F1 ATX 2016 COTA any deals?

FCA has a good package.

Since I quit working for COTA I just check Craigslist every day for the following day's tickets!

Scored some incredible seats for last years monsoon...

 

Honestly, unless you want a good seat, wait till the last minute. Even if you want a good seat, wait till the last minute. I agree with Tex, CL, scalpers, and other specials will be offered from time to time.

 

Even Ferrari of San Antone does not have pricing up yet.

In the cota thread there's a pair of Main GS PSLs for $3K.
You would own them forever!

 

A few of us are planning on attending the 2016 COTA F1 race in October and are now trying to figure out what admission tickets to buy. We've never been to COTA.

Is it best to buy grand stand seats? Is a general admission ticket better? etc.?

I've been to many events at the Laguna Seca track here in California and love plain general admission tickets because you can just wander around with plenty of good viewing access. In fact, turns such as the corkscrew don't even have grandstand seating available. Does the same apply to COTA or should we buy grandstand seats?

 

Skip grandstand. You will not see much unless you want to see the pre race circus. Pit stops happen during sips of beer. You'll miss them completely.

T15, T1, T12, and T4 are my favorites in that order. Unless you spring for T13 suites/packages which have good views depending on where you sit. But in T13 skybox you only see T13 and T14. Not much else.


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Excellent insights. Thank you. It sounds like you've been there a few times!

I've been trying to find viewing area maps. Just to clarify, are you saying the T15, T1, T12 etc viewing areas are accessable with just "General Admission" (I believe COTA calls it a "Grounds Pass") or are you recommending that we should reserve some sort of bleacher seats at one of those turns?

This is going to be fun.

 

Nope. Those require tickets.

Been there far too many times. Usually out there a weekend or two every month. Kinda spoiled.


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Yes he is referring to Bleacher Tickets, in those Turns...

The cool part of T15 bleachers, is there are wheelchair spots at the TOP of the structure, (the ramp goes up the rear of it) so from the top, you see down on the 14,15,16 turns, you can see the staright between 11 and 12, and you look BACK to the T1,2,3 complex, and you see the rear of the F1 Paddock building.

Other than T1 VIP it may be the best overall vantage point, except for (lack of) a Timing Tower and a Big Screen.

With any bleacher seat, you can wander with General Admission areas, but on Race Day, those hill sides fill very quickly into packed areas, think edge to edge blankets!

The only "tip" I ever accepted as a Wayfinder was placing Grandma and her two daughters, clueless, about one hour before the race. No room left on the T1 hillside, we walked around to the less known hill below T2 VIP, and placed them there!

$10, well earned!

 

Even with GA tickets don't forget some Parking arrangement.

The Shuttle is a long wait......

 

I've sat at Turns 12, 15, 8 (?), and Main Grandstand in order by years. (Turn 12 was bought through a package deal through FCA.)

The best view of the cars was from Turn 15; with Turn 12 a close runner-up. The Main Grandstand was super cool for the pre and post race activities. I took binoculars and watching the pits was neat, but not as eventful as I had thought it would be. (Everything happens too fast to get a good look at anything...)

This year I'm thinking GA or Turn 11 -- probably GA as I go for the experience; not really to sit in one spot and watch the cars zoom by. I always end up watching the race again at home.

 

Or until COTA's first bankruptcy... whichever comes first.

 

I think we're going to go with General Admission tickets.

I am a compulsive wanderer, but it sounds like it may be more difficult than I thought to get good places to sit for a few minutes.

Tickets go on sale tomorrow. Does GA sell out? Does it sell out quickly?

 

From what I saw last year, General Admission was still readily available by October. The Grand Stands were pretty much gone, though.

I would consider getting a hotel deal in early as well. I was offered GA tickets after Lone Star Le Mans, but had zero luck with hotels to make any use of buying them. My hotel for Lone Star weekend had offered to book me a room for the race, but wanted an absurd amount on top of the 3 days I had just paid.