South Point Hotel, Casino and Spa to Host the 2017 Challengers Cup Finals, World’s Largest Semi-Professional Drone Racing Championship Jan. 19 – 20, 2018

LAS VEGAS – The International Drone Racing Association (IDRA), in partnership with the South Point Hotel, Casino and Spa, will hold its semi-professional world championship, 2017 Challengers Cup Finals, in Exhibit Hall C and D Friday, Jan. 19 and Saturday, Jan. 20. Tickets are on sale now for $20 and available through the South Point Box Office and online.

After completing a 12-race series, which visited cities including, but not limited, Buenos Aires, Istanbul, and San Diego, the race will feature the Top 32 Ranked Pilots in the world, competing head-to-head to win the World Championship and a total purse of $50,000.  Pilots will include No. 1 Ranked JaeHong Lee from South Korea and No. 2 ranked Santiago Nardin from Argentina.

“Bringing the 2017 Challengers Cup Finals to the South Point Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas is an incredible opportunity for IDRA,” said Justin Haggerty, the founder and CEO of IDRA. “Las Vegas is one of the leading cities for extravagant venues and world class sporting events, which fits perfectly with the 2017 Challengers Cup Finals as the Top 32 ranked pilots in the world compete for the world championship and a $50,000 purse. The South Point Hotel & Casino gives IDRA a platform to raise the sport’s spectator experience and professionalism to a higher level.”

For the first-time ever, IDRA will have the opportunity to build a world class race, focused on the spectator experience, in the entertainment capital of the world, which is renowned for colossal sporting events.

“We are always looking for new opportunities and events to introduce to Las Vegas,” said Ryan Growney, general manager of South Point Hotel, Casino and Spa. “Over the last year, drone racing has grown significantly, and we are excited to bring this sporting event to our property and introduce it to the city on a larger scale than ever before.”

The 2017 Challengers Cup Series is a semi-professional series of 12 international events. The series began in Buenos Aires, Argentina and will conclude in Manila, Philippines. Pilots compete for a position in the Challengers Cup Finals, which is determined by the Top 32 Pilot Rankings on the basis of total points earned during the series. These Top 32 ranked pilots will race head-to-head for the world championship, bringing valuable recognition to self and country.

UAS/Drone racing is a worldwide sport that utilizes Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and Virtual Reality (VR) technology to allow a new breed of innovators to compete on the international stage. There are roughly 100 drone competitions in the U.S. annually and 200 worldwide competitions, highlighted by races like 2016 World Drone Prix in Dubai and 2017 Dover Internationals at the Dover International Speedway with NASCAR.

For tickets or more information about race weekend, please visit South Point Box office, South Point website or call 866.796.7111.