Circuit of the Americas Development Updates - Page 117

AusTxDevelopment · #**2321** Posted **Oct 22, 2019, 7:19 PM**

Sharon Blythe, who is associated with the PAC (funded by Epstein) that got Prop B on the ballet and then sued the city because they didn't like the wording, has started a new PAC to recall the mayor and 5 specific council members.

https://www.kxan.com/news/local/aust...-city-council/

Quote:

The PAC “Our Town Austin” formed yesterday. Sharon Blythe created it and says the PAC’s purpose is to recall Adler plus council members Natasha Harper-Madison, Pio Renteria, Ann Kitchen, Paige Ellis and Kathie Tovo. The group did not explain why they chose these specific council members.

It appears this recall effort may be centered around the Major League Soccer stadium and not homelessness, which is the more recent Council controversy.

Epstein is going to exhaust every option available to undermine MLS. He needs that Bold cash now that he has F1 competition.

turn1 · #**2322** Posted **Oct 22, 2019, 7:33 PM**

Wow. Can't say I'm surprised. I did hear that Bobby told Adler he was gonna do everything he could to take him down.

I hope he just pisses more money away like he's been doing.

BTW, do you mean Prop A?

The ATX · #**2323** Posted **Oct 23, 2019, 7:32 PM**

COTA related - several permits were filed today to allow Amazon to film a commercial during F1 race weekend. F1 cars will be filmed delivering Amazon packages to residences.

freerover · #**2324** Posted **Oct 23, 2019, 10:01 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by The ATX

COTA related - several permits were filed today to allow Amazon to film a commercial during F1 race weekend. F1 cars will be filmed delivering Amazon packages to residences.

That's pretty cool.

the Genral · #**2325** Posted **Oct 23, 2019, 10:01 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by The ATX

COTA related - several permits were filed today to allow Amazon to film a commercial during F1 race weekend. F1 cars will be filmed delivering Amazon packages to residences.

I just renewed my Amazon Prime membership. Guess I know where that money went. Pretty cool though.

The ATX · #**2326** Posted **Oct 23, 2019, 10:46 PM**

The requested right of way closures for the Amazon F1 car deliveries are in the Hyde Park area. Ave. A, B, C & 43rd St.

turn1 · #**2327** Posted **Oct 23, 2019, 11:15 PM**

Bratches departure a concern in COTA contract talks https://racer.com/2019/10/23/bratche...ontract-talks/

Bobby's crying about having to negotiate with Bratches. Almost sounds like the first groundwork of an exit strategy being laid, really.

From the article:

Quote:

"COTA has been the home of the USGP since 2012, and is predicting the second-largest crowd in the race’s history – behind the inaugural event in Austin – next weekend."

I keep seeing this lately from COTA. But COTA told us in 2016 that THAT race was the biggest USGP crowd ever at COTA. If 2016 was the biggest, then why do they keep saying the 2019 crowd will be the second biggest behind only the 2012 USGP? Seems like maybe that 2016 crowd wasn't quite so big after all & they're walking it back a bit.

Remember, this is the same guy who claimed back in August that 2019 USGP reserved seats had already sold out in July, when in fact, they still had hundreds or thousands of seats available. No race at COTA has ever sold out, despite a reduction in reserved seating capacity of 40% or more.

turn1 · #**2328** Posted **Oct 26, 2019, 5:46 AM**

Yet another series leaves COTA in their rearview mirrors.

No COTA on the 2020 World Challenge calendar.

turn1 · #**2329** Posted **Oct 27, 2019, 3:44 AM**

92,000 fans in the stands for F1 Practice on Friday in Mexico City. 115,000 today for Qualifying. No need for Taylor Swift lol.

115K is more than COTA draws on Sundays for the actual race. Actually, so is 92,000. (a LOT more, in reality)

smith_atx · #**2330** Posted **Oct 27, 2019, 5:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by turn1

92,000 fans in the stands for F1 Practice on Friday in Mexico City. 115,000 today for Qualifying. No need for Taylor Swift lol.

115K is more than COTA draws on Sundays for the actual race. Actually, so is 92,000. (a LOT more, in reality)

Ok...Mexico City has a metro of 20 million...

GoldenBoot · #**2331** Posted **Oct 27, 2019, 8:46 PM**

Is Tavo still heading up the Mexico City race? I know he was the one who brought it back after being kicked out of COTA by Epstein & his cronies.

turn1 · #**2332** Posted **Oct 28, 2019, 2:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by smith_atx

Ok...Mexico City has a metro of 20 million...

Obviously Austin isn't as big as that (2M+ in metro area), but there are more than 18 million people within a 3 hour drive of Austin. There are also 29 million in Texas, but remember, according to COTA 60% - 80% of USGP attendees come from out of state anyway (heh, ok), so the Austin/Texas market doesn't really matter that much according to them.

If it were simply a function of population, then Austin would be doing much better than it is, Shanghai would pull half again as many people as MxC, and Hockenheim & Sao Paulo would pull similar crowds to MxC. Some other GPs would do a lot better too, in that case. However they're doing it, Mexico City is crushing it, without music acts to prop up the numbers.

turn1 · #**2333** Posted **Oct 28, 2019, 2:50 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoldenBoot

Is Tavo still heading up the Mexico City race? I know he was the one who brought it back after being kicked out of COTA by Epstein & his cronies.

I think he was the one that revived it and put everyone together to make it happen. Not sure what his role is now though.

turn1 · #**2334** Posted **Oct 28, 2019, 2:58 PM**

I was out there a couple days ago. The reason is a claim made by Epstein the other day re: the upcoming 2019 USGP crowd:

Quote:

Overall sales are up 15% from last year, when F1 reported 263,160 attended the weekend and 111,580 came on race day. Additionally, more premium seating areas have been added to meet demand.

Epstein: “We’re seeing huge interest ... We're spending more money this year than we did last because we're having to build more structures to accommodate the people"

I wanted to check that out for myself, so I went out and took a look. I couldn't see anything different from last year, except they've added a small bank of suites on the outside of T16. There's also an additional section in the turn 9 stands, but the footprint looks exactly the same as last year.

Someone just posted this aerial shot from yesterday on reddit. Still can't find these structures that have supposedly been built to accommodate the extra people. I do believe there's an uptick in sales this year, but not enough to need to add anything significant in terms of handling people. They could have a good increase over last year and still not need more seating, because last year wasn't all that full.

In other words, Bobby's full of shit as usual.

You can click on the link to go to the higher res version and expand it.
https://i.imgur.com/DBWjMZP.jpg

2012 for comparison. Look at all those grandstands that are gone now...7 gone and 3 or 4 shrunk significantly

We vs us · #**2335** Posted **Oct 28, 2019, 7:30 PM**

Thousands of jobs offered to Austin's homeless as Formula 1 races into town

Quote:

KVUE — With Formula 1 coming to Austin from November 1-3, the race's venue, Circuit of The Americas (COTA), is taking the opportunity to give the city's homeless population an opportunity for work.

COTA officials announced Monday, October 28, that it would offer "thousands of jobs" to Austinites who are experiencing homelessness or transitioning out of homelessness throughout Formula 1 USGP weekend.

Workers will be paid $15 per hour and be provided with transportation, meals, and uniforms, according to COTA officials.

“All of us have a role to play in confronting homelessness in our community. We’re going to do our part at COTA, and I hope other Austin businesses will join us in helping our neighbors achieve their potential,” said COTA chairman Bobby Epstein.

“We want this to be an ongoing partnership with the groups in our community serving some of the most vulnerable people in our city. Races like the U.S. Grand Prix bring the world to Austin, and I want the world to see a compassionate community working together for everyone.”

COTA said it is partnering with Mobile Loaves & Fishes and Caritas of Austin to hire as many individuals connected to their organizations as possible for overnight janitorial jobs for the weekend.

http://austin.culturemap.com/news/ci...ess-population

turn1 · #**2336** Posted **Oct 28, 2019, 7:50 PM**

I thought they'd been hiring homeless folks all along...

I love how they go from saying they'll provide jobs for about 2 dozen workers to Epstein saying they'll open up hundreds of jobs, and that COTA hires thousand of people for an F1 weekend. What a crock of shit.

If you hire thousands of people and can make available hundreds of jobs, then why only 2 dozen?

GoldenBoot · #**2337** Posted **Oct 28, 2019, 7:58 PM**

The term "sales" can be misleading. Are they speaking of total tickets sold or gross revenue from the sale of tickets? Did prices increase from last year to this year? If so, there's part of the "increase in sales" right there.

turn1 · #**2338** Posted **Oct 28, 2019, 8:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoldenBoot

The term "sales" can be misleading. Are they speaking of total tickets sold or gross revenue from the sale of tickets? Did prices increase from last year to this year? If so, there's part of the "increase in sales" right there.

Great point. Yes, prices did increase. Probably 10-20% overall lol. And yeah, that would be sooo like these guys ...

futures · #**2339** Posted **Oct 29, 2019, 12:48 AM**

turn1,

What's with your negativity towards the USGP and COTA?

OF COURSE attendance is substantially higher in Mexico City. F1 is incredibly popular there with a Mexican driver that is as revered as an American quarterback. What's the point of comparing that race to the US? F1 has nowhere near the following in the US.

Also, COTA may have lost races over the years, but it has also gained races too. I don't understand the negative tone.

As an Austin resident that happens love F1 and motorsport in general, I'm thrilled to have both COTA and F1 and I'm looking forward to this weekend.

urbancore · #**2340** Posted **Oct 29, 2019, 2:18 AM**

Seconded