Fruits
- Apple
- Orange
- Banana
- Grapes
The Texan downplayed the idea that MotoGP and Formula 1, owned by Liberty, would eventually host races on the same weekend at his Circuit of the Americas (COTA). Austin is the only US stop for MotoGP, but attracts a much smaller audience compared to the Formula 1 Grand Prix held there. Liberty, based in the US, recently announced the acquisition of the company controlling MotoGP, Dorna. Currently, Formula 1 has three Grand Prix races in the United States. “We’re very excited about this, probably more than anyone,” said Epstein, CEO of Circuit of the Americas, to reporters on Thursday. “MotoGP came to the US and didn’t get much attention. Once they leave, that’s it, and you don’t hear about it for another 51 weeks. We’re just hoping more people discover it. Hopefully we’ll benefit greatly from this acquisition,” he added. Epstein also mentioned that Liberty doesn’t need to change the sport, but rather increase its visibility through broadcast and social media deals. “Right now, there are enough fans for one race. Even then, it’s not a full house. There aren’t enough fans for more than one race,” he stated. When asked about the possibility of MotoGP and Formula 1 sharing a weekend at the circuit, Epstein acknowledged the complications. “Both have different sponsors, activations, and manufacturers. From that perspective, we would be overwhelmed. Plus, a lot of changes would be needed to the track signage. It’s possible, but I’m not sure if it’s likely,” explained Epstein. On the Formula 1 side, Epstein announced that COTA was offering fans the opportunity to profit by selling back their early general admission tickets for $350. This is an unusual promotional strategy. Over 10,000 of these tickets have already been sold for $299 each, and Epstein is confident they will be worth much more when the lineup of shows is announced later this month. He believes most fans will keep their tickets. In the past, headline shows have included Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars, Pink, and Billy Joel. (Reported by Alan Baldwin)
