The Circuit of the Americas welcomed a crowd of 440,000 for the three days of the United States Grand Prix, setting a new record for an F1 race weekend.
COTA has built a series of new grandstands to accommodate 40,000 more fans than in the 2021 race, as well as increased transit options to help people get to the circuit.
This has put the 500,000 spectator milestone in the Austin race’s sights for the future, and circuit manager Epstein believes it can be reached as early as next year, as long as the fan experience isn’t diluted.
“We can get there,” Epstein told Motorsport.com about the chances of reaching half a million fans.
“This year we are testing our bus system. It is much more robust. It goes from 300 to 600 buses, and if it works and loading times are possible, then this is really the litmus test.”
“We have to convert to mass transit and, if it works, we can grow. So it could be next year.”
COTA quickly ran out of additional tickets put up for sale for this year’s race, while the general entrance areas around the circuit were filled with fans, especially on the hill of Turn 1. Epstein said there was already a demand. of tickets that could have reached 500,000, but he said the important thing is that it gets to 500,000.
Epstein said there was already a demand for tickets that would reach 500,000, but said the most important thing was to ensure the fan experience was the best it could be.
This year COTA continued its tradition of hosting concerts during the race weekend: Ed Sheeran, Green Day and Interpol all performed on the circuit.
Measures were also taken to improve the supply of food and drinks for fans on the track, in order to improve the experience of the race weekend.
“I don’t think you have to necessarily get to 500,000 people, but grow carefully to make sure you can handle the crowd,” Epstein said.
“This is what we do. We don’t drive cars, we have nothing to do with the quality of the races. We can only worry about parking, food, sanitation, fun and entertainment. And that’s what we are all about. let’s concentrate “.
Next year’s United States Grand Prix will feature an American driver on the starting grid for the first time since 2015, as Williams intends to sign Logan Sargeant, pending his FIA super license.
Epstein believes the presence of an American driver on the starting grid is “more significant now than it would have been a few years ago” given the growth of F1 in the United States.
“It is much more important now than it was before. If you had asked me even three or four years ago, I would have told you it would have been great to have it, but now it will be great, great for him,” she said.
“The most important launch phase is to be able to get an American to the front row, because with the choices we have there isn’t much time to pay attention to an American. You want to see the winners.”
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