ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the impacts of hosting the mega-event on urban locations, an important theme in mega-event literature. It explains the relationship between tourism and branding oriented urban development policy and mega-events. The chapter shows how Formula 1 (F1) might affect a city or region. It highlights the importance of F1 among the major events held in Istanbul and reveals the spatial impact of the chosen location for the F1 track, on the region. The chapter focuses on the investment in the F1 Istanbul Park Track, its impacts upon the surrounding area and the spatial transformations that have taken place. F1, as a mega infrastructure investment that requires a large and fixed facility, affects local and regional space. In the literature, effects of mega-events on urban location are categorized as direct and indirect or measurable and non-measurable effects. The F1 Istanbul example reveals that mega-events must be planned strategically.
