Sexton Out as CEO of COTA.

COTA press release:

http://motorsportstalk.nbcsports.com/2013/11/19/cota-announces-ceo-change-jason-dial-takes-over-from-steve-sexton/

Rats from a sinking ship? Or COTA realizing that things aren't working out?

 

What are the issues? Just poor ticket sales? I'd imagine they're losing money like crazy? Wasn't it all drug-cartel money from Mexico that got the stadium finished in the first place?

 

So neither of you guys believe the press release?

 

I don't know what to believe. I know that on the ground at the circuit everything was well organized and arranged. But as a traveller prior to the event it was like pulling hens teeth to get info that was needed to plan our trip.

I would not be surprised to hear that the press release is accurate, nor would I be surprised to hear that he's being forces out (which they've NEVER done to anyone before). One thing is for certain I don't take the release at face value.

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It seems like it is always tough to get information before the event. The attendance for the races I have been to (Grand Am, Aussie V8 Supercars, and WEC/ALMS) has been pretty abysmal IMO.

 

A terrific event but poor communications before it.

Management of ticket bundling (3 day passes vs individual days), sending out of tickets, comms about tickets were handled atrociously.
Parking prices are also ridiculous if you can buy a $20 spot from the farmer across the entrance

 

I thought the event was great, and by my own judgement the crowds were as big if not bigger then last year. but as others have stated, the website provided little information (though I did find the information I needed on other websites). I also had issues with purchasing tickets through their site. I do not think its a sinking ship and see no reason why it would be.

 

first time I've heard that one...

 

3-day F1 attendance this year was over 250,000 (on par with, or better than, last year).

The F1 event is the "big attraction", but of course the track profits very little (if at all) during F1. Don't know that they're "losing money" on other events, but they certainly need successful year-round events to return profits to investors, and loans to creditors.

No.

 

just from watching on TV, I think COTA's second year crowd was significantly better than Indy's second year crowd in '01.

I saw a few blank areas in the stands, mostly in T9-11; but it still looked like a great crowd.

 

113k people on race day was the number I heard.

 

I spent Friday night, and then Sunday watching the race on TV with a crowd of Austinites who had no idea what F1 was.

On Friday Night, I told my Austinite people that I had serious doubts F1 would return in 2014 to Austin. I was very very skeptical based on reading the news ahead of time.

I only attended Quali on Saturday. After having been at the track and seen the crowds, I retracted my prediction that F1 would go away.

I saw very very few empty seats, and experienced the hospitality of the very friendly ushers, that's why I changed my mind.

My only complaint was that it took me 15 minutes buy a hat, with no line in front of me. Because they were using a cellular credit card machine and the cell networks were overwhelmed. Oh yeah, that's my other complaint, ****ty cell service (sprint)

 

I don't care what you say. Having Vettel run away with the season and winning weeks in advance of the event is going to hurt sales.

To me, it turned into an exhibition event with no real meaning.

 

Upon reflection, this was true for me too. Calls and text worked ok. Data did not. And the COTA merch trailers credit card machines definitely were slow. 15 minutes no exaggeration.

 

Yes but I think vast majority already had their tickets secured.

I did not. I gambled that cheap tix would be available on the day of the event. It paid off for me personally. Maybe not if Championship had been on the line in Austin.

 

I was told they credit cards were using wifi and sharing their bandwidth with the free wifi. Maybe next year they'll dedicate bandwidth just for credit card transactions only.

 

I always was at indy 2000 they had a great date . September in Indiana is tops and its a car town help that it was the first it got to see micheal . 2001 the crowd was down and some cowards killed innocent people just a few weeks before and that killed the race most people don't want to think about outsiders coming to town hard core schumi fans didn't stop going . If Mexico not going to support the race in Austin it will fail Austin is the most left city in Texas by along way and few people from Dallas Fort Worth are going to go in football season . Only way it may work is first race of the year maybe second I was always at indy the track sucked but the sounds of v10 going down the main straight was the second best sound a man could here the first is woman having a good time

 

Amen, brother.

 

Had no cell service at the track on a T-Mobile prepaid sim card. Full bars but couldn't get anything out or in.

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hey, just like AT&T pretty much everywhere, all the time!

 

It's the "Vettel Effect", no doubt about it.

 

Vettel is sponsored by AT&T LOL