Circuit of the Americas Development Updates - Page 28

BevoLJ · #**541** Posted **Aug 11, 2011, 3:53 AM**

I would assume that even so they will likely still do a bit better being in Nov than in the middle of summer. It near the end of the season and so it could be an important race for seeing who is the years champ. And the weather will likely help a lot. So even losing a few who can't afford both races I'd guess with the weather and being one of the last races they will net better. When they first proposed that race for July I didn't think it would be all that bad, but after this summer I have had a bit of a change of opinion on that. lol. In a summer like this one, a July race may not do so great.

the Genral · #**542** Posted **Aug 11, 2011, 4:16 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spaceman

Although it attracts a different racing crowd, the Sprint Cup race could hurt with attendance at COTA..Even if the decrease is 5 to 10 per cent that still will cost COTA money. A NASCAR crazy friend of mine said he would like to see F1 just to catch the vibe at the race..Now he says he can't afford both and wiil only go to Ft. Worth.

Yeah I can relate to that. I couldn't afford to attend both this close together.
I get the change to November, but the three main racing events in TX, no offense to the Cart or IRL races at TMS, would have been spread out, April, TMS, June COA's, November, TMS. With two major events planned for Nov., I'm sure quite a few race fans are going to have to pick one or the other. But I don't see it preventing a sellout.

Jdawgboy · #**543** Posted **Aug 11, 2011, 5:48 AM**

It shouldn't be a problem at all. Remember NASCAR and Formula 1 are two totally different demographics, while I am sure some people who are into NASCAR would be interested in checking an F1 race out, fact is they are not the demographics F1 is aiming for.

BevoLJ · #**544** Posted **Aug 11, 2011, 7:35 AM**

If TMS has April and Nov already it looks like they already have the good times of the year. It can't happen in March in Austin as we have South By. It seems Oct in Austin would be ideal. Austin Film Fest and SXSW Eco are in Oct but other than that and the UT games they could likely find a date.

austin242 · #**545** Posted **Aug 11, 2011, 7:26 PM**

I actually think halloween would be good. I mean foreigners don't really have halloween like americans do. It would be real fun for them.

hookem · #**546** Posted **Aug 11, 2011, 7:53 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by austin242

I actually think halloween would be good. I mean foreigners don't really have halloween like americans do. It would be real fun for them.

They'd have to add an upper deck to 6th street! But you are right, it would probably be a wild party, perhaps more than the out of town visitors could handle.

I've got mixed feelings about the November date. Forget the race at TMS, I think F1 competing with football is problem enough. There will be no significant TV ratings in this country, so the excitement won't build for the following year, and you won't get any new F1 fans. Locally and within the state, some people who might have come to the F1 race just out of curiosity (and a little money to spend) will now have other stuff that is more interesting to them -- even if it's just watching NFL at a sports bar.

Still, it's a good thing for the track that they have an extra 6 months. Besides their own construction, it would be nice to have a buffer for the TxDot construction on 812. Plus organizing the shuttles, getting the extra aircraft space at the airport, etc. I'm going to guess that the 2012 USGP in November will be a "soft launch", at least by F1 standards. After 2012 they'll switch it to a more optimal US TV season.

The ATX · #**547** Posted **Aug 11, 2011, 10:57 PM**

The F1 race dates/schedule changes every year. The November date could be just for the first year as a hedge to make sure the track is ready.

KevinFromTexas · #**548** Posted **Aug 16, 2011, 5:56 AM**

http://www.statesman.com/news/local/...y-1748264.html

Quote:

Austin likely to get taste of F1 Saturday morning with downtown demonstration

By Dave Doolittle
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Updated: 11:39 p.m. Monday, Aug. 15, 2011
Published: 8:11 p.m. Monday, Aug. 15, 2011

Austin will probably get its first taste of a Formula One car in action Saturday morning, when British-based F1 team Red Bull Racing plans a demonstration run on Congress Avenue north of the Capitol.

If the requisite city paperwork is approved, former F1 driver David Coulthard will drive Red Bull's Racing Showcar for a promotional video connected to the return of F1 in the United States at a track under construction near Austin.

A permit is pending with the city to close Congress Avenue between 15th Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard from 7 a.m. to noon for the demonstration, city Transportation Department spokeswoman Leah Fillion said.

KevinFromTexas · #**549** Posted **Aug 19, 2011, 1:12 AM**

Well apparently they couldn't get the permits in time to have a demonstration "race" - BUT, they will still have the car on display in front of the history museum.

http://www.statesman.com/blogs/conte...formula_austin

Quote:

Red Bull: No public F1 show car event in Austin this week

By Dave Doolittle | Thursday, August 18, 2011, 12:38 AM

Red Bull announced early today that they are not doing a public show car event in Austin this week.

“Due to feasibility, a formal Formula One show car demonstration that is open to the public will not be executed this week,” Red Bull said in a statement. “However, in an effort to bring fans up-close and personal to Formula One, the Red Bull Racing show car will be on display in front of the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum this Saturday from noon to 2 p.m.”

Red Bull had filed a film permit with the city to shoot an F1 car on Congress Avenue on Saturday between 15th Street and MLK Jr. Boulevard. That permit was pending approval Wednesday.

TXAlex · #**550** Posted **Aug 19, 2011, 3:52 AM**

That is so lame. With the COA you need to ask at least 6 months before to get anything done half way.

StoOgE · #**551** Posted **Aug 19, 2011, 12:37 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spaceman

Although it attracts a different racing crowd, the Sprint Cup race could hurt with attendance at COTA..Even if the decrease is 5 to 10 per cent that still will cost COTA money. A NASCAR crazy friend of mine said he would like to see F1 just to catch the vibe at the race..Now he says he can't afford both and wiil only go to Ft. Worth.

There is almost no overlap in the event, and pent up demand for a US F1 race is high enough that this thing will be a sell out on day 1.

electricron · #**552** Posted **Aug 19, 2011, 3:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by StoOgE

There is almost no overlap in the event, and pent up demand for a US F1 race is high enough that this thing will be a sell out on day 1.

If the demand for F1 in the USA is so high, how come they couldn't sell out the F1 race in Indianapolis or Watkins Glen? Or in Canada? Montreal is probably closer to America's open wheel race fans than Austin....

wwmiv · #**553** Posted **Aug 19, 2011, 6:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by electricron

If the demand for F1 in the USA is so high, how come they couldn't sell out the F1 race in Indianapolis or Watkins Glen? Or in Canada? Montreal is probably closer to America's open wheel race fans than Austin....

There is no real demand in the U.S. There is, however, demand in Mexico. Austin is much closer. Do you know how many Mexican tourists go to San Antonio just to shop? Austin is only bit more of a drive. This race will be better sold than Indianapolis.

hookem · #**554** Posted **Aug 19, 2011, 8:38 PM**

Indianapolis has the record for most attendance of any F1 race. Not every race was a sellout, but the first few years were wildly successful.

I imagine Austin will be the same for the first year -- easy sellout. US fans will come because it's the historic inaugural USGP (for this iteration, anyway) and because they haven't had a chance to in the past 5 years. Pent up demand. Mexican fans will be here. The other foreign fans who make the trip... that's really the big unknown IMO. There will be a lot of them, but will there be a ridiculous amount? The low value of the dollar makes it a cheap vacation for most any other country...

Now, years 2 on will be a whole different deal. Could follow the Indy pattern and lose attendance, especially if some race snafus happen. Or, it could follow the SXSW pattern and take on it's own credibility, drawing visitors for the hype and fun of the city and event moreso than the actual event itself. SXSW draws like 200K visitors for an events that have a registration of 35K or so. It's like the entire city becomes a party town around SXSW. That could happen with F1... or maybe not. We'll have to see after a few years.

BevoLJ · #**555** Posted **Aug 19, 2011, 10:04 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by hookem

The other foreign fans who make the trip... that's really the big unknown IMO.

I know a few in the UK who were planning on going for a June race. I haven't asked them since the date has been changed, but from the sound of it I am sure they will still be going.

For me personally I wouldn't even want to go from Austin to Dallas to watch cars go around and around some circle, much less hop the pond to see such a race. At least this isn't the same oval as they have, but still...

What I really hope happens is that the events around the race really take off. That there are tons of big parties and events downtown for the weekend of the race. Like how everyone who is anyone in the recording, film, and tech industries throws those huge elaborate parties during South By. Hopefully some race people come and throw some parties like that. Austin is capable of putting on some of the best parties this side of NYC and Miami in my opinion. If they take advantage of that, then Austin F1 could be a huge success. (And I might make a few bucks off them!

)

BevoLJ · #**556** Posted **Aug 20, 2011, 4:01 PM**

http://www.statesman.com/news/local/...type=rss_local

Quote:

Red Bull to close downtown streets for F1 film shoot
By Dave Doolittle
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Published: 9:23 p.m. Friday, Aug. 19, 2011

The City of Austin has granted a permit for Red Bull to shoot a promotional video downtown this morning in connection with the return of Formula One to the United States.

The filming is considered to be closed set and not a public event.

Several city streets north of the Capitol will be closed from 5 to 11 a.m. today:

• Congress Avenue between 15th and 17th streets.

• Sixteenth and 17th streets between Colorado and Brazos streets.

Austin police will periodically stop traffic on 15th Street between Brazos and Colorado streets during shooting to allow the car to pass, the city said.

.....