COTA Austin - construction and infrastructure

[hairy_scotsman]

11/18/2012.

[xpensive]

How about the obvious; George W Bush?

Meh. Even in its nascent state, nothing about the track necessarily looks retarded.

I still think there should be a presidential touch somewhere, people still recall LBJ?

[bhall]

W's a Texan by way of Connecticut anyway. (I'm not really sure how that works.)

LBJ has a NASA facility named after him - "Houston, we have a problem," was directed specifically to it - so I think he's pretty well covered.

I also think it's safe to say that Eisenhower is reasonably well covered, too. The entirety of America's Interstate highway system bears his name.

So, barring something presidential, how about the Anna Nicole Smith Curves (turns 4-9)?



"[Insert driver's name here] is really charging into Anna Nicole Smith this time!"

[xpensive]

Presidential...how about the grassy knoll...ooops...I'm in deep sh*t now!

[bhall]

Yeah, the grassy knoll would lead into the Ford's Theatre hairpin to form a complex known as Assassination Alley.

I can dig it.

[xpensive]

Kinda cool...I think.

[hairy_scotsman]

Here's a ticket info rumor that has popped up on a couple of boards...posted yesterday on SpeedTV.com's F1 forum by a poster who says he got his call yesterday.

http://my.speedtv.com/go/thread/view/55 ... #517074907

I cannot personally vouch for these details, and I hope they're inaccurate. I've been holding off on posting this, as I was having a hard time finding anyone who had received a call from the COTA ticket sales people...and thus verifying that this info is at least reasonably accurate. I have since heard from a couple people who say this is what they were told on their sales calls, so here you go...fwiw:

"Ok, here's the scoop as described by the CotA sales rep:

1) All temporary and permanent grandstands are presently intended to be for PSL holders only.
2) GA tickets will likely be grass seating only.
3) All PSL holders will have access to the club VIP lounge.
4) PSL holders required to purchase season tickets for F1 and V8 Supercars, but not any new races added. However, PSLs get first dibs on any new race series seats.
5) Additional series mentioned as likely/potential near-term adds: American LeMans and Moto GP.
6) PSL contract is for 15 years.
7) PSL contract may be resold/transfered.
PSL holders get first dibs on "VIP Parking" which is on-site parking behind the main grandstands. "VIP Parking" cost is $150 per vehicle.
9) GA ticket holders will park off-site and take a shuttle bus to the track.
10) PSL season ticket prices are locked for the first 3 years. Projected price increase after year three is 3% YoY (basically normal inflation rate if the economy ever recovers).
11) Season tickets are (presently) for 6 days of racing split between F1 and V8 Supercars.
12) Currently defined seating blocks:

Main Grandstands:

Trackside - Uncovered bleachers hanging off of the left and right sides the main grandstand building.

Lower Level - Individual seats (not bleachers) at the same level as trackside.

Mezzanine - Just 4 rows right above the lower level. These seats are protected by the overhang of the club level.

Club - First section of the balcony area. Does not have sight lines over the pit building.

Suite - Second section of the balcony area. Enclosed boxes/balconies.

Loge - Open air suites located above the Trackside seats on the left and right sides of the main building.

Turn 1:

Temporary bleacher seating. May be coverted into a separate building at a later date.

Grand Plaza:

Bleacher (?) seating along the back straight.

12) Pricing is as follows:

Main Granstands:

Trackside - $1,500 PSL - $500 Season Ticket

Lower Level - $2,500 PSL - $775 Season Ticket

Mezzanine - $3,500 PSL - $1000 Season Ticket

Club - $5000 PSL - $1250 Season Ticket

Suite - All founder suites sold. Legacy suites may still be available, but no pricing was given.

Loge - $36,000 per year for 8 seat box. $54,000 per year for a 12 seat box.

Turn 1 - $2500 PSL - Season ticket pricing unknown.

Grand Plaza - Pricing unknown.

13) Unsold PSL's expected to go up in cost when additional series are added. Will require season tickets that include the additional series at that time.

14) No word on pit-passes for either series."

[bhall]

If that's true, CotA can kiss my ass. I'll see my first grand prix in Jersey next year.

(If you go by xpensive's wisdom, that was probably inevitable anyway.)

[xpensive]

This can't be right, what do they think they are selling anyway, Dallas Cowboys?

1) All temporary and permanent grandstands are presently intended to be for PSL holders only.
2) GA tickets will likely be grass seating only.

Or am I missing something here?

[hairy_scotsman]

Here are the ones that particularly chap my ass:

1) All temporary and permanent grandstands are presently intended to be for PSL holders only.

...

5) Additional series mentioned as likely/potential near-term adds: American LeMans and Moto GP.

...

9) GA ticket holders will park off-site and take a shuttle bus to the track.

[xpensive]

What does 2) mean Hairy?

[hairy_scotsman]

What does 2) mean Hairy?

Not sure which part you mean? GA?

GA = General Admission.

[xpensive]

Oh but I know what GA means but what is grass seating, just hanging around or what?

[bhall]

Or am I missing something here?

Only that there appears to be no end on the horizon to short-sighted greed. Then again, I guess that's why it's short-sighted.

[hairy_scotsman]

Oh but I know what GA means but what is grass seating, just hanging around or what?

Yeah...typical GA I suppose...but there is no word if chairs, etc will be allowed. It's hard for me to see 80,000 people all on shuttle buses with chairs, etc.

GA would be a great way to go at this track, but if these details are accurate, it would seem they want to make GA as inconvenient and unpleasant as possible.

Do they realize that without great GA sales, they're screwed no matter how many high-dollar PSLs, etc that they sell?