Just a few minutes ago the Statesman came out with a construction report from COTA:...
Just a few minutes ago the Statesman came out with a construction report from COTA: http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/racing/entries/2012/05/17/construction_continues_at_circ.html Thankfully, it looks like both the T16 and T3 ped bridges are underway.
My question is, why don't the folks who keep complaining about a $500 Super 8 motel just take 2 minutes to look up hotel rates on the CoTA site? I mean, there are a lot of hotels booked up, but there are still several options available. And you don't even have to pay up front. Here's one in the Arboretum for $99 per night. You don't even need to pay in advance. It's got a kitchenette and is across the street from a Whole Foods: http://www.reservetravel.com/v6/search/longLat?_s=_pDqtABXzsazKdEE&_k=L544soc9&siteId=24978 The Arboretum is only 10-15 minutes from downtown. And downtown is where you will want to go, because that will be where all the F1 fans will be -- partying and taking the shuttle to/from the track. Also these are a little farther out at Lakeline, but there is a Metrorail station there, and the line runs directly to -- you guessed it -- downtown. Right in front of the convention center/Hilton. http://www.reservetravel.com/v6/search/longLat?_s=_pDqtABXzsazKdEE&_k=4pR-Yd5T&siteId=24978 http://www.capmetro.org/metrorail/stations.asp
of little use to people as it has never run on a sunday, and I don't think they're going to offer weekend service for the race.... newest aerial! Image Unavailable, Please Login
Saturdays are always on the schedule, but you are right, no word yet if Cap Metro will run the rail on Sunday. Still, Lakeline is a much better deal at $179 than a Super 8 for $500. But the Arboretum Extended Stay seems like the best deal right now at $99 http://www.reservetravel.com/v6/search/longLat?_s=c2Xr0nxS8cz0ENlb&_k=SqwiA3Dy&siteId=24978. A lot closer to downtown, NXNW pub and whole foods within walking distance, bus routes downtown, etc.
I will not be going this year, whether there is a race or not, merely out of principal at this point. The city of Austin and COTA should be ashamed of themselves for the way this whole situation has been handled. $500/night at a freakin' LaQuinta? That kind of highway robbery is what sealed the deal for me. $300 for GA ticket? Get outta here. The view will be much nicer from my couch for that kind of money. It really is a shame, but this is kind of crap that the casual race fan in America will get completely turned off by. F1 is already viewed as a bunch of rich snobs racing as it is. This will only go to solidify the point.
Why don't you stay at one of the nicer, closer hotels that can be had for under $200, and buy one of CoTA's $150-200 GA tickets? Or is Internet searching something you also don't do based on principle? Or maybe you just really, really want to stay at a LaQuinta? Hmmmm...
I've had reservations for six months in multiple locations from downtown to Bastrop to San Marcos , hedging my bets , none anywhere near under $200. Hope to be canceling all but one! Maybe all of them if this doesn't happen, or if I find that hookemspecial....
Thanks for the condescending post. Based on what info did you assume that I didnt do any searching for hotels? I'm also curious where I can buy a GA ticket for $150-200 right now? Very curious actually.
+1 As far as I can see, GA tickets are simply not available yet at any price (?) Further, when I took their survey, it appeared that even GA ranged between $200 & $600, which doesn't sound very "general" to me - I'm gonna get herded to my own chunk of grass and then restricted as to where I can go. Also, it still seems I've got to buy 3 day tickets - Fine for me, but not what most families will want. Short question; Why does COTA believe their tickets are worth 2-3 times more than *any* other ticket? Even the "great" tracks (Spa, Monza, Silverstone, Monaco) are cheaper! WTF? And lets not even start on the PSL's! Cheers, Ian
I'm willing to shell out money for 3 day tickets as long as the price is under $300 anything above that and I'll just find a bar/pub to go watch the race at instead. Fortunately I have places I can stay in Austin without having to pay $500 for a LaQuinta, but I'm not going to just throw money in the garbage on the actual race tickets.
OK, so I took Hookem's advice and went through the "COTA" hotel site. I did fine the aforementioned $99 a night offering. Curious, I went to the Extended Stay web site and they show NO rooms available that weekend!?!? I went ahead and booked the weekend in this hotel and received a confirmation. The COTA site said there were 9 rooms left at that price so there are still chances for others. Area looks OK and there are some "nicer" properties nearby so I know I won't have to sleep with a 9mm under my pillow. If/when ticket$ are announced I will make my final decision on going or not. I have until 2 weeks before the event to cancel the reservation with no penalties. Thanks for the hook-up Hookem! Curtis PS - the La Quinta was only $389/night on that site
Is the purpose of the three day ticket a bargaining chip with the State so they can make the case that "attendees" are going to be here for three days and spending $$$ versus one/two days and spending $$. Just a thought. Of course it might just be an attempt to not only get you to pay more up front, but once you did, you end up going to the track and spending another $300.00 on food/drinks/junk on Friday just because you bought the ticket already
Some of you may remember Bruce Knox's soundbite from Barcelona during the SPEED pre-race show. Well, Autosport just came out with a pay article which quotes him extensively from that weekend. http://plus.autosport.com/premium/feature/4454/austin-still-battling-for-its-grand-prix/ Bolded portions are, um, "debatable": Ahead of what schedule? The most recently revised one? Laying a stretch of asphalt around turn 18 to near turn 19 does not constitute laying the first layer of three to be laid. When it goes all the way around the track, then the first layer is laid. As for the dirt work on the track, anyone who's been following the photos knows it's not done. Unless something has changed very recently, it's not 10,000. COTA themselves have consistently said the main GS (in its most recent iteration) would hold about 8500-9000 people. It's about 14 miles (on 812 & SH130) from COTA to IH35. Uh...what? What economic development in that area can currently be attributed to the circuit? No. There are two lanes each way. Not 3 or 4. By improving "roads" does he mean extending Kellam Rd to Pearce Lane? That's all they're doing, and that hasn't started yet. The county widened 812 at the entry and says they'll restripe it later. They're also resurfacing McAngus, because it's bumpy as hell. The two access routes that most need widening, Elroy & 812, won't be getting it.
Received Email from AGs office regarding a request for opinion on this: https://www.oag.state.tx.us/opinions/opinions/50abbott/rq/2011/pdf/rq1019ga.pdf Summary: Before undertaking any of the responsibilities or duties set forth in section 5A of article 5190.14 of the Texas Revised Civil Statutes regarding the expenditure of funds from the Major Events Trust Fund, the Comptroller of Public Accounts is required to follow the precise procedures described in section 5A. Whether she in fact did so requires a resolution of facts not amenable to the opinion process. Question for the pro-bono lawyers out there: Is this pretty much a non-issue?
Re the Autosport article: a sell-out of 120,000? What happened to the 300,000 visitors touted less than a year ago when they were seeking buy-in from the Austin City Council? And about the "economic development" in the area related to the track - all I see is some nascent land speculation. (Largest business in Elroy is A&R Demolition.) While the track may be close to downtown Austin and ABAI, it's those last couple of miles to the track that will be horrendously congested. The level of congestion depends, of course, on final ticket pricing! Jean
I'm no lawyer, but I used to draft legislation up at the Legislature. Just promising METF money does not constitute a violation. Combs backed off her earlier position when Patterson started beating her over the head with it. Combs made two errors in her letter promising the funds: (1.) Any funds would be paid not to Formula 1, but to the Local Organizing Committee that holds the event. There also needs to be a local political subdivision that has agreed to sponsor the event, and at the time of her letter, the matter had not been put before the Austin City Council or Travis County. (2.) Payment of METF funds is contingent on the tax revenue generated by the event over and above the revenues that would be realized absent the event. That is determined after the event and when taxes have been reported/paid to the state, not based on estimates of future tax receipts from an event that may or may not happen. In other words, award of METF funds is performance-based. Jean
No. The best use of my funds would be to plan on attending an Australian GP, where my $189 4-day GA ticket gets me all the F1 sessions, 4 Aussie V8 Supercar races and associated sessions, 3 Formula Ford races and their other sessions, 3 Porsche Carrera Challenge races and their other sessions, + other racing adding up to at least 36 hot-lapping sessions over the 4 days.
Oh stop brining up what COTA cannot provide lol Im sure the track will be great but F1 fans in the US deserve anything but a group like COTA taking them for a ride on it.!!
There is no doubt in my mind they used attendance numbers that are very likely unattainable.If the capacity is 120k for the facility or something close, they will take the Fri attendance, Sat attendance and Sunday attendance and add the 3 numbers to get a overall attendance total, so they could max at 360k. All the tracks in the US use that formula, it is missing leading when you break it down but the standard. If I was a betting man today, I would project attendance to be a weekend total of 100,000 and that is being generous.. As I can tell from the COTA website the only partner they have is Pirelli as a promotional partner. When you look at the work the Indy Motor Speedway did with their F1 events, they sold out the first year, great sponsors,etc. With years of promoting the 500 and the Brickyard, they were pros at this. You see none of that from COTA. It will be interesting to see if Patron steps in as a partner, still waiting for a Red Bull announcement of some sort at least they take over an event and own it and promote it.. Same with a Mexican sponsor.. Haven't heard boo on support races either, again another sign of not understanding the motorsports world or having no one with motorsports experience in board.. That should be done already, at least with any support series that have some professionalism and reach. Anyway, very interesting to watch unfold..
Sounds like a solid plan! You'll fly 20+ hrs across the globe and stand in a GA section on a street circuit with a limited view, in order to save $100 (if even that much) on your ticket and see some more support races. Makes total sense. Personally, I'd prefer to catch the USGP race right in our backyard, on a brand spanking new $300M, first-of-its-kind in the USA circuit... specifically designed with some of the best GA sight lines on any track. Plus party and catch the music and festival in downtown Austin before and after the races. If the 3 day ticket ends up costing more than $189, so what? It's worth it. I'll catch up on the Porsche Carrera Challenge on the DVR.
