MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – A group of Miami Gardens residents filed a lawsuit against the Formula One Group and the Hard Rock Stadium, which recently hosted Super Bowl LIV, in an effort to stop the 2021 Miami Grand Prix, which organizers claim could have a $400 million impact annually.
Representatives of the plaintiffs, who include members of three homeowners associations and former Miami-Dade Commissioner Betty Ferguson, said on Thursday that the F1 race will be “unreasonably” loud and will violate noise ordinances in the county and the city.
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Sam Dubbin, a Coral Gables attorney who represents the plaintiffs, released a statement saying he could not find an expert in the acoustical field “who would say that decibel levels between 70 and 90 are reasonable" for a residential neighborhood.
“It is important for us to let our young people know that we are standing up, not just for us, but for them," Ferguson said in a statement, adding that “the power of the people is greater than the people in power."
According to The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile, or FIA, which regulates F1 races, the volume of the V6 source is 134 decibels, the V8 source is 145 decibels and the 2014 Grand Prix held at the Circuit of the Americas track averaged at 93.8 decibels.
Commissioner Barbara Jordan and Rev. Carl Johnson, of the 93rd Street Community Baptist Church, said they support the plaintiffs’ effort.
“I do have a problem with Formula One coming to Miami Gardens if the residents oppose it,” Johnson said.
Jordan said holding the F1 race in the area is an “environmental injustice." F1 original plans to hold the race in the PortMiami and downtown Miami area met heavy opposition.
Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez, who is running for Congress in November, tweeted Wednesday the Miami Dolphins commissioned an acoustical impact study measuring “maximum sound levels" inside the nearest homes during race times.
Miami Dolphins CEO Tom Garfinkel has said he wants the event to benefit everyone in the region, including Miami Gardens residents, and the private investment on a $40 million race track has the support of F1 fans, elected officials and the local tourism industry.
Statement from Miami Dolphins and Hard Rock Stadium Vice Chairman and CEO @TomGarfinkel. pic.twitter.com/jCKspSvY4z
— F1 Miami Grand Prix (@f1miami) February 20, 2020
(1/2) To further address the concerns of Miami Gardens residents, the Dolphins commissioned an acoustical impact study that focused on the @F1 track that would go on the Hard Rock Stadium property and measured maximum sound levels inside the nearest homes during race times.
— Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez (@MayorGimenez) February 19, 2020
(2/2) The maximum sound levels inside the nearest homes would be below 76 decibels. This is well below the level of other events held at the stadium such as concerts – including the recent SuperFest Miami – with the implementation of recommended sound mitigation strategies.
— Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez (@MayorGimenez) February 19, 2020