Most liked posts in thread: F1 Coming to .... TX!!

Firebro17 · Jan 10, 2012

Special financing equates to subsidy. Those come via taxes. I know I don't need to go on. And, I've been to Austin. Very nice place.

Steve · Jan 19, 2012

Austin F1 track set for August completion (autosport.com)

By Jonathan Noble | Thursday, January 19th 2012, 10:19 GMT
Austin's new Formula 1 track is on course to be completed in the middle of August, AUTOSPORT can reveal, with construction efforts now fully back on course at the United States venue.

Although there was uncertainty about the future of the race last year amid a dispute over the contract - with work at the circuit being halted for several weeks - a big push by Austin's organisers ensured it remained on the final 2012 calendar issued by the FIA's World Motor Sport Council in early December.

With its deal secure, construction resumed at the track shortly afterwards and track chiefs have confirmed that the recent delays will not have any negative effect on its November 18 event taking place.

Senior representatives from the Circuit of the Americas, including president Steve Sexton, executive vice president Bruce Knox, director of racing operations Chuck Aksland, and chief marketing and sales officer Geoff Moore are in London this week for meetings with Bernie Ecclestone to update him on progress.

Moore told AUTOSPORT: "The race is on. Construction is happening six days a week. The paddock buildings are being topped off, work on the main grandstand has started and we are looking at mid-August for completion."

Pressure on the construction efforts has been eased by the fact that the race's date has been shifted from an original June date to its November slot â€“ where it will form a back-to-back with season finale Brazil.

Although a reported $25 million payment from local government, as part of a Major Event Trust Fund, will not be given to Austin officials in advance â€“ track chiefs say the venue already has advanced funding in place to ensure completion of the track.

The money will be applied for after the race, once it is clear just how much tax revenue the Austin Grand Prix has generated for the local economy.

The total cost for the Circuit of the Americas is estimated at $350 million, with track chiefs hoping to attract 120,000 spectators for the inaugural event.
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minimark · Jan 22, 2012

I share your frustration with this practice.... and once there you are treated as what you are now: a prop for the TV coverage..

rum4 · Jan 22, 2012

yea I was reading and thought neat might have to travel to TX for some racing. I think not now, wow had my hopes up

Steve · Jan 23, 2012

Though obviously a money grab tactic, I agree, this step looks to me to be about the most expensive seats and aimed specifically at those with lots of cash who would buy those expensive seats anyway.

Circuit Of The Americas Offers Personal Seat Licenses (MotorAuthority.com)

Apparently the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) fully believes it'll be holding the United States Grand Prix in November and that all construction--currently underway, or so they say--will be sufficiently completed to afford customers the opportunity to watch Formula 1 perform in the outskirts of Austin, Texas.

COTA on Saturday sent a notice of opportunities to reserve a spot on the "select seating waitlist" for luxury suites and premium grandstand seating.

In order to secure such a spot, a $100 deposit is necessary. The select seating waitlist enrollment period started on January 21 and goes until Monday March 13th for the F1 weekend, scheduled for November 16-18, 2012.

In this stage of the operation, fans are placing a deposit to purchase a personal seat license (PSL). The PSL goes on sale March 1, ranging in cost for $1,000 to $5,000 per seat, payable in two installments (if desired) with pricing varied according to the proximity to the start/finish line and nearby amenities.

A PSL enables its holder to purchase tickets for all racing events at Circuit of the Americas for the next 15 years and also grants the holder a priority position for tickets to entertainment events at the venue for the same duration.

The select seating options are for the main grandstand with about 9,000 seats in 26 rows; this grandstand has individual stadium seats, in-seat food and beverage service, direct view of three giant video screens, proximity to the F1 Fan area with its merchandise availability and priority on-site parking.

There is also select setting at turns 1, 15 and 16. Turn 1 grandstands sit atop the 133-foot elevation (which we visited in October) and has clear sight lines for most of the circuit as well as views to downtown Austin in the distance. The area between Turns 15 and 16 has the track's stadium section grandstands, located near the Grand Plaza, with the highest concentration of food, beverage and merchandise vendors.

"We are receiving great interest in tickets every day fro fans around the world," Geoff Moore, chief marketing and sales officer for the race track said. "In order to effectively manage the demand, we have created a two-stage ticketing process to help fans better understand the opportunities available. We want every fan to get the ticket that is right and affordable for them. In this stage," he noted, "we are showing off the incredible entertainment experience our main grandstand offers."

Circuit of the Americas suffered through a rather wet December but claims that there are more than 350 tradespersons on-site and working each day and that COTA's Paddock building is about to get its roofing completed. Work on the main grandstand goes vertical this week and excavation has begun on the Grand Plaza and amphitheater. Paving is intended to begin in August, scant time for a 90-day cure.
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goaljnky · Jan 23, 2012

Yes, the wife and I looked at this and laughed. Made our decision easier for us. For what they're trying to charge, I can fit in a European vacation and an F1 weekend at a GP site with a bit more history to it.

am0eba · Jan 23, 2012

I keep reading "PSL" as "PMSL", and I ain't gonna change!

COTA folks are way too greedy! I'm with Jinky: Trips to other venues are looking better and better... Eager to hear about ticket prices for the New Jersey event in '13.

_Dave_

farkus · Jan 23, 2012

Anyone that purchases a PSL at COTA without knowing what the actual ticket prices will be and without any guarantees of an F1 race past 2012 deserves to lose their $1000-$5000 investment.

Premium seats on a long straight too...here they come there they go, how exciting! opcorn:

btwdriver · Jan 23, 2012

I agree, they are out of their minds. I bought grandstand #1 seats on the front straight at Montreal for this year. They are "premium" seats and were $500 each. I live in Dallas and it is probably not going to make sense for me to watch the Austin race in person.

Nathan · Mar 26, 2012

While watching Wind Tunnel last night on Speed, the host, Dave Dispain, asked the Indy Car guru, Robin Miller, for a scoop.

Robin Miller reported that Indy Car is working with the Circuit of the Americas to bring an Indy Car race to the site for 2013.

Call me silly, but I'd love to see a combo F1 / Indy Car weekend. I know it would not happen, but golly wouldn't that just be a hoot.

Redbeard · Mar 26, 2012

COTA has got F1, Moto GP, V8 Supercars, and possibly Indy. It has the potential to become one hell of a venue.

Steve · Mar 28, 2012

IndyCar just announced a race in Houston (Reliant Park) starting in 2013. Probably means no race in Austin.

Steve · Apr 6, 2012

How To Get A Free Trackside Seat At Austinâ€™s New Formula 1 Race (Jalopnik.com)

By Raphael Orlove | Apr 6, 2012 12:30 PM

Formula One is making its triumphant return to the Unites States this November, and we know how you can get trackside at the United States Grand Prix without paying a dime. There's just one catch.

The Circuit of the Americas in Austin â€” home of the USGP â€” is taking volunteer race marshals for the big race. The whole application is online at the Circuit of the Americas website.

Here's the catch: You need experience working races since at least 2009. The application form states specifically:

RACE WORK HISTORY FOR 2009, 2010, 2011 MUST BE COMPLETED FOR APPLICATION TO BE CONSIDERED

The job starts on Tuesday, November 13th and will run at least through the race weekend. It's 226 days until the USGP, so quit your job and apply for this race marshal position already! You don't have much time!
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Steve · Apr 6, 2012

Where The Hell Is America’s Next Great Sports Venue? (Jalopnik.com)

By Matt Hardigree | Feb 9, 2012 12:00 PM

Formula One racing is a sport associated with a certain kind of wealthy international traveler — someone who charters a yacht to enjoy the Monaco Grand Prix. Boy aren't they going to be surprised later this year when they travel to the newest F1 race — in a town on the outskirts of Austin so culturally remote their slogan is "Where the hell is Elroy, Texas?"

Where the hell, indeed.

When people refer to Elroy as a dump they're not being mean. The Travis County Landfill is located on the outskirts of town and for now serves as the most distinct physical landmark on the otherwise unremarkable landscape.

There are mighty hills to the west, rolling plains to the north and piney woods to the east, but all of these distinct features appear to die in Elroy, which resides on a mostly flat and scrubby surface.

Local lore has it that first settler of the area was an officer in the army of General Santa Anna who, upon being given given the land by the General, promptly traded it for a horse and saddle so he could get the hell out of there and back to Mexico.

Many towns in Texas exist because of some sort of economic boom. Oil. Cotton. Cattle. Semiconductors. Not so with Elroy.
The population in 1947 was 125 people.
The population in 2000 was 125 people.

And yet this unlikely spot is where the Circuit of the Americas is being built. When completed it'll be America's next great track, designed as a home to international events like the Moto GP Championship and the United Stated Grand Prix.

To better understand the local community I ventured with The Austin American-Statesman's F1 Guru Dave Doolittle to Elroy's signature restaurant: Wild Bubba's Wild Game Grill. It also appears to be Elroy's only restaurant. **
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** This is just a snip, click the title to read the full article.

Minidave · Apr 6, 2012

You know what......I'm OK with this. One of the things that torques my shorts about motor sports and F1 in general is how much money it takes to be any part of it. Many F1 tracks in times past were not much to look at and located in really out of the way places - both Watkins Glen and Zandvoort come to immediate mind - and yet both the fans and the racers managed to get there and have a great time! So if the super rich yacht dwelling F1 fans turn their nose up at Elroy, good - more room for us normal folks!

What is true tho is that there have to be accomodations - even if it's not a world class moorage in a sun drenched harbor on the Mediteranean - folks gotta have a place to eat, sleep and pee. I hope they're on top of this too come November.....

Redbeard · Apr 6, 2012

Yeah, It's about 22 miles from my house in Austin. Shouldn't be too bad of a drive.

goaljnky · Apr 6, 2012

Hahaha, 22 miles. I drive 12 miles on Friday nights just to get some sushi on Friday nights.

Nathan · Apr 12, 2012

Welp, I'm priced out of all the Grandstands.

Least expensive seat in a grandstand is $375 + $1500 for a Seat License.

Redbeard · Apr 13, 2012

Any word on G/A tickets?

farkus · Apr 13, 2012

Well I'm out...if 50,000 do G/A, you better get there early for the good spots.

I've done Montreal that way and it's a stampede across the bridge when the gates open, small venue though...5am in the rain, shoulder to shoulder. umbrellas and way too many tifosi. :cornut:

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