The Beach grandstand Miami F1 seating area is actually two separate grandstands, South and North Beach, both located in slightly different positions on the Grand Prix circuit. These grandstands have views of Turn 11, 12 and 13 on the Miami International Autodrome.
This article provides a complete guide to spectating from the Beach grandstands at Miami, including images and videos of the view, seating charts, and some hints and tips when choosing your seat.
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Beach grandstand Miami F1
There are two separate Beach grandstands at the Miami F1 circuit. These are the South Beach and North Beach grandstands.
Both offer reserved seating in partially covered grandstands with bleacher style bench seats.
There is also a general admission viewing area around the Beach. See my guide to the Miami F1 campus pass for more info on general spectating areas here.
These grandstands are right next to / opposite the Hard Rock Beach Club where the Miami GP concerts will be taking place, so you’ll be able to hear those really well from either of these stands (but are unlikely to be able to see the performers first hand, but will be able to on the screens).
Where are the Miami F1 Beach grandstands?
The Miami Grand Prix Beach grandstands are located around turns 11, 12 and 13 of the Miami International Autodrome.
Beach Grandstand Tickets
Tickets for the two Beach grandstands some of the most popular at the Miami Grand Prix and often sell out very quickly on the official website.
So instead I’d recommend buying tickets through StubHub, where you might be able to find them for less than list price. Plus there are many one-day ticket options there.
I’ve bought Formula 1 tickets using StubHub a handful of times in the last 12 months, including for my trip to the Las Vegas GP last year. I’ve always had a great experience with them and will definitely be using them this season for more F1 tickets.
They also have a very robust ‘FanProtect guarantee’ which ensures your tickets and your money are always safe and protected.
Miami F1 Beach grandstand seating chart
Below is a seating chart for the North and South Miami Grand Prix Beach grandstands. The North Beach grandstand is split in to 16 different seating sections and the South Beach grandstand is split in to 8 different sections.
North Beach has rows which go from A (front) to DD (back). They go A to Z, and then AA to DD as you go up the stand. Most sections are 26 seats wide, apart from N1, N7, N10, N12 and N16 which are narrower and / or angled.
South Beach has rows which go from A at the front to II (‘eye-eye’) at the back. They go A to Z, then AA to II as you go up the stand. All sections are 26 seats wide apart from S1 and S8 which are 9 seats wide.
Seat numbering in both grandstand increases from left to right as you stand on the track and look up at the stand. Numbers start from zero at the beginning of every section.
North Beach grandstand Miami F1
Grandstand details
The North Beach grandstand is partially covered. Roughly the top 12 rows are directly under cover, so rows R and up. The rows below that aren’t covered and will be exposed to the elements all day.
All the seats are bleacher style bench seating without cupholder. There are no back rests, except the top row (row DD) which has a fence behind it you could lean on.
View for the Miami Grand Prix
In sections N1 to N8 you have a view of the apex of Turn 11. If you sit on the extreme right hand side in section N1 your view of the cars as they enter Turn 11 will be slightly restricted by the hospitality buildings directly adjacent to the stand.
From sections N9 and above you can’t see Turn 11 as the Beach Club cabanas and hospitality across the track block your view.
Sections N9 and above just have a view of the second half of Turn 12 and the run in to Turn 13. If you sit on the extreme left hand side of the stand in section N16 you can also look to your left and see the cars as they head to Turn 14.
The video below was filmed from the North Beach grandstand, section N6 row 2.
This video was filmed from further around the grandstand, somewhere around sections N13 or N14.
Giant TVs
The Hard Rock Beach Club building has three huge TVs attached to it, each of which is visible from different parts of the North Beach grandstand. These are big and close, so are pretty easy to see from all parts of the stand. They can be seen in the videos above and on the map below.
Is North Beach grandstand a good place to sit?
I would personally only sit in the North Beach grandstand for the Miami F1 if I could get seats in sections N5, N6 or N7. From these areas you have good views of Turn 11 where you’re likely to see the most action, and you can also see the cars as they head around the second part of Turn 12.
Sitting in the higher sections, N9 and upwards, means you can only really see Turn 12 and 13 which normally has very little overtaking as the cars often run in single file around this section. But sit in the highest rows and you can just about catch a glimpse of Turn 11 too, like in the Reddit image below.
The grandstand is surrounded by food and drinks vendors who are part of The Beach area on the inside of the circuit, plus the East Campus is only a short walk away.
South Beach grandstand Miami F1
Grandstand details
The South Beach Grandstand is partially covered. Roughly the top 15 rows are directly under cover and likely to be in shade, so rows S and up. The rest are uncovered and likely to exposed to the elements all day.
All seats in the South Beach grandstand are bleacher style bench seating, with no cupholders or seat backs. Again the only ones with a seat back are those in the top row, row II (‘eye-eye’), where the fencing at the back of the stand can be used as a back rest.
View for the Miami Grand Prix
From pretty much every section of the South Beach grandstand your view is predominantly of Turn 11 and the start of Turn 12. You will lose sight of the cars as they disappear behind the Hard Rock Beach Club area, so you can’t see anything more than the entry to 12.
If you are sat towards the right hand end of the stand (sections S1, S2 and S3) you can also sneak a glimpse of the cars as they exit Turn 13 and head to Turn 14.
If you sit in anything lower than row U you’ll be looking through the catch fencing as the cars enter Turn 11.
The video below shows the view from the South Beach grandstand. This is filmed from section S5, somewhere around row DD.
This video was filmed from the South Beach section S2, somewhere around rows U to to Y.
Giant TVs
There are two giant TV screens visible from the South Beach grandstand, shown on the map below.
One is on the other side of the circuit to the left of the stand. The further left in the stand you sit (higher section numbers) the closer and easier this is to see. From the right hand side of the stand (sections S1, S2 and S3) this becomes pretty hard to see.
The second giant TV is on the Hard Rock Beach Club structure to the right of the stand, on the inside of Turn 12. It’s a larger screen that’s visible from all sections of the stand.
However, if you sit in the highest couple of rows of the South Beach grandstand then you probably won’t be able to see it as the roof over the stand will just block your view. See the first video above for an example of this.
Is South Beach grandstand a good place to sit?
The South Beach grandstand has the best views of either of the two Beach grandstands of the cars as they enter Turn 11.
Being at the end of a long straight and a one of the Miami GP DRS zones where the cars reach over 205mph / 330kph, the entry to Turn 11 is one of the best overtaking spots on the circuit after the cars have reached their highest speed on the whole Miami Grand Prix layout.
Last year there were a number of passing moves here, so sitting in the South Beach grandstand means you’re definitely going to see some close action.
The Beach area is just a few paces to the right of the stand and has a huge variety of food and drink vendors and concessions.
Plus there’s a pedestrian bridge directly to the left of the stand, so you have fairly easy access to the East Campus on the inside of the circuit where there’s more food, drink and entertainment options only a short walk away.
Other Miami F1 grandstands
Click the links below to read our viewing and seat guides for all of the other grandstands at the Miami GP:
Nearest entrance and parking
The nearest spectator entrance gate to the Beach grandstands is gate 14B which is directly behind the North Beach grandstand.
See our article on Miami F1 parking for more info on the nearest parking lots to this entrance gate.
