Call Steve Ely the “king of openings in Las Vegas.” This man has spent more than two decades working in the food and beverage industry in Vegas, running various resort restaurants and programs as well as helping to open and run immersive hot spots like Play Playground at Luxor, Flight Club at The Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian Resort, and now F1 Arcade Vegas at The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace, where he serves as the general manager.

He joined the company as it broke ground last summer. “This really is one of those places where luxury and service combine,” Ely says. “We provide a high-energy, immersive environment for everybody—kids, families and adults alike.” Based on the popularity of F1 racing, you get to enjoy multiple levels of cutting-edge F1 racing simulators plus elevated food and beverage, all set within a sleek environment.

“F1 Arcade is really the pinnacle of my career,” Ely says. “It brings it all together under one roof for me. … As the GM, I help control the vibe and make sure everyone is having a great time. The favorite part of my job is seeing the smiles and excitement when people come. When you can create a memory for someone, especially when it’s unexpected, when they’re blown away by the venue and we’re able to provide a level of service they weren’t expecting, so they walk away saying, ‘This was an amazing experience, an amazing venue.’ That’s super exciting for me—I find joy in that.”

When not on the clock, Ely works his little farm filled with chickens, ducks and dogs, as well as being the king of DIY projects for his home.

Photo by: Christopher DeVargas

Libation: My Night In Vegas

Think of this signature cocktail as a mix of two popular ones—a Penicillin meets a New York sour. It’s slightly sweet and slightly spicy and is well-balanced with rye, ginger, yuzu, celery bitters and a sweet-and-smoky blueberry peat foam.

Benefit: F1 Arcade Vegas’ signature cocktails are created by LP O’Brien, winner of the first season of Netflix’s Drink Masters.

The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace. f1arcade.com

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