Formula E Eyes Return To LA, With Dodger Stadium One Possible Track Location

Formula E, the all-electric global racing series is looking to race in Los Angeles. The possible track locations all center on sports venues to race around.

When Formula E left the Brooklyn U.S. stop, it was due to construction in the area. When it was announced that Portland would be the lone event in the U.S. in 2023, it was a significant shift from where the series had raced prior. While the Portland event was a rousing success – a sellout with considerable buzz given it was in a city steeped in carbon neutrality initiatives – it was different because the race was on a permanent road course, not a large market. Formula E returns to Portland for 2024 but is an open question after that.

The buzz in the paddock for the Portland race was about returning to southern California, namely Los Angeles. Formula E raced on a modified version of the IndyCar Long Beach circuit in 2015 and 2016. Since then, the series has looked for an opening at some point to make their return.

Multiple sources that spoke on condition of anonymity said that several sports locations in the Los Angeles area were being eyed where the circuit would run around it. Discussions range from SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, and Dodger Stadium, the latter of which created the most buzz.

In a media scrum, new Formula E CEO Jeff Dodds mentioned the iconic MLB ballpark as a possible location.

“LA is one of the locations we are looking at, another large US city, around the Dodgers Stadium – around, inside, who knows!” said Dodds. “But we are excited about the conversations we are having with them.”

If Dodger Stadium was selected, it would provide a location ostensibly in downtown Los Angeles with incredible visuals. As the Portland event showed, Formula E has the ability to transform locations with branding and infrastructure for media and hospitality. Given street courses are preferred, a circuit in the vast parking lots at Dodger Stadium would look slick and professional.

While Formula E’s agreement with Portland is through 2024, it’s possible that the race could remain on the schedule. The series released the 2024 schedule with several dates still open making a second Formula E U.S. race a possibility.

“We have three TBCs on the calendar, and we’re in lots of different conversations with different cities,” Dodds said at the Portland race. “I wouldn’t rule out one of those being in North America alongside Portland.”