The Bellagio Fountain Club is one of the most luxurious pop-up stadium experiences in sports.
MGM Resorts
Perched over the Bellagio’s famed fountains, the Bellagio Fountain Club returns for the Las Vegas Grand Prix F1 race this weekend, crafting one of the most luxurious sports experiences in the pop-up style that is Las Vegas F1.
The club hovers over the fountains with panoramic views feet away from the longest straightaway on the Vegas track, allowing visitors to “dive into two worlds at once, the beauty of the fountains on one side and the thrill of the race on the other,” Ryan Abboushi, MGM Resorts International president of entertainment, tells me. “It’s something you can experience only in Las Vegas, and only with MGM Resorts.”
A three-day ticket to the club starts at $7,750 and includes private indoor and rooftop hospitality decks, nightlife activations and a fountain of dining experiences. “Without a doubt, Bellagio Fountain Club has redefined what luxury hospitality looks like at a global sporting event,” Abboushi says. “Our guests not only have access to the best race views right in the middle of the longest straightaway, but they also enjoy a highly curated experience filled with world-class cuisine, design and elegance for which Bellagio is known for.”
An aerial view from the Bellagio Fountain Club during the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
MGM Resorts
The chef program for this year brings together television stars and award-winners, including Wolfgang Puck, Jose Andres, David Chang, Masaharu Morimoto, Tom Colicchio, Antonia Lofasso, Brooke Williams and more. “Great food brings people together and dining is the heart of what makes the Bellagio Fountain Club so special,” Abboushi says. “It elevates our race week experience and we’re extremely fortunate to have such a talented group of award-winning chefs throughout our portfolio who have come together to deliver such a wide variety of culinary artistry all in one place.”
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When creating a roster of chefs, Abboushi says they want to partner with those who bring a distinct culinary identity to create diversity across the three days. “Our lineup ranges from Michelin stars to industry legends,” he says, “all of whom share our passion for creating unforgettable guest experiences, and you see that in the artistry of the cuisine they prepare throughout the week’s festivities.”
During the race weekend, each chef takes the spotlight, serving signature dishes. Culinary experiences continue with pop-ups, such as from The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills.
Dominick DiBartolomeo, owner of The Cheese Store, tells me that he’ll bring a fully immersive experience focused on curated cheeses and charcuterie from around the world. As a shop that’s been on site at the Super Bowl and major soccer championships, he says nothing compares to F1 because of the range of the audience. “The global reach is unlike anything else,” he says. “You have fans from every corner of the world, every culture represented and an energy that’s completely unique.”
Fountain-side seating alongside the Las Vegas Grand Prix in the Bellagio Fountain Club.
MGM Resorts
To match that, The Cheese Store will curate cheeses and accompaniments with a worldwide reach. “We’re bringing cheeses that we exclusively import and that most people have never had the chance to try in the U.S.,” DiBartolomeo says. “Each day, we’re featuring a one-of-a-kind experience.” One example features a Dalmore whisky paired with a 24-month aged Parmigiano Reggiano made from differing breeds of cow. “It’s the kind of experience you won’t find anywhere else,” DiBartolomeo says, “and I think people are really going to love it.”
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New this year at the club is a dedicated boat dock for the 33-foot mini-yacht floating in the fountains. The yacht carries guests from the Carbone Riviera restaurant to the club. “It brings an entirely new layer of glamor to the experience,” Abboushi says, “and elevates the sense of luxury from the moment guests arrive at the dock.”
Building the club requires coordination and planning at a “level of complexity” that takes months to create. In true Las Vegas Grand Prix style, the Bellagio Fountain Club offers a luxurious stadium-style pop-up that’s a feast for guests.
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