COTA horror stories?

"Chairman Kaga" (mike-mckinnon)
11/12/2013 at 12:54 • Filed to: COTA

All I'm hearing from the Interwebs about the USGP is that thus far, it's a Mongolian clusterfuck. Tickets, parking passes, overcharges, dogs and cats living together... mass hysteria.

I'm not going this year due to the arrival of my second daughter a few months ago (leaving wifey home alone with a toddler and an infant for 3 days while I galavant about with the creme de la creme of international racery is not a recommended path to marital bliss), but as an Austinite and a F1 fan, let's say I'm concerned. I personally do not think COTA management has been particularly deft with their response, and unfortunately their silence has extended to those in the blogosphere who could mitigate the damage.

So what's your experience been? What have you done to address the problem? Any other personal or professional thoughts on the problems?

DISCUSSION (16)

PushToStart > Chairman Kaga
11/12/2013 at 13:02

Honestly, last year wasn't bad at all, besides that the human traffic on the people bridges going over the track was horrific. No one was moving and so it took 20 minutes just to get across to the other side of the track. I heard that they might've built more for this year (?) so that will definitely help if that's the case. Other than that, last year went by very smoothly for me. This year though, I was very concerned about the whole ticket issue. It took the tickets WAY too long to get to be delivered (got them in the mail on Sat.), and last year I had them in mid October if I remember correctly. Hopefully that's not an indicator of how the weekend will go or I will be royally pissed off, since last years USGP was executed very well.

GOAT__RODEO > Chairman Kaga
11/12/2013 at 13:07

We didn't make it out to the track, but plenty of friends did and suggested the problems were highly overrated.

Personally, I thought it was fun walking downtown and seeing the large shitshow that was going on there; tons of people, cars, things to do... and best of all: free.

Chairman Kaga > PushToStart
11/12/2013 at 13:10

I thought last year was impossibly well managed. Most folks I talked to were totally understanding of the problems that did exist, like not enough food or vendors. The shuttles were a breeze, except for Sunday evening at the Travis County Expo Center, but that's because the Sheriff's Deputies packed up and left, leaving tens of thousands of people to navigate out of the lot with no traffic control. Not necessarily COTA's fault.

The expectations for this year are higher, and dropping the ball before the game even begins is not a good sign. I've heard stories of people coming from overseas canceling due to lack of tickets and not being able to confirm they will be available once they arrive. Of course, for every one horror story like that, there are 20,000 people who have no problems at all. Squeaky wheel and such. Still, from a PR and marketing perspective, this ain't good.

Icemanmaybeirunoutofthetalents > Chairman Kaga
11/12/2013 at 13:14

I'd be wary of onsite parking this year. It is mainly dirt and it rained a bitthis morning and it looks like it might rain more today/night. Slushy ground and fwd rental cars don't mix. Nor wet grassbanks and tons of people. Oh I hope it doesn't rain and spoil it for race fans.

Chairman Kaga > Icemanmaybeirunoutofthetalents
11/12/2013 at 13:18

If it's going to rain it'll be Saturday. Otherwise sunny and mid 70s all weekend. Looks a repeat of last year's weather!

Icemanmaybeirunoutofthetalents > Chairman Kaga
11/12/2013 at 13:25

Last year had great weather. Cool mornings and sunny days.

PushToStart > Chairman Kaga
11/12/2013 at 13:34

Exactly. That's what concerns me is that the first experience of this years GP (tickets) was not a good one. I'm hoping it's not an inidcator that is saying "look out, this is going to be a train wreck" because even though last year went well, if this USGP fails then it could ruin it for years to come.

Chairman Kaga > PushToStart
11/12/2013 at 13:36

Keep in mind support races have decreased from 3 to 2 this year, parking/shuttles is now $5 a day (or is it each way?), no FanVision, and apparently, if rumors is to be believed, local food vendors have been replaced by corporate sellers.

Hmm.

PushToStart > Chairman Kaga
11/12/2013 at 13:40

Hmm..... Well some of that doesn't sound too good, does it... I guess we'll just have to wait and find out. I just hope it doesn't suck since I've been looking forward to this ever since I got home from last years' race.

Chairman Kaga > PushToStart
11/12/2013 at 13:45

And no Kimi and possibly no Fernando.

I'm desperate for this thing to succeed but man, COTA management needs to step up their customer relations, or at least recognize they can't survive on the jet setters alone. Again, a thoughtful Hmm.

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > Chairman Kaga
11/12/2013 at 14:12

To begin: COTA is managed by half-wits.

That said, last year was managed incredibly well given the circumstances. I am a little afraid of the changes they made to the shuttles; I thought the parking at the Travis County Expo Center was a brilliantly convenient move, especially for those (me) staying on the east side of town, and I'm a little fearful that allowing the shuttles to park a bit closer may prove problematic. On the other hand, it may work out just fine.

Chairman Kaga > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney
11/12/2013 at 16:05

What was so convenient about the expo center was access to the 130 toll road. I;m afraid between football and F1, the central corridor will be the worst it's ever been. And that's saying something, after JUSt spedning 90 minutes going 8 miles up I35.

I'v said it once and I'll say it again - COTA management is customizing their business model according to the super-wealthy, and virtually ignoring the motorsports fans of average means.

Ti my eyes, success would look something like a hybrid of the carnival atmosphere of LeMans with the access and family-fun vibe of Daytona or Indy. Why does it have to be Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous? I know the image of F1 around most of the rest of the world is high fashion, expensive booze, yachts (and that's actually how they're promoting it here, if you've been listening to any local morning show radio or see the localized social media ads). I don't get it.

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > Chairman Kaga
11/12/2013 at 16:19

Agreed on all points. Luckily I'll be staying around MLK and 183, so I'll still be able to hop down 130 to hit the remote parking shuttles that they've set up for this year.

COTA management has that backwards, too. The super-wealthy have things squared away as far as awareness and pleasantries go; it's the peasants that need to be marketed & catered to, and I think that can absolutely be done without sacrificing the support and comfort of those spending their weekend in helicopters and the super-suites.

I don't want the shit to be a NASCAR race, but the LeMans/Indy hybrid sounds great.

I'm just convinced that my calling in life is to manage that facility, and I'd be glad to step in today and start saving it now.

Chairman Kaga > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney
11/12/2013 at 17:02

I'd be more than happy to be at least tangentially involved in PR and marketing.

Wildstar > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney
11/12/2013 at 17:17

I'm not hopeful that it will all work out. Like you, I thought last year worked amazingly well given that the place wasn't really finished yet. I don't really understand why some of the food vendors ran out of food at lunch on Friday, and never recovered, but that was not COTA's fault. The ticket debacles(late and crummy ticket stock) is their fault. I fear the parking will be horrific. And I'm being optimistic...

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > Wildstar
11/12/2013 at 17:37

Still some rumors out there that they'll be rectifying the ticket situation. As I've heard it, they had printer issues or some crap like that; either way, I'm not going to extrapolate from that incident.

That said, the parking the is a gamble. They said they were overly prepared last year, which may actually be true (but really means they spent too much money), but being unprepared would be a far greater mistake.