{"id":248378,"date":"2025-10-29T18:01:10","date_gmt":"2025-10-29T18:01:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/248378\/"},"modified":"2025-10-29T18:01:10","modified_gmt":"2025-10-29T18:01:10","slug":"f1-partnership-is-disneys-first-major-vegas-gamble","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/248378\/","title":{"rendered":"F1 Partnership is Disney’s First Major Vegas Gamble"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n Posted on: October 29, 2025, 12:57h.\u00a0\n <\/p>\n

\n Last updated on: October 29, 2025, 12:57h.\n <\/p>\n

\"Avatar <\/p>\n

The Walt Disney Company\u2019s first major venture into Las Vegas will occur next month during the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix. The Mouse House has partnered with Formula 1 to launch \u201cFuel the Magic,\u201d a multi-day entertainment campaign.<\/p>\n

\"\"AI renders a photo of Mickey Mouse fighting for points in the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix. (Image: GROK)<\/p>\n

As part of the collaboration, Disney\u2019s Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Goofy, and Pluto characters will all make appearances throughout race week. These will culminate on race day, November 22, with a performance of the national anthem by the Disneyland Band followed by \u201cMaestro Mickey\u201d starring in a Disney Live Entertainment production staged in front of the Bellagio fountains.<\/p>\n

Additionally, selected main grandstand ticket holders will enjoy a pit-lane walk with the characters ahead of the qualifying race.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow fans can look forward to seeing Mickey & Friends in the high-speed world of Formula 1 through experiences, content, and merchandise around the globe,\u201d Disney said in a press release on Wednesday, which coincided with this Disney-posted Instagram video<\/a> of F1 racecars using skid marks to draw Mickey\u2019s head and mouse ears.<\/p>\n

The \u201cFuel the Magic\u201d collaboration is offering fans two race-viewing packages in the East Harmon Zone by Virgin Hotels Las Vegas. Starting at $2,250, the main grandstand and Skybox<\/a> packages both include a three-day ticket with an assigned seat, the pit-lane walk and a view of the Heineken Stage.<\/p>\n

Radical Course Change<\/p>\n

Despite the occasional myth<\/a> about Disney opening a resort on the Strip, the company hasn\u2019t dipped much more than a toe into Sin City with its annual \u201cDisney on Ice\u201d stops at the Thomas & Mack Center and an immersive installation of Disney animation that ran at The Shops at Crystals 2023 until this past March.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t see the Walt Disney Company \u2026 getting involved in the business of gambling, in effect, by facilitating gambling in any way,\u201d Disney CEO Bob Iger told\u00a0CNBC\u00a0in February 2019.<\/p>\n

Traditionally, Disney:<\/p>\n

Banned casinos from its popular cruise ships, defying the industry trend
\nRefused to renew its licensing agreements for \u201cStar Wars\u201d slot machines following its acquisition of Lucasfilm in 2012, and did the same with Marvel-themed slots after acquiring that company in 2009
\nLobbied against the expansion of gambling anywhere near Walt Disney World
\nPlayed a significant role in quashing 21st Century Fox\u2019s 2019 plans to build a theme park into the Resorts World Genting casino resort in Malaysia.<\/p>\n

But companies that want to remain successful in a changing world learn to break with tradition. This started slowly, in 2023, when Disney\u2019s\u00a0ESPN\u00a0subsidiary launched ESPN BET.<\/p>\n

Now, apparently, all bets about Disney avoiding Las Vegas presence are off.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n