from Formula E, an electric vehicle racing series governed by FIA, scouted The Valley this week alongside Valley sports, business and tourism leaders. Local organizers are exploring a bid to bring the FIA Formula E World Championship circuit race to Arizona as early as 2025.
“This event gives us the opportunity to showcase the state as a clean tech hub for the country, even the world,” Formula E Phoenix Host Committee Member, Brad Wright told Sports360AZ. “Formula E and their mission of accelerating electric vehicle use and clean technology perfectly aligns with what we do as a community.”
Papaya Perfection 🧡@McLarenFE have released their livery ahead of Season 10! ⚡️
— Formula E (@FIAFormulaE) October 17, 2023
The event looks to be so much more than just a race, though. Valley leaders envision the opportunity to showcase Phoenix on the global stage as a ‘clean tech’ city. Alongside the action on the track, the goal is to also host a world-class cleantech conference with fan events throughout the race week. The event hopes to attract global thought leaders and innovators on electric vehicles, clean technology, and sustainability.
“The clean tech focus that is here in Phoenix is really strong,” Formula E Vice President of Host Cities, Oli McCrudden told Sports360AZ. “To develop that side of this part of the world is something that is very close to our heart as an electric racing world championship.”
Organizers spent three days scoping the valley to find the best location for a possible street course approximately 2 miles in length. They also plan for the venue to be capable of hosting 30,000 to 50,000 thousand attendees with enough room for a fan village with activation from Formula E’s international partners as well as local companies.
Leaders see a natural fit between Formula E, which pens themselves as, ‘the world’s greenest sport,’ and the City of Phoenix.
“We have to go to places where the mission is going to be achieved,” McCrudden said. “Our mission is to increase the uptake of EVs globally because we want to fight that clean-air problem that exists in urban areas and elsewhere.”
Recovery in R13 ➡️ R14
After a difficult start to the weekend, @sambirdofficial did a great job to turn it around with a podium finish 👏@Hankook_Sport #RomeEPrix pic.twitter.com/jT6KshEvjo
— Formula E (@FIAFormulaE) July 19, 2023
Organizers hope to add Phoenix as a location for Formula E with a date as early as January 2025 to showcase the city alongside current Formula E global destinations such as Monaco, Rome, London, Mexico City, Berlin, Tokyo, Shanghai, and São Paulo among others.
“I’m very pleased to say it’s very encouraging so far,” McCrudden said. “It has been eye-opening for us. I have very positive vibes we’re going to go away [from this site visit] happy.”
Formula E began racing in 2014 and currently competes in 10 different countries but will only hold two events in North America in 2024 when the series visits Mexico City and Portland.
Avondale has hosted NASCAR Championship Weekend since 2020 and Chandler has been a popular destination for NHRA drag racing since 1985. Formula E’s entrance into Arizona would mark the first international racing series to hit the streets of Phoenix since Formula 1’s street races from 1989 to 1991.
