[ILUVSAT]

Austin did not really get "played" (to the fullest extent). They actually called Amazon's bluff - by not offering incentives. They were not stupid enough to "pay" for HQ2. But, they (and everyone else) provided them with valuable intel on their cities.

Amazon already has a significant presence in Austin. Furthermore, Northern Virginia (DC), NYC (and the State of NY) and Nashville (and the State of Tenn) wooed Amazon with billions in incentive dollars. Dallas, Austin and the State of Texas were not going to play that game.

Amazon knew where it was going all along. This whole thing was a charade. Amazon received intel on over 230 cities across the U.S. and Canada - worth billions; for free - by bidding HQ2 out to the masses.

Everyone got played to some extent!