Circuit of the Americas Development Updates

[turn1]

COTA photos with 14 days until FP1:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.543853852295831.137180.157330087614878&type=1

[turn1]

Going to the race? Get an early start.

Some of you may have heard about or even attended the RunTex fun run this morning at COTA. Seems like it was a good time once the estimated 3000 people got there. At 8am (the scheduled start time) FM812 was backed up about 1.5 miles from the COTA gate, past SH130. The fastest road in America ground to a halt as it was backed up about 1.5 miles back from the southbound exit to FM 812. Many people reported travel times of more than 1 hour from SH71 to FM812. Some traffic control at the 130 exit to FM 812 would have been a good idea. There was none. The only traffic control was at the front gate of the circuit. The Main GS lot only filled to about 75% capacity, yet the delays had people still arriving over an hour after the run was scheduled to start. I found a couple of tweeted traffic photos. Event photos to follow.

[turn1]

Great new aerial photo album via @jaredten. Check it out:

http://www.jtpics.com/cota

[KevinFromTexas]

^Nice. It's crazy how vivid the paint is on the track. And nice skyline photos.

[turn1]

Here are the official road closures surrounding the USGP at COTA:



...and here's a map of them from the Statesman:

[turn1]

This morning I posted a bunch of photos from the Formula Run:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.545378345476715.137486.157330087614878&type=1





Temporary Team Buildings in the Paddock behind the Pit Building:



Medical Center:



Work resumed Saturday on the T1 GS:



Pit Lane:



East end of the Pit Building:



Looking from the start line back to the Main GS:



Looking from P1 on the starting grid up toward T1:

[turn1]

Up Turn 8 to the Turn 9 GS:











Construction along the Longhorn Straight:

[turn1]

Last set, but there are lot more at the link above...

Construction at the stadium complex:





Turn 3 pedestrian crossover & GS:



Turn 13 spectator suites:



Crossing under the Longhorn Straight:





Turn 19-20 temporary hospitality buildings:

[MightyYoda]

I would like to see more of the concrete replaced/overlaid with the natural stone from the last image. Would give a more finished look.

[Jdawgboy]

Some of those pictures really show how much of the track you can see from many of the stands.

Also I am banking on 300K in Austin. People fail to realize not everybody is staying in a hotel or motel. A lot of people are staying with friends or family and also renting property or even camping areas.

[turn1]

Originally Posted by Jdawgboy

Some of those pictures really show how much of the track you can see from many of the stands.

Also I am banking on 300K in Austin. People fail to realize not everybody is staying in a hotel or motel. A lot of people are staying with friends or family and also renting property or even camping areas.

Do you mean 300K individual visitors, or 300K total attendance over the 3 days.

Just FYI, even COTA has retreated from 300K total attendance, with the following projection:

Fri: 40-50K
Sat: 60-80K
Sun: 110-120K

That = 210-250K total 3-day attendance.

[turn1]

New venue map from COTA website:

[turn1]

One of our Field Operatives got some photos today at COTA that you all might be interested in:

[turn1]

No COTA drive next week for Alexander Rossi.

http://www.statesman.com/news/sports/mot...t-scheduled-to-drive-at-austin-f1/nSzRH/

[turn1]

The first 747-400 loaded with F1 gear arrived at ABIA today. We just happened to be around to get a few photos:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.5...4878&type=1

[turn1]

A day or 2 ago we showed you the first F1 racing team gear arriving in the COTA Paddock. Here's more, via COTA on FB:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.548585651834446.149302.219399881419693&type=1


Cargo in the Paddock behind the Pit building (Temporary team buildings on the right):

[JoninATX]

The first of 6 747's to arrive, again I want to thank turn 1 for all the effort he has put into this thread since day 1.

[turn1]

Thanks Jon! I really appreciate that.

[Jdawgboy]

Originally Posted by turn1

Do you mean 300K individual visitors, or 300K total attendance over the 3 days.

Just FYI, even COTA has retreated from 300K total attendance, with the following projection:

Fri: 40-50K
Sat: 60-80K
Sun: 110-120K

That = 210-250K total 3-day attendance.

im basing on totale visitors whether they are attending the races or not.

[turn1]

Still looking for a room for the race? A couple of weeks ago we heard more hotel price info & told you all that hotel inventory would be increasing & prices would be dropping...

As of this morning, 221 Austin-area hotels have availability for Fri, Sat, & Sun nights, starting at $76/night in Austin.

http://www.hotels.com/search/search.html...19/12&pfm=1&nr=1&pfcc=USD&r=2&cpr=0&pn=1

Remember right after the race date was announced & everyone said they couldn't get a room in Austin except for a handful of ultra-expensive rooms? Somebody convinced the Austin hotel industry that price was no object to the incoming F1 crowd....& that shit blew up right in their faces. There are thousands of rooms right now as they get released from blocks & the price has been falling like a rock over the last couple of weeks.