Start your (virtual) engines … F1 Arcade opening Center City location this week
Formula fans in Philly can now try to channel their inner Max Versappen or Lewis Hamilton with the new F Arcade that opens Thursday in Center City The -square-foot space the biggest of the group s five F Arcades in the world has full racing simulators to recreate the adrenaline on the tarmac as well as food beverages and entertainment to recreate the glitz and glamor of the Paddock Club on Grand Prix day A private room at the F Arcade in Center City Philadelphia can host Kimberly Paynter WHYY Despite having races in venues around the world not several people indeed get the chance to visit a race in their lifetime So F Arcade wants its spaces to bring as much of the sights sounds on and off the track and tastes to the general as manageable We tried to understand what the magic of that Formula race is and what the experience is and bring that into this concept revealed Jon Gardner president of global rise for F Arcade A racing-inspired cocktail at the F Arcade in Center City Philadelphia Kimberly Paynter WHYY F has gone from a niche watch for motorsport enthusiasts to a global media juggernaut since its inaugural season in The Netflix documentary Formula Drive to Survive now in its seventh season highlighted the personalities around the cars and supercharged interest in the U S where NASCAR and IndyCar had long dominated attention In current times the likes of Hamilton and Versappen are recognizable enough faces that they ll be featuring alongside Brad Pitt in an upcoming F film directed by Top Gun Maverick director Joseph Kosinski F Arcade will be hosting live watch parties for this season s actual races as well as to preview the movie Drive to Survive and the new Netflix series focused on female drivers F The Academy which starts streaming in the present day The simulators can look daunting with two wrap-around screens a race seat that shifts and vibrates as you race and a steering wheel loaded with more buttons than you could be expected to memorize Gardner noted that no skill is required to hop into the driver s seat though That s not to say that seasoned experts can t push their limits on them A -year-old can indeed jump in these and have an amazing time as well as even experts and racers can come in and have a good time as well he stated It can be as intense or as less intense as you want it to be We ve got different levels and skill sets Gardner recalled one particular -year-old at the Boston arcade shortly after it opened It was great the ecstasy the -year-old had and the frustration that the dad had that his -year-old authentically beat him at something he announced They both were competing and it was competitive but they both had a really great time They were chortling about it obviously after So to see that was really exciting F Arcade president John Gardner at the new racing simulator and bar in Center City Philadelphia Kimberly Paynter WHYY Billy Penn tried out the Bahrain International Circuit on the second-easiest difficulty Casual We finished second-to-last the last-place car never left the starting grid and though we avoided any spinouts or major meetings with the walls it s safe to say no one s going to call us offering a racing contract soon But man was there a strong urge to try and beat that first effort as the adrenaline coursed through our body There s no rubber banding the difficulty adjustment that racing games like Mario Kart offer when you re falling behind in F Arcade s simulator Just like in real life if you give virtual Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc a chance to get away they will vanish off into the distance and there will be no blue shell to save you If you bargain paint with a specific AI racer Gardner says they might hold a grudge in future races against the Arcade Hub account you need to participate Future plans may involve leaderboards and interactive tweaks to gameplay Gardner hinted The arcade can hold up to people and has rooms and spaces for private events All the decorations are an homage to motorsports visually appealing to casuals with subtle winks for devoted F fans The chandeliers are recreations of race track maps and giant racetrack lights greet you as you enter There s a row of famous racers helmets and the bar is accented with the curb stripes from tracks One wall has famous quotes from radio communications during races while others have the heart telemetry of various drivers during a race mapped out in neon Even the restrooms have tire marks on the walls and ceiling possibly highlighting the factoid that F cars can create enough downforce to theoretically be capable of driving upside down Treadmarks are on the walls and ceilings of the F Arcade in Center City Philadelphia Kimberly Paynter WHYY The food and beverage options seek to match the race day thrill as well The champagne and cocktail menu was curated with the help of mixologist Lauren LP O Brien the winner of Netflix s Drink Masters reality competition and offers themed alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks One comes with an inflatable flamingo to pay tribute to the tradition of the winning driver at the Monaco Grand Prix jumping into the sea to celebrate a mastery So if you want to test your skill and reflexes on the racetracks of Shanghai Mexico City and S o Paolo or the street courses of Monaco Las Vegas and Singapore without the peril of wrecking a multi-million dollar race car or going to prison you can book particular time through F Arcade s website Doors open Thursday and the first people in on opening day will get a founder s card that gives them off food and beverage through the summer The post Start your virtual engines F Arcade opening Center City location this week appeared first on Billy Penn at WHYY
