When Formula 1 returned to Las Vegas, the vision for the event went far beyond the track. This was a citywide spectacle, built to reflect the sport’s unmatched technological precision while also competing with the constant glow of Las Vegas itself, where neon is the baseline.

Leading the creative vision was DX7, with PRG brought on as a key technical partner to help turn that vision into reality. Together, the teams delivered a massive site-wide installation spanning eight distinct zones, transforming the Las Vegas Strip into a synchronized, high-impact environment built for fans, broadcast and social storytelling alike.

Designing for Impact at Every Gate

From the earliest stages, DX7 CEO and designer Tom Sutherland knew the experience had to hit guests immediately.

“From the second guests walk through the gates, it had to be larger than life,” Sutherland said. “It was essential to me that the moment they arrived, they had a high-impact, Instagrammable experience that set this event apart from anything else.”

That philosophy led to the creation of oversized entrance arches, clad in lighting, video and scenic elements. These structures weren’t just markers — they were immersive thresholds, signaling that guests were stepping into a new world: a neon, Tron-inspired interpretation of Formula 1.

Throughout each zone, color-coded circular light towers, sculptural elements and evolving video content reinforced that atmosphere, changing throughout the night to keep the environment dynamic and visually rich.

F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix 2025: By the Numbers

• 8 activation zones spanning the 3.8-mile Las Vegas Strip circuit: East Harmon, West Harmon, Grand Prix Plaza, Turn Club, South Koval, North Koval/Flamingo, Sphere, and F1 Academy
• 4,122 lighting fixtures deployed across the F1 campus, representing the largest single-event installation of IP-rated fixtures globally
• 11.02 miles of fiber installed to support a fully networked, citywide lighting and video system
• 700 universes and 159,180 MA3 parameters managed across the site
• 9 grandMA3 consoles and 13 Network Processing Units (NPUs) powering centralized control
• 73 network switches and 60 nodes distributed across zones to maintain synchronization and redundancy
• 500+ OpticalCon fiber runs, alongside more than 4,000 DMX cables, 2,000+ power cables, 1,500+ SOCA multipins, and 1,000+ CPC multi-channel runs
• Dozens of architecturally integrated structures, including circles, entrance arches, towers, tunnels, pedestrian bridges, stair truss, hospitality builds, and grid lighting
• Over 1,000 linear feet of truss and hundreds of 3,500-lb concrete ballasts
• ~100 PRG specialists on site, including production leadership and technical crews, operating across a month-long build, show, and load-out window

One City, One Show

What truly set F1 Las Vegas apart was not just the scale of individual zones, but the way they were designed to function as a single, cohesive system.

“In the past, zones might feel disconnected,” Sutherland explained. “This time, I wanted the zones to communicate — so that from a helicopter shot, you could see the entire city come alive at once.”

That goal required an unprecedented level of technical coordination. Working closely with PRG, DX7 helped conceptualize a centralized control system capable of activating lighting and video across the entire site simultaneously — a system powerful enough to trigger citywide moments at the push of a single button.

The result was what both teams describe as the largest temporary lighting and video network ever built, spanning miles of fiber and thousands of fixtures across Las Vegas.

Photo Credit: Tom Sutherland

Building the Network Behind the Spectacle

Executing that vision meant months of planning, engineering and problem-solving.

“We spent a long time figuring out how to build a network that could take on a city like Las Vegas,” said Sutherland. “There are only a handful of companies in the world that could deliver something of this scale, and PRG was an essential partner in making it happen.”

The system had to be robust, flexible, and resilient — particularly given November weather conditions. PRG invested heavily in IP-rated equipment and infrastructure designed to withstand rain, wind, and temperature swings, ensuring performance reliability across all eight zones.

Behind the scenes, logistics were just as complex. Equipment had to be delivered, staged, and deployed across millions of square feet, with crews working in parallel across zones and supported by dedicated back-of-house teams coordinating spares, replacements, and rapid-response support.

Bold Design Meets Real-World Constraints

For Sutherland, the challenge was not just imagining something bold, but ensuring it could actually be built.

“Everything had to be overscale,” he said. “Las Vegas is larger than life — the buildings, the lights, the expectations. We needed to design something that could compete with that.”

That meant integrating scenic elements alongside lighting and video — including rotating, neon-styled racecar sculptures suspended above guests — all while meeting strict safety, weather, and engineering requirements. It was a process that required constant collaboration between DX7’s creative team, PRG’s technical experts, and the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix organizers.

“There were moments where the plans looked mad on paper,” Sutherland admitted. “But seeing it now, fully built, is incredibly humbling.”

A New Benchmark for Sports Entertainment

For both DX7 and PRG, F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix 2025 represents a milestone — not just in scale, but in what’s possible when design, technology, and collaboration align.

“This is certainly the biggest thing we’ve ever done,” said Sutherland. “Formula 1 doesn’t know the word ‘smaller,’ and being trusted to help shape the fan experience at this level is something we’re incredibly grateful for.”

By transforming the city itself into a unified stage, the teams behind F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix didn’t just create a race weekend — they created a new benchmark for immersive, large-scale sports entertainment.

Credits

Designed & Produced By: Tom Sutherland; Harry Forster; James Coldicott
Associate Designers: Hunter Selby; Erik Alkire; Benedict Conran; Aidan Callanan; Dionte Mercado; Anthony Bishop
Production Managers: Chris Roseli; Chris Lopez; Alen Sisul
Programmers: Will Chandler; Ryan Tanker; Andrew Law; Grey Nicholson; Chris Fernandez
PRG Project Manager: Thomas Walls
PRG Rigging Technical Project Manager: Darren Seagren
PRG Lighting Technical Project Manager: Luke Pritchard
PRG Video Technical Project Manager: Joseph Arreola; Eric Geiger
Chief Innovation Officer: Chris Conti
Technical Designer: Benjamin Van Brande
PRG Account Executives: Jeffrey Gainor; Anthony Ciampa
Production Manager: JT McDonald
Production Assistant: Emma Perch
Logistics Manager: Bryan Barry
Lead Rigger: Zac Cromwell
Lead Lighting: Yoshiki Shonohara
Lead Video: Mason Braislin
Lead Networking: Ronald Beal
Scenic Project Manager (Neon Cars): John Silva
Scenic Project Manager (Site-Wide Scenic): Alicia Sapienza