Atlantic City could eventually become home to one of the most ambitious motorsports and entertainment developments on the East Coast.

A massive $4 billion redevelopment proposed for Bader Field could bring a motorsports racetrack, luxury residences, hotels, restaurants, retail businesses and year-round entertainment to one of Atlantic City’s largest and most valuable undeveloped properties.

The project, proposed by DEEM Enterprises, would transform approximately 143 acres at the former Bader Field municipal airport. The property has remained largely underused since the airport closed, despite its waterfront location and proximity to the Atlantic City Expressway, casinos and Boardwalk.

At the center of the proposed redevelopment is a 2.4-mile motorsports road course. If approved and completed, the track could host racing events, automotive exhibitions, driving experiences and other motorsports-related attractions.

That would give Atlantic City a major attraction unlike anything currently available in the resort. While the city remains best known for its casinos, beaches and Boardwalk, a motorsports destination could bring an entirely different group of visitors to the region.

The larger redevelopment plan extends well beyond racing. Proposals have included luxury residential development, hotel accommodations, restaurants, retail businesses, automotive attractions, entertainment venues, public spaces, special events and community amenities.

Supporters believe the project could create construction and permanent jobs, generate additional tax revenue and encourage new private investment. It could also help Atlantic City attract visitors during the fall, winter and spring instead of depending so heavily on the summer tourism season.

The proposal has made meaningful progress, but it is not yet a completed deal.

Atlantic City designated DEEM Enterprises as the conditional redeveloper of Bader Field in 2025. The Casino Reinvestment Development Authority also determined that the redevelopment plan was consistent with Atlantic City’s Tourism District Master Plan.

Those actions represent important steps in the development process, but they do not mean construction is ready to begin. Major government, environmental, land-use, financial and redevelopment approvals still must be secured before the project can move forward.

A project of this size will also require extensive infrastructure planning. Officials and developers will have to address transportation, traffic, utilities, environmental conditions, public access and the project’s overall effect on nearby neighborhoods and businesses.

The proposed track has generated excitement and comparisons to major international racing facilities. However, the project should not be confused with a confirmed Formula 1 event.

Formula 1 has not announced an Atlantic City Grand Prix, and no official Formula 1 race has been awarded to the city. The Bader Field proposal includes a motorsports road course, but claims that Formula 1 is definitely coming to Atlantic City go beyond what has been publicly confirmed.

Even without Formula 1, the project could still become an important part of Atlantic City’s future.

Motorsports events, car shows, manufacturer experiences, racing festivals and luxury automotive gatherings could attract visitors from Philadelphia, New York, Washington and other major East Coast markets. Hotels, restaurants and casinos could benefit from additional guests, while local businesses could gain new customers.

The proposal also fits into a broader effort to diversify Atlantic City’s economy beyond casino gaming. The city’s beaches and Boardwalk remain powerful tourism assets, but new entertainment, residential and commercial development could create more reasons for people to visit—and potentially live in Atlantic City—throughout the year.

The Bader Field project remains a proposal, and many important decisions still lie ahead. Questions involving financing, approvals, construction timelines and community benefits must be resolved.

Still, the city’s selection of DEEM as conditional redeveloper and the project’s consistency with the Tourism District Master Plan show that the proposal is moving through the process.

Atlantic City does not have a confirmed racetrack yet, but the possibility is becoming more serious. If the $4 billion vision becomes reality, Bader Field could be transformed from a dormant former airport into a major motorsports, residential and entertainment destination—and a new symbol of Atlantic City’s continued resurgence.