Circuit of the Americas Development Updates

[The ATX]

Originally Posted by JoninATX

Disappointed to say the least, hopefully they can work something out between now and next year so we can have at least a couple races. I was preparing to by tickets for the Grand AM race in January, but it looks like I won't be able to.

This has nothing to do with the races. The Grand AM race is 03/01 and 03/02.

[turn1]

Here's COTA's latest statement (massive backpedal) regarding their most recent PR disaster. Looks like in the face of the massive public outcry and threats of litigation over travel arrangements that cannot be refunded, etc, they decided to honor only the 4 paid events:

http://www.circuitoftheamericas.com/media-center/

Circuit of The Americas’ provides updated information on pending track rentals

Circuit of The Americas™ today announced that it would honor track rentals with four organizations that had booked track days and paid rental fees in advance. “We are moving ahead with these agreements and contacting clients so they can share this information with their members and customers,” Circuit spokesperson Julie Loignon said. “The executed rental agreements will limit the number of vehicles we have on track at any given time to ensure a fun and safe experience for participants, including any amateur drivers who will be participating. We regret the confusion that was caused as we worked through these issues with our clients and look forward to providing a one-of-a-kind experience to auto enthusiasts coming to Circuit of The Americas through our track rental program.”

As for COTA's event costs, several race and track day organizers have chimed in saying that the clubs almost always bear these costs (insurance, staffing, etc).

Regardless of the partial reversal, this incident is being viewed by most involved as a red flag for dealing with COTA. Buyer beware.

[KevinFromTexas]

A full breakdown of the numbers, it also includes totals from top sellers in other Central Texas towns/cities.

http://www.statesman.com/news/business/states-top-alcohol-seller-in-november-f1-track/nTpkd/

Posted: 3:46 p.m. Monday, Jan. 7, 2013
State’s top alcohol seller in November: F1 track

By Gary Dinges
American-Statesman Staff

The Circuit of the Americas, home to Austin’s inaugural Formula One race, sold $2.8 million worth of beer, wine and mixed drinks in November – more than any other venue in the state, according to new figures from the Texas comptroller’s office.

Add in tabs at bars, restaurants and hotels citywide, and Austin alcohol sales for the month totaled $48.4 million – a 23 percent increase from November 2011, an American-Statesman analysis found.

The W Hotel Austin, 200 Lavaca St., was the city’s No. 2 seller for the month. Bar receipts totaled an estimated $613,054 – 35 percent higher than October 2012 sales.

[priller]

Well, they certainly had enough liquor vendors there. Not nearly enough food! You'd basically have to stand in line at least 30-45 minutes to get food anywhere. Fortunately someone in our group brought a big bag of nuts. So we lived on nuts and alcohol all day.

[The ATX]

Originally Posted by priller

Well, they certainly had enough liquor vendors there. Not nearly enough food! You'd basically have to stand in line at least 30-45 minutes to get food anywhere. Fortunately someone in our group brought a big bag of nuts. So we lived on nuts and alcohol all day.

At least you saved money.

[KevinFromTexas]

http://www.statesman.com/news/news/state...nerate-25-million-in-economic-imp/nTqkC/

Posted: 10:00 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2013
STATE EVENT INCENTIVES
MotoGP race to generate $25 million in economic impact, study says

By Dave Doolittle
American-Statesman Staff

A MotoGP race scheduled for April 19-21 at Circuit of the Americas is expected to generate about $25 million for the Austin area, according to a study submitted to the state as part of an application for incentives.

At each location, the three-day event might draw 130,000 to 140,000 fans, with upwards of 60,000 for a Sunday race, officials have said.

The Austin study says that about 86,000 people will attend race day April 21, a Sunday, with a total attendance over three days of 161,000. Those figures are based on attendance at Laguna Seca and Indianapolis for the past three years and a “novelty effect” for a first-year event, the study says.

[KevinFromTexas]

http://www.statesman.com/news/news/local/officials-austin-circuit-has-qualifying-bid-for-su/nTzHK/

Posted: 12:19 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 17, 2013
Officials: Austin circuit has qualifying bid for summer X Games

By Dave Doolittle
American-Statesman Staff

Austin’s Circuit of the Americas has a qualified bid to host ESPN’s summer X Games for three years beginning in 2014, ESPN announced today.

More than 20 North American cities and entities have qualified bids for the summer and winter games, including Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth and the Houston Sports Authority, ESPN said. Charlotte Motor Speedway in North Carolina also has a bid.

Official proposals from the qualified entities are due to ESPN by April 2, the network said.

[KevinFromTexas]

http://www.statesman.com/news/sports/mot...s-pump-up-area-options-but-not-au/nWZMw/

Posted: 5:25 p.m. Monday, Feb. 25, 2013
F1 travel agencies pump up area options, but not Austin hotels

By John Maher
American-Statesman Staff

Some international tour operators who specialize in Formula One race packages are hyping the 2013 United States Grand Prix and the vibrant Texas city of — San Antonio.

Others are looking to book blocks of hotel rooms in San Marcos — “San Marvelous,” as one tour website referred to it. And a few tour operators have gone so far as not to offer an Austin hotel option for the Nov. 17 race, blaming the high prices Austin hotels charged last year for the city’s inaugural F1 Grand Prix week.

“For some reason the hotels believed they could charge more than hotels in Monaco,” John Sinker, of English tour operator MotoExpress, said in an email to the American-Statesman. “They did not understand that F1 fans are very international and they think nothing about traveling around the world to watch races. However, if presented with a choice of going to the Monaco F1 and the Austin F1 and if Monaco is cheaper, they will go to Monaco every time.”

[lzppjb]

Free market. It was our first crack at it. The hotels will figure out the optimal price point.

[Komeht]

Originally Posted by lzppjb

Free market. It was our first crack at it. The hotels will figure out the optimal price point.

Right - this seems like an article about nothing.

Austin hotels can't currently handle the capacity - of course this will be promoted to the region as a whole. This is a sales pitch for promoters who can't make client's who want to be in Austin happy disguised as a news article.

If the reporter would do some checking he'd find out that everything in the Austin area is booked at more or less the same rates as last year.

[The ATX]

Originally Posted by lzppjb

Free market. It was our first crack at it. The hotels will figure out the optimal price point.

Exactly. The market will will figure it out. Austin hotels will lower their prices until they find that optimal price point. Plus, I think it's great that S.A. will benefit. The success of CoTA will be enhanced if it becomes a regional draw for all of the non-F1 events instead of a local venue.

The comments on that article are as ridiculous as always. The "hate everything new" people keep trying to find a way to spin it their way.

[the Genral]

People will always pay more to sit closer to the stage. Price point is driven by supply and demand. Anyone who chooses Moracco over Austin to save a few hundred bucks or for that matter choose to stay in San Marcus or San Antonio because of lower hotel prices does not diminish the fact the all the Austin hotel rooms will probably be sold out by F1 race weekend and at whatever price point is being asked. I'm not surprised the author didn't mention this, as this tidbit of information would have made the rest of his article a "who gives a shit about a few hundred people who don't want to cough up a few extra dollars to be close to the action". However, I would expect prices to moderate somewhat when the current hotels under construction are open for business, and perhaps San Antonio is posturing now because they know they will be negatively impacted when that happens. I got the impression the author was just lobbying against what he and others think is price gouging in the Austin Hotel market during F1. His article will have little to no impact imo.

[lzppjb]

By the way, I'll be checking out the track this weekend at the Grand Am races. I'll try and remember to bring a camera. I'm excited to see how it looks in person.

[KevinFromTexas]

http://www.statesman.com/news/entertainm...eater-at-f1-racetrack-set-to-be-a/nWh82/

Posted: 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Austin360 Amphitheater at racetrack set to be Austin area’s largest outdoor venue

By Gary Dinges
American-Statesman Staff

The Austin360 Amphitheater — named for the Austin American-Statesman’s weekly entertainment guide and austin360.com, its long-running entertainment website — will debut next month at the Circuit of the Americas complex in Southeast Austin.

The American-Statesman, part of Cox Media Group, announced at a news conference Wednesday morning that it had reached a multiyear agreement to secure naming rights for the venue.

An April 5 performance by country singers Kenny Chesney and Kacey Musgraves will be the first event at the facility, which has a capacity of about 14,000 people. Zac Brown Band, the Lumineers, Jimmy Buffett, Jason Aldean, Dave Matthews Band, the Avett Brothers and Train also will play at the Austin360 Amphitheater this year — and additional shows are expected to be announced soon by global music promoter Live Nation, which is heading up booking efforts.

[hookem]

^^ I think they meant to say,

"Amphitheater at racetrack set to be Austin area’s largest outdoor music venue"

[Jdawgboy]

While it is something that Austin has needed for a long time, I am a disappointed in the end product. They went from announcing it was going to be 20-25 thousand capacity down to 17,000, then to 15,000, now only 14,000? Judging by the artists booked so far at the venue looks like I will not be going there anytime soon other than MotoGP. So much for having the top music acts in the world coming rather than just to Houston or Dallas.

[Nickelplate]

Originally Posted by Jdawgboy

While it is something that Austin has needed for a long time, I am a disappointed in the end product. They went from announcing it was going to be 20-25 thousand capacity down to 17,000, then to 15,000, now only 14,000? Judging by the artists booked so far at the venue looks like I will not be going there anytime soon other than MotoGP. So much for having the top music acts in the world coming rather than just to Houston or Dallas.

I'm actually pretty excited for this amphitheater. The civic and private offerings of Austin are pathetic in comparison to other cities of Austin's size. It is still a major venue and performers have been clamoring to come here but lacking the facilities for years. It is a predominantly country line up but that will change. It is the first season.

[Nickelplate]

I'm also excited about the tailgating aspect because touring bands like Dave Matthews Band etc dont get much love here because that aspect has not been offered. Glad to see the big wigs of COTA are acknowledging that. It is an integral part of a concert experience! Glug Glug Glug Glug!!

[The ATX]

Originally Posted by Jdawgboy

While it is something that Austin has needed for a long time, I am a disappointed in the end product. They went from announcing it was going to be 20-25 thousand capacity down to 17,000, then to 15,000, now only 14,000? Judging by the artists booked so far at the venue looks like I will not be going there anytime soon other than MotoGP. So much for having the top music acts in the world coming rather than just to Houston or Dallas.

Chill out. Hopefully they book more than country acts. I'm not into country music, but I am not going to get upset at COTA just because they haven't booked an artist I personally listen to.

[Austin_Expert]

I went to the Grand-Am of the Americas, and was able to check out the Austin360 Amphitheater up close. It is going to be a great place to see a show. Austin has never had an outdoor concert venue of this caliber, and I have no doubt it will draw top acts.