With the Formula 1 set for an explosive series of six races in eight weeks to close out the 2024 season, all eyes are on the United States Grand Prix au Circuit of the Americas (COTA). This year’s race takes on added significance as the battle for the championship heats up, with Lando Norris getting closer to Max Verstappensetting up a dramatic conclusion to the season. But it’s not just the F1 action that’s drawing attention in Austin — the weekend will also feature a clash of college Football at high stakes, making the capital of Texas the place to be for sports fans.
As the F1 season has evolved, the dominance of Red Bull Racing in the early stages gave way to a fierce challenge of McLarenwith Norris going on a winning streak. This competitive change has had an unexpected impact on ticket sales for the upcoming Austin Grand Prix. According to Bobby Epsteinpresident of COTA, the increase in interest coincided with Verstappen’s struggles, with fans eager to see a more open championship fight.
“I give a lot of credit to our fan base and the public… they are educated and they pay attention,” Epstein explained. “We are expecting another big crowd, especially for the Sprint race on Saturday, where we are expected to break records.”
This year’s Sprint race is expected to attract between 130,000 and 150,000 fans, with Eminem headlining the concert, having exceeded the sales of Taylor Swift of the previous year. COTA also expanded its indoor lawn area to accommodate an audience of approximately 100,000 people for the show, cementing the weekend as one of the largest sports and entertainment spectacles in recent memory.
“Running meets college football fever”
Adding to the excitement of the weekend, a major clash of college football between the Texas Longhorns et Georgiawith the Longhorns currently ranked among the top teams in the country. The coinciding events created a unique opportunity for fans to experience both worlds, with COTA even offering a ‘Football Package‘ special for F1 fans who want to watch the football match on Saturday while enjoying the races on Friday and Sunday.
“The football package is something fun that we came up with because Saturday was selling out mostly because of Eminem,” Epstein noted, adding that they wanted to give fans the flexibility to enjoy both events without having to make compromise.
Although Austin has hosted F1 races during college football weekends before, the Longhorns’ high ranking and the competitive nature of this year’s F1 championship combine to make this weekend especially monumental. Epstein highlighted how the convergence of sports fans from different backgrounds — F1 and college football — adds to the energy and atmosphere of the city.
“A weekend of unprecedented excitement”
For those with the stamina to tackle both events, Epstein even mentioned that fans can catch the first half of Eminem’s concert before heading to the football game, thanks to convenient shuttles connecting COTA and the stadium.
“There are a lot of people who plan to go to the first half of the concert and then go to the second half of the football game,” Epstein said, reflecting on the electric weekend that awaits fans.
The unique combination of intense F1 racing, world-class entertainment and quintessentially American college football delivers a weekend experience like no other in Austin. For European visitorsthe atmosphere around college football, especially the marching band halftime showshas a special appeal, further enhancing the international appeal of the weekend.
As Norris continues to put pressure on Verstappen and the Longhorns struggle to maintain their standings, one thing is certain: Austin is set to host one of the most exciting and diverse weekends of sports and entertainment that the city ever known. From the track to the field, this is a clash no fan will want to miss.
