With Formula 1 poised for an explosive run of six races in eight weeks to close out the 2024 season, all eyes are on the United States Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas (COTA). This year’s race takes on added significance as the championship battle intensifies, with Lando Norris closing in on Max Verstappen, setting the stage for a dramatic conclusion to the season. But it’s not just F1 action that’s turning heads in Austin — the weekend will also feature a high-stakes college football showdown, making the Texas capital the place to be for sports fans.
As the F1 season has unfolded, Red Bull Racing’s dominance in the early stages has given way to a fierce challenge from McLaren, with Norris stringing together a series of wins. This competitive shift has had an unexpected impact on ticket sales for the upcoming Austin Grand Prix. According to Bobby Epstein, chairman of COTA, the surge 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 audience…they are educated and they’re paying attention,” Epstein explained. “We’re expecting another big crowd, especially for Saturday’s Sprint race, where we should shatter records.”
This year’s Sprint race is expected to draw between 130,000 and 150,000 fans, with Eminem headlining the concert, having outsold Taylor Swift from the previous year. COTA has also expanded its infield lawn area to accommodate a near 100,000-strong crowd for the show, cementing the weekend as one of the biggest sports-entertainment spectacles in recent memory.
“Racing Meets College Football Fever”
Adding to the weekend’s excitement is a major college football clash between the Texas Longhorns and Georgia, with the Longhorns currently ranked as one of the top teams in the country. The coinciding events have created a unique opportunity for fans to experience both worlds, with COTA even offering a special ‘Football Package’ for F1 fans who want to attend the football game on Saturday but still catch the racing on Friday and Sunday.
“The football package is something fun we came up with because Saturday was selling out largely because of Eminem,” Epstein noted, adding that they wanted to give fans flexibility to enjoy both events without having to compromise.
While Austin has hosted F1 races during college football weekends before, the Longhorns’ high ranking and the competitive nature of this year’s F1 championship have combined 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 in the city.
“A Weekend of Unparalleled Excitement”
For those with the stamina to tackle both events, Epstein even mentioned that fans can attend the first half of Eminem’s concert before heading to the football game, thanks to convenient shuttle routes connecting COTA and the stadium.
“There’s plenty of people planning to go first half of the concert and then go to the second half of the football game,” Epstein said, reflecting on the electric weekend awaiting fans.
The unique combination of F1’s intense racing, world-class entertainment, and quintessentially American college football provides an unparalleled weekend experience in Austin. For European visitors, the atmosphere around college football, particularly the marching band halftime shows, has a special allure, further enhancing the international appeal of the weekend.
While Norris continues to put pressure on Verstappen and the Longhorns fight to maintain their top ranking, one thing is for sure: Austin is about to host one of the most exciting and diverse weekends of sport and entertainment the city has ever seen. From the track to the field, this is a showdown no fan will want to miss.
