The Midwest’s first Formula One arcade will open on Aug. 14 in River North, bringing an immersive racing experience to Chicago, the company announced Tuesday.The F1 Arcade at 1 W. Grand Ave. will have a 1,500-square-foot rooftop terrace, racing simulators and Chicago-inspired drinks and shared dis hes, as well as globally-inspired menu items that include Spicy Ahi Tuna Tartare and Wagyu Beef Sliders.It will be the ninth F1 Arcade location and seventh in the U.S., since the concept's 2022 debut in London. Other U.S. locations have recently opened in Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Denver, Las Vegas and Atlanta. Rendering of the rooftop terrace at F1 ArcadeProvided by F1 Arcade The U.K.-based experiential hospitality brand F1 Arcade holds an exclusive Formula One license. Its U.S. headquarters are in River North, a few blocks from its new arcade. Adam Breeden, co-founder of several entertainment venues such as Puttshack and Flight Club, founded F1 Arcade in 2021.“Chicago was always at the top of our list,” Jon Gardner, president of global development at F1 Arcade, said. “I think also the racing scene has gotten really interesting in Chicago as of late, with the NASCAR racing and street racing and things of that nature.”As of August 2025, Formula One boasts an international fanbase of 827 million, making it the world’s most popular annual sporting series, according to Formula One. The sport has also seen increased popularity in the U.S. in recent years.Gardner said it took a couple years to plan and find the Chicago location. The company was looking for a standalone site that would entice tourists and locals, and it found the building at 1 W. Grand Ave., the former home of Rock Bottom Brewery.“I think we're far enough away from the [Magnificent] Mile that it's accessible to the locals and the businesses,” he said. “But [we’re] also having some of that traffic over from the Mag Mile.”The arcade will be one of many new experiential venues around Mag Mile, such as The Hand The Eye.Gardner said the arcade is meant to be a social experience that’s “approachable for everyone,” not just F1 fans. Rendering of the gaming area at F1 ArcadeProvided by F1 Arcade “About 1% of people get to actually experience an F1 race [in person] in their lifetime. So if we can bring that experience and what an F1 driver gets to experience in that seat and that adrenaline, … I think that's that whole thing we want to recreate as much as possible,” he said.There will be 61 full-motion racing simulators with multiple game modes, allowing visitors to race individually or in teams. There will also be private event spaces. Children aged seven and older are able to visit the arcade, but it becomes a 21 and over venue after 7 p.m. Prices will start at $19. Reservations are open for the racing simulator experience, and the first 1,000 guests will be able to reserve a seat for $15 during its opening month, according to a news release.“We try to keep this as approachable for everybody as much as possible,” Gardner said. “You go to some racing simulator places and it's like $100 an hour. That's not what we're after. This is a social experience that we want everyone to be able to be a part of.”The arcade will also host Formula One watch parties, with the goal of making guests feel like they're having a party, complete with DJs. And the watch parties will be available for those early morning races, Gardner said. The company had tested hosting watch parties at its other locations and found people were willing to stop in at 7 a.m. and earlier.“We have found that the fanbase is amazing, and they really will get up and want to experience it,” he said. ...read more read less