Austin Hosts Historic Formula One and College Football Showdown

Excitement in Austin: Formula One and College Football Clash

Excitement in Austin: Formula One and College Football Clash

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AUSTIN, Texas — Just outside the Circuit of the Americas, a large, vibrant billboard captures attention. On the right side, against a sleek black backdrop, the Formula One logo shines alongside the dates for concerts by Sting and Eminem, as well as the logos of the Texas Longhorns and Georgia Bulldogs. The left side proudly displays a bold proclamation that resonates throughout the city this weekend: “The biggest weekend ever.”

The United States Grand Prix has consistently been held during the college football season since COTA joined the F1 calendar in 2012, with the exception of 2022 when the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the schedule. Over the years, both sports have shared weekends in Austin, with memorable matchups like Texas’s loss to Oklahoma State in 2013, its victory over Kansas State in 2015, and the nail-biting overtime loss to Oklahoma State in 2017.

This weekend, however, features a monumental face-off, as the top-ranked Longhorns take on the No. 5 Bulldogs in what promises to be one of the most significant college football matchups of the year. The stakes are high with two powerhouse teams from the Southeastern Conference set to battle it out.

Adding to the buzz, ESPN’s College GameDay has set up shop in Austin, planning an array of cross-promotional activities between F1 and college football. With segments of SportsCenter broadcasting live from COTA and The Elle Duncan Show on-site, the atmosphere is electric. Legendary football coach Nick Saban took a thrilling hot lap on Friday, while Jess Sims quizzed several drivers, including Lando Norris, on their knowledge of American college football.

As Drew Martin, Texas’ Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director for External Affairs, noted, “It’s really exciting to see those two cultures blend because they’re both just formidable. Iconic American college football and Formula One racing create a unique spectacle, and to witness them come together like this is something truly special.”

The college football game day experience, especially within the SEC, is unlike any other. While traditional tailgating and cheers are a staple, Texas elevates the experience to a whole new level. Martin explained, “When you come to a football game at the University of Texas, you’re going to get the best of Austin culture, which starts with the live music capital of the world.”

Austin Hosts Historic Formula One and College Football Showdown

  • The Longhorns host a vibrant pregame concert at Longhorn City Limits.
  • The atmosphere embraces Austin’s street festival culture, showcased by Bevo Boulevard.
  • Smokey’s Midway pays homage to the state fair, adding to the festive environment.

Martin passionately stated, “It’s the absolute best football game day environment in the country, although it’s non-traditional. It’s not just vast parking lots for tailgating; it’s a giant three-ring circus, really.”

When College GameDay comes to town, the excitement intensifies. Texas received the news just over a week in advance, marking the fifth time in seven years that the university has hosted the show. Martin remarked that organizing such an event is a massive logistical challenge, but their long-standing relationships with ESPN facilitate smoother operations. “It’s more of a known entity of what they need, what they expect, and how to engage our fan base, especially since we won’t kick off until 7:30 p.m. Eastern time,” he added.

The day promises to be an exhilarating marathon — with College GameDay airing for three hours in the morning followed by a full slate of festivities. “I know the Europeans are particularly fond of college football, especially the halftime shows. It’s surprising, but we have groups from Europe that travel here for college football games as it enhances their weekend experience, particularly enjoying the marching band halftime performances,” said COTA chairman Bobby Epstein. “The pomp and circumstance surrounding a college football atmosphere is uniquely American, and our international visitors appreciate that.”

Epstein anticipates at least a quarter of a million people will gather in downtown Austin that Saturday for the Texas-Georgia game and F1 events, while Martin estimates over 100,000 fans will flock to the university campus that evening.

F1’s qualifying session runs from 5 to 6 p.m. CT, while the college football game kicks off at 6:30 p.m. CT, creating a tight schedule for those attending both events. Fortunately, security and traffic management won’t pose extra challenges, as COTA and Darrell K Royal Memorial Stadium are approximately 17.5 miles apart via toll roads. However, Eminem’s concert is also scheduled for the same night, further adding to the excitement.

To accommodate the packed agenda, COTA has introduced a special ticket package for football fans dubbed the ‘Split the Uprights Package.’ Epstein explained that while Saturday’s events were selling out quickly, primarily due to Eminem, there remained availability for Friday and Sunday. This package offers general admission tickets for both days at a reduced price of $289 — even cheaper than single-day tickets.

Martin mentioned that discussions about this package began in the spring, but it only materialized later as they assessed availability and strategized on how to activate the offer. “Texas football is sold out on a season basis, and knowing we wouldn’t have individual ticket inventory for this game, the opportunity to enjoy both sporting events was appealing to many,” he stated.

Executing a Saturday filled with such major events requires a high level of collaboration. “The first reaction was a deep breath knowing we were hosting an international F1 race alongside a massive college football game with significant national implications,” Martin reflected. “The challenge was how to tackle this.”

Austin Hosts Historic Formula One and College Football Showdown

University of Texas Athletics and Circuit of the Americas joined forces to ensure a seamless experience. While some factors are beyond their control, such as restaurant availability and hotel price surges, Martin acknowledged, “Some of these challenges are inevitable when you put two marquee sporting events on the same weekend.” Additionally, air traffic control is adjusting flight paths due to the influx of flights into the area.

As fans from around the globe converge on Austin for this extraordinary weekend, both sports find themselves at pivotal moments: F1 enters the final stretch of the season with a thrilling title race, and the Longhorns aim to solidify their ranking in their inaugural SEC year. “You can either be intimidated by it, worried about the potential hiccups, or embrace the excitement of knowing the entire world will be watching Austin, Texas, on the weekend of October 19,” Martin concluded.

Austin Hosts Historic Formula One and College Football Showdown

Top photo: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

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