10 year MotoGP deal for Austin's Circuit of the Americas from '13

[swanny]

One hour and 15 minutes from my driveway to the track parking lot.  

If I can make a suggestion to the folks coming in fro the race...look into staying in Seguin or Bastrop or Lockhart (Blacks BBQ and Kruez Market!) instead of booking a motel in Austin proper. With the completion of the 130 toll road (85 MPH speed limit) from IH-10 near Seguin to IH-35 near Georgetown the commute to the track will be pretty quick: 130 passes just west of the track. You might be tempted to stay in San Marcos but I would warn you that traffic on IH-35 is wretched day and night and since that road is under near perpetual construction you can find yourself sitting in a miles long traffic backup for hours at a time.

Thanks bud!

[Slippin]

Room booked  

[Mastros2]

Very tempting! Maybe my first GP race?!?  

[R Doug]

Room booked, roundtrip air tickets acquired, car rental booked... all I need to do is purchase race tickets.  See you there!

[kendenton]

Tickets just went on sale.  Trying to buy a GA ticket, I have multiple choices for GA sections (GA1, GA2, etc).  No explanation on the website that I can find, I thought GA was GA for everywhere.  Hmm...

And $60 for 3-day auto parking?  Yikes.

[Slippin]

No explanation on the difference between the $89 GA tickets (that appear to be assigned to an unlabeled GA section) and the $133 GA grounds pass ticket. I tried to click on the GA Grounds Pass to see if it brought up a GA section and it wouldn't give me the option to buy a GA grounds pass ticket if I wanted.

I sent an email to the COA trying to find out.

[DogBoy]

Maybe you could check an F1 forum or auto racing forum like Ten-Tenths? I'm guessing the F1 fans have all bought their tickets and spent hours analyzing site lines, access, etc.

[kendenton]

No explanation on the difference between the $89 GA tickets (that appear to be assigned to an unlabeled GA section) and the $133 GA grounds pass ticket. I tried to click on the GA Grounds Pass to see if it brought up a GA section and it wouldn't give me the option to buy a GA grounds pass ticket if I wanted.

I sent an email to the COA trying to find out.

The ground pass ticket is $89, not $133.  Prices are below the choice, which isn't terrible obvious.

[R Doug]

Tickets just went on sale.  Trying to buy a GA ticket, I have multiple choices for GA sections (GA1, GA2, etc).   No explanation on the website that I can find, I thought GA was GA for everywhere.  Hmm...

And $60 for 3-day auto parking?  Yikes.

Let me know which one you get so I can get the same.

The map doesn't show a difference in GA.  

[R Doug]

Interesting observation.

My choices for GA are as follows:

1)  GA1

2)  GA2 Row GA1 Seat 46

3)  GA3 Row GA1 Seat 17


GA 2 and 3 appear to be reserved seats.  

[R Doug]

According to COTA's FAQs, the track has both GA grandstands (uncovered) and GA grassy knolls.

http://circuitoftheamericas.com/tickets-faq

[Slippin]

The ground pass ticket is $89, not $133.  Prices are below the choice, which isn't terrible obvious.

Ok. Thanks.  The spacing between the ticket and the price had me looking at the wrong thing.

Now we just have to figure out if GA is GA in the way we all think about it or if GA has some sort of assigned sections/seats

[R Doug]

I found this at f1technical.net.




Fans purchasing General Admission tickets will have access to any of the grass seating areas of the track: Turn 7 and the chicanes - Turns 8 and 9; the straightaway between Turns 10 and 11; and the straightaway between Turns 18 and 19. There are no seating structures in these areas.

The red grandstand seating is also considered GA but consists of reserved seats in standard bleachers.

Premium seating is currently available for purchase at Circuit of The Americas. Advantages of premium seating include:

• The only tickets that include the ability to purchase on-site parking

• The best seats at the track, including, wide arena seats with armrests, cup holders, and more legroom than regular grandstand bleachers

• The only way to sit in the most popular locations: Main Grandstand, Turn 1, and Turn 15

[Slippin]

I just spoke with Justin at COA. He says that GA seating will give you access to anywhere on the map shown as GA & that they only include section/seat information because the program they are using to sell tickets online requires it.

That being said, when I spoke with him I didn't know about the grandstand vs GA seating difference used for the F1 race & so I didn't specifically ask about it. I don't think that it applies for the GP race.

[kendenton]

Ticket bought.  GA1,19.  Got $60 parking pass which hopefully I can share with some of the guys I'm going with.

Total was $168 for 3-day GA and Parking.  Indy this year for the same thing was $109.

[R Doug]

Ticket bought.  GA1,19.  Got $60 parking pass which hopefully I can share with some of the guys I'm going with.

Total was $168 for 3-day GA and Parking.  Indy this year for the same thing was $109.

I'll share the parking cost with you as long as I can get a ride Sat and Sun to the track.  I just need to figure out where I'll park on Friday.  My flight arrives before Noon that day.

[R Doug]

I didn't see a parking pass option when I purchased my GA.

[kendenton]

I didn't see a parking pass option when I purchased my GA.

It was tricky. They sell the pass as a different event so you need to go back and see all events, not just MotoGP. Teething pains.

[staedtler]

 

where are the grandstand tickets? they show turn 1 and 15 but nothing for grandstands....the covered stuff across from the pits

[DogBoy]

Interesting article on Forbes.com about the players behind the Circuit of the Americas and the machinations involved in building an F1 level track. No mention of Kevin Schwantz. I know we have some locals that have been following the details over the last few years. Can anyone comment on how accurate the article is?

http://www.forbes.com/sites/christopherhelman/2012/10/19/wild-ride/

The reporter seems to think there is fantastic intrigue here but it doesn't seem too out of the ordinary for a development project in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Everyone is looking for someone else to take the risk and make the guarantees, free money from the government is needed and someone with no money in the deal is looking to cash in.