dave wilson
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dave wilson
ESPN Staff Writer Dave Wilson is a college football reporter. He previously worked at the Dallas Morning News, San Diego Union-Tribune and Las Vegas Sun.
Nate Sanders
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Nate Sanders
Editor-in-Chief, F1 October 18, 2024, 9:51am ETAs F1 begins in the Texas capital, Austin, with one of the biggest college football games of the season, No. 5 Georgia vs. No. 1 Longhorns. will be held. ESPN
If you love watching live sports, there’s no better place to spend this weekend than in Austin.
F1 is returning to the Texas capital for the annual U.S. Grand Prix, with practice beginning Friday and racing beginning Sunday (3 p.m. ET, live on ABC/ESPN+). On Saturday, Texas hosts Georgia at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium for one of the biggest college football games of the season (7:30 p.m. ET, live on ABC/ESPN+) ).
Austin’s Circuit of the Americas has been marked on F1 drivers’ calendars from the moment each season’s schedule was finalized, and the Longhorns are 6-0 and ranked No. 1 in the nation. . As a result, Sixth Avenue is definitely buzzing ahead of this weekend’s festival.
ESPN’s Dave Wilson and Nate Sanders dig into why Bat City is so enthusiastic about Saturday and Sunday’s featured events.
From Thursday through Sunday, ESPN will host an unforgettable experience that unites college football and Formula 1 fans in Austin, Texas. From College GameDay to SportsCenter, ESPN shows have on-site broadcasts.
Saturday: No. 5 Georgia – No. 5. 1 Texas, 7:30pm ET
• Watch on ABC/ESPN+ | Sign up now
Sunday: F1 Grand Prix at COTA, 3pm ET.
• Watch on ABC/ESPN+ |Subscribe now
Emerging sports powerhouse
Austin is proud of its roots as the “Live Music Capital of the World,” a $1.8 billion industry that draws crowds to events like SXSW and the Austin City Limits Music Festival, but the city… It is becoming a sports powerhouse. It continues to grow.
The first year Austin hosted an F1 race at COTA, attendance was estimated at approximately 117,000. Last year’s race drew more than 432,000 fans. According to COTA, it will generate $7 billion in economic impact for Austin and the state of Texas in its first 10 years, providing more than 64,000 jobs for Texans each year, and the Austin Business Journal They say it’s the equivalent of hosting a Super Bowl.
But the combination of racing and a big SEC football game is a new development.
Texas has traditionally held its biggest game of the season outside of the city, playing against the University of Oklahoma in Dallas during the Texas State Fair. Since 1936, the Longhorns have hosted a matchup of top-five teams in Austin only twice. In 2006, No. 1 Texas State lost to No. 2 Ohio State, and in 1970, the No. 1 Horns defeated No. 4 Arkansas State.
The Longhorns’ move to the SEC has significantly raised the stakes for home games and the level of excitement that comes with them. This will be the first time since 1958 that Texas and Georgia, one of the most prestigious programs in college football history, will meet during the regular season, and only the fifth time in history. Tickets are in demand and range from just under $400 to $7,000 on the secondary market.
As a result, the city’s tourism arm, Visit Austin, estimates hotel room rates for the F1/Texas vs. Georgia weekend will average around $477 per night. Austin Airport said it expected 40,000 departures on Monday and urged travelers to arrive at the event site about three hours early.
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Stinchcomb expresses concerns about No. 5 Georgia vs. No. 1 Texas game
SEC Network analyst Matt Stinchcomb also joins Out of Pocket to further explain the concerns the Bulldogs’ defense could face against the Longhorns’ offense.
The day begins in Austin as College Game Day joins in and the atmosphere reaches a fever pitch for the night game. Texas has improved its game-day experience in recent years (the nationally acclaimed Austin band Spoon performs free shows outside the stadium on Saturdays), and by the start of Game 4, students Burnt orange smoke rose from the section. Burnt orange LED lights illuminate the stadium. The scene at Darrell K. Royal Texas Memorial Stadium will be one of the loudest in history. — Wilson
The foundation of America’s F1 boom
Even before Netflix’s blockbuster hit Formula 1: Drive to Survive sparked a boom in interest in F1 in America, the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas was one of the regular events on the schedule. It was. A favorite circuit for drivers and a beloved venue for fans, COTA has consistently increased its peak attendance numbers in recent seasons, recording sellout after sellout.
The drivers, like many others, enjoy this race. Racing at COTA is always good, featuring a circuit with a perfect mix of slow and fast corners, perfect for good racing and overtaking opportunities. But the appeal of racing in Austin is bigger than the contours of the pavement. The stuffy European atmosphere that underpins many F1 races has completely disappeared in Austin, where drivers don cowboy hats and boots and embrace the city’s energetic vibe.
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Which teams will make the biggest upgrades when F1 returns to Austin?
As F1 returns to Austin this weekend, the ESPN Unwrapped crew discusses which teams can maximize their car’s performance with new upgrades.
Austin is currently one of only three healthy races in the country, but the inaugural event in 2012 was pivotal in ensuring the sport had a national presence. The relationship between F1 and the United States began at the 2005 United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS), when all but six cars pulled out of the race at the end of the formation lap due to a dispute over tires. And it was a big blow. F1 survived until the end of 2007 when its contract with IMS ended, but some questioned whether the sport could recover from the debacle in the United States.
The recovery was a success at a purpose-built circuit on the outskirts of Austin, giving Austin another foothold that it had long wanted to break.
Held against the backdrop of the legendary title battle between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, the 2021 race felt like a coming-out party for F1 in the US under Liberty Media. From the most famous to the most inexperienced drivers, a raucous crowd greeted every driver like gladiators entering the Coliseum and entertained them with great racing. This event was concrete proof of all the efforts F1 has put into destroying America.
But the work continues as Austin fights off competition from two other Grand Prix host cities in the United States. The Miami Grand Prix, held in May, has become increasingly popular since its 2022 launch, and last year’s inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix was an incredible sporting and commercial success. The challenge of constantly raising standards is one that circuit boss Bobby Epstein relishes. This year, ticket holders will be able to attend Eminem’s concert during the week, and for fans who want to attend both events, the circuit will be bused to Darrell K. Royal Texas Memorial Stadium. . — Sanders
