Circuit of the Americas

Not all that compared to other American tracks (La Guna Seca, Indy, etc. There’s nothing «special» about this track from a spectators perspective. No shade. Parking is a mess. Staff seems loosely managed. It’s a long walk to the track/​your seats with little entertainment on the way. Concerts and events here seem out of place tbh. Its too far from the rest of Austin to make an event reflect throughout the city.

Undoubtedly the best racetrack in the US. They just do everything right. The food, drink and etc are all good, although somewhat expensive. In my opinion though, whatever you pay it’s worth it. It’s just overall a great venue.
Although I haven’t attended the F1 races, I have attended three MotoGP races. The seating in the grandstands is excellent, but there are also many places to sit on a blanket and get great views of the racing as well. I’ve watched races at Turn 1,2,5, 14 and 18, just sitting on a blanket. The turn 15 grandstands are also a very good place to sit.
And being in (near) Austin, there’s a lot to do at night! On 6^th Street, for example, there’s practically a live band/​music in every other bar. Tons of fun! (But god forbid. Do NOT go there during the day! 6^th Street becomes panhandler/​drug addict central by day!)
I’m already looking forward to attending the MotoGP and, maybe, F1 too. I love CotA!

I am used to a fantastic facility in my hometown of Birmingham and Barber will ALWAYS have its trump card with the museum (see my review) but as far as world class track and everything that comes with it COTA is un effin real. Turn 15 stands allow viewing from 4 turns and a couple of straight aways. Everything about this place is 5 star. It is awesome.

it is a huge place. only went so I could see bernie sanders. I really wish they had bus service so that people could get there easily from austin, texas.

«He» was our tour guide. Yes that’s his name. He was amazing! Thank you for such a memorable experience. we couldn’t had made it better ourselves. And a private tour, can we do any better?! Thanks again he for making Austin a great place to remember for us and will see you soon

After experiencing the 2015 Singapore Grand Prix firsthand at Marina Bay Circuit, I now appreciate this place a little more than I did initially. Being able to view several turns concurrently while being comfortably seated in either an assigned seat or on a blanket, is a luxury that a street race simply cannot provide.
CotA is a world-​class entertainment facility. It is home to the United States Grand Prix, MotoGP, and a host of other motor sport– and music-​related events. Like any other dedicated circuit, it exists in the middle of nowhere to ensure noise complaints are kept to a minimum of zero.
However, CotA is not without its flaws. During my 2014 visit, parking turned out to be a logistical nightmare that was fueled in part by esoteric codes that were printed on the tickets combined with parking attendants who were even less helpful. It took a while to locate our assigned parking area, an offsite dirt lot located approximately 2 – 3 miles away from the facility. And though we were fortunate to avoid having to wait for the next shuttle to arrive, almost 45 minutes had elapsed from the time that we had originally arrived at facility. This make Hulk very sad.

My experience with the Circuit of the Americas facility has been limited to the annual MotoGP races early each year. From what I understand, the pricing of tickets is on par with other races elsewhere in the country. The track itself is absolutely beautiful with its red, white, and blue flair and the races have always been entertaining to watch (if not very close).
My complaints arise because of the cost of everything else at the facility. You’re not going to find food for less than $ 10 and it’ll probably be mediocre and barely qualify as a full meal. Drinks are obscenely expensive and limited to watered-​down mass production beers despite the abundance of local breweries in the area. Corporate wheelings and dealings have turned what should have been an awesome Austin experience into just another mass market sporting facility. Parking is stupidly expensive at the gate, so be sure to pay up-​front to get a parking permit.
Traffic in/​out of the area is an absolute nightmare. The lack of major roads create an enormous traffic jam following any event regardless of attempts to control flow. Don’t be surprised if you end up waiting over an hour to escape the area.

Went to the F1 race here. Even with bad weather it was absolutely amazing! F1 events are clean, upscale experiences, and COTA didn’t disappoint. THANK YOU for keeping it expensive and classy!

Formula One is Formula DONE!
My emotions range from disappointment to downright anger in the management of the 2015 Formula One race in Austin, TX. Specifically, the aberrant lack of personnel and resources to manage shuttle transportation to and from Circuit of the Americas (COTA).
On Friday, October 30, we had to wait almost 2 hours in torrential rain and wind gusts strong enough to knock me down to catch a shuttle back to our parking lot. People were forced to huddle behind cars to block the wind. There was absolutely NO PERSONNEL assisting us. We were soaked and as a result, my camera was ruined.
I thought the worst was over until we arrived at the shuttle parking lot. It was a muddy disaster. I called AAA to send a tow truck and they couldn’t help me. I went to the ONE Security/​Police person I could find and asked if COTA was going to send help for us. He said no. He went on to say that our only way out was to use the front loader vehicle from the recycling plant next door.
So I ran over to the front loader to see if he could help. He was a very nice young man and working very hard — but he didn’t speak English. One of the guys said «if you want him to pull you out, you’ve got to hang on to the front loader». However, I couldn’t hang on because there were too many other people hanging on.
But I followed… and when the time was right… I hopped on and clung on for dear life. It wasn’t safe and there was a VERY REAL possibility that somebody could’ve been hurt or killed. But we didn’t have a choice. It was getting dark and it was continuing to rain and the security person said that they do not patrol the area at night… so if you leave your vehicle… it’s at your own risk.
I hung on to the front loader for about 30 minutes before my turn. As we drove across the parking lot cow pasture, people were waving at us to stop. People were angry and cold and they had no one to help them. I felt sorry for a few of the older folks who just wanted to go home but didn’t have the energy to hold on to the front loader.
BUT THE MOST INSANE THING THAT HAPPENED WAS WAITING THREE HOURS FOR A SHUTTLE AFTER THE RACE ON SUNDAY. There was absolutely NO personnel available and it was incredibly hard to find the end of the line… it wound around three times in a spiral… it looked like a human hurricane! No one told us to do it… and frankly… I was prepared to get to the shuttle just to hear those fateful words «You’re in the Wrong Line».
This was the most poorly managed outdoor event I’ve EVER attended. Seriously… EVER!!! What was COTA thinking? The decision to not render aid or offer assistance to the folks stuck in the muddy shuttle parking lot may not be illegal… but it is certainly amoral. COTA should be ashamed. But from my experience, I think they couldn’t care less.

I have very mixed feelings about this circuit. It’s one of the most beautiful circuits I’ve ever been on and for the most part it looked like it was maintained properly. Or at least the track was. I’m sure the weather played a huge part in my overall experience of this circuit, but it would be a stretch to say that my F1 weekend in Austin went smoothly. We were very excited to as this was our first F1 race ever and we were fully ready to have an excellent time despite the hurricane like weather conditions. However, COTA made it somewhat difficult.
First things first, the parking situation was absolutely terrible. We had purchased Park and Ride tickets for all 3 days ahead of time but due to the bad weather, our parking lot had changed locations which was fine but COTA was obviously unprepared for the bad weather. People were waiting for HOURS for school busses to take them to and from COTA in freezing temperatures/​pouring rain. Ponchos and umbrellas did little to keep people dry. What was more annoying about this whole situation was that COTA obviously knew about the bad weather weeks or possibly months ahead of time. They made zero preparations for the bad weather and people were forced to step in ankle deep mud just to get some food or even use the restrooms. And the food? forget wanting to get napkins or even condiments and have fun eating a $ 15 corndog (tasty though). They were soaked and useless.
In addition, because of the pouring rain, people were seeking shelters underneath ANYTHING. We sought shelter in one of the biergartens and after about 45 minutes there, the fire marshalls were actually kicking people back out into the pouring rain if you weren’t drinking beer. I understand that it is a fire hazard but it’s 50 something degrees and everything was muddy. Plus, who wants to drink beer when they’re already wet and cold? Why not serve up some hot coffee or hot chocolate? COTA could have put up temporary shelters in preparation but they chose not to do so and instead made the whole event miserable. In addition, they were putting hay down in some of the areas that were VERY bad but it clearly wasn’t doing anything. Why not put down some boards instead? It would have done the trick and probably would have cost about the same.
Overall, my rating does not reflect the F1 race at all. The race itself was excellent and we had a fantastic view of the race. We had a great time and I’m sure my boyfriend will want to go again. However, in my good conscience, knowing that COTA raked in A LOT of money that weekend and chose to spend very little of it towards their customers makes me a little bitter inside. ²⁄₅

I accidentally «won» (I am not allowed to go to Auctions anymore) some fancy suite tickets to F1 this year and I had a fantastic time despite the crappy weather.
Seriously, this facility is top notch. The people that I interacted with were just super polite and friendly. Everything was kept pretty clean. Then the racing was just superb. Just flat out excellent.
Of course, the suite I was in was all-​inclusive… so I was able to drink all the Black Label Old Fashions I could handle (which turned out to be quite a few!), as well as stuff my face with plates full of all kinds of stuff. Deviled Eggs topped with Caviar and fresh Oysters were a real treat. The food was brought in from places like Lambert’s, Elizabeth Street Café, and others. We also got access to the «support paddock» (which we missed out on due to the rain), and we could go up in the tower as well (which usually runs $ 30). It really was an amazing time.
If you ever feel like splurging on some ridiculously priced tickets to F1, I highly recommend the «Trackside Hospitality Suite». It was fantastic.

I can’t give a REAL review. We came here for Cirque de Soleil which was held under a tent in the parking lot of this place. All I can say is parking is plentiful. The drive into it was a little scary though. It’s like an 8 lane highway with cars heading both directions and no lane markers. Weird.

I have been to this venue a few times for different races and events from small to enormous. Besides everything being overpriced (which should be expected) things go very well when there isn’t much of a crowd. When the events are big such as Formula One or THE X Games, things can get pretty bad.
Generally the parking situations are terrible and there is a level of disorganization that permeates The Circuit of The Americas.
Let me focus on the 2015 F1 weekend. This venue is not set up for bad weather. Many of the paths and walkways throughout the venue are not paved or cemented. When it rains they turn into muddy pits and streams. The whole place becomes a disaster zone. I expect something like that at a free music festival in a pasture not at an international sporting event.
The parking situation could not have been handled worst. There are plenty of reviews that detail how terrible it truly was. I will say I waited in line for two and half hours to leave the venue. I felt like I was being held hostage. I was also forced to pay at least $ 75 to get back and forth and to park.
I think there should be lawsuits for the way things were handled. I couldn’t in good conscience give more than two stars and those are for the race and for Elton John.

What a complete joke this year at F1. COTA should be ashamed of themselves and how POORLY parking was handled. Had F lot parking pass and COTA decided to turn it into a cash lot (which the ladies taking the $ 100 were pocketing all of the money I’m sure) thereby creating an utter nightmare trying to get into a lot I had a pass for they they decided to turn into public parking. Took 2 hours trying to get out of the lot after the race. No one had a clue on traffic control and they need to get their act together.
Never again COTA – shame on you guys for an absolute horrible logistics job this year.

It’s all good again at COTA. For such a pivotal race, could not pack more drama: hurricane Patricia packed a punch of rain and wind, program canceled on Friday, one practice, quals canceled on sat, 2 quals on sunday, third qual canceled all due to rain, surface water and lightening.
The race was one of the most exciting in years and years, culminating with our Lewis Hamilton winning his 3^rd word championship! Couldn’t be happier.
The circuit is outstanding, however, discovered some areas for improvement to make it perfect. I have to say those were never a problem in the last 3 years, but showed us under extreme circumstances: around the grand stand, most expensive tickets:
1. There are limited areas to shelter from high /​cold wind
2. There are only 3 places that sell coffee. The Velocity bar/​restaurant (indoors, warm area) was full to the brim, the called the fire marshals as it was way over capacity
3 walking around the track it’s normally ok on gravel paths, and sit on the grass slopes, with the amount of rain that hurricane Patricia brought, it was a muddy soup.
Putting things in perspective, it is one of the nicest experiences you will have among the new F1 circuits. Highly recommended

This multi-​million dollar is truly amazing and breathtaking, especially if you’re fortunate enough to get to at the very least do a parade lap on the track. Also, this track is HUGE! They have shuttles that will drop you off at different stops throughout the perimeter, but there is nothing like experiencing it on foot to see just how massive the facility is. COTA also has an observation tower as well as a stage for shows and concerts. It’s easily one of my favorite tracks, and i’m glad it’s just a few hours away from Houston.
As with any sports related facility, food is expensive. On average, you’ll spend at least $ 10 for a bite to eat. Fortunately they allow food trucks within the facility to help add variety. Water is also a premium at $ 4 for a bottle, where for the same price you can get a case of 24 or more. At least they allow you to bring one unopened bottle in with you into the facility.
Every year they have been finding ways to make visitors more comfortable, and this time I noticed that they put up several large tents with picnic tables for those that want a break from the hot sun.
There is PLENTY of parking, but if you don’t get there early enough, you may end up parking in a dirt lot. This may be an issue if it rains, so just keep that in mind.

This is an incredible track, and all the seats appear to be good ones. There is a full week of F1 racing of course, but there are other Motorsports as well. In addition, there are huge music venues and the X games. Improvements are being made for access, but do plan on walking and taking water for the walk. It is nothing like the waits and walking I experienced at F1 events in Europe, when it was just best to go the day before. I saw more work being done at one of the access roads a couple of weeks ago, preparing for October’s F-​1 race I guess. A tip, good prices can also be found at HEB. Keep an eye out if there are shuttles.
Bring cash! Drinks and food are expensive here!

I have gone to about 8 or so concerts here. The HEB lawn tickets are always reasonably priced and includes parking. They will sometimes have shuttles to get you closer to the venue if you don’t get the VIP parking.
I get emails for upcoming events but usually pay between $ 30 – 50 for the lawn tickets. They have lots of country bands playing here usually and it’s all outdoors.
They will have tons of food, booze booths along with people walking around selling beer and ATMs.
As far as the race track goes… I haven’t been to a race here but they have hookups for RVs and it’s a smaller track.

Good venue has food trucks. Beers are $ 8 for a can.
Lots of restrooms.
If you park in the «A» lot, you are a mile walk to the venue and there are shuttles running very frequent. B lot is right by entrance.
Have seen shows in section 103 and 203. Those are both fine. The 2inner sections, whether it be in the 100s or 200s (numbered differently on ticket sites) are fine. Lawn is way to far out and a clusterfuck to see anything.
Pay the extra to get seats.

Been here many times for shows and x games. Finally writing a review, saw Dave Matthews Band on weds. The walk from parking lot isn’t too bad, I would suggest walking rather than waiting for the shuttle. The thing that got them 3 stars is the will call line. No direction very unorganized. Waited about 30 mins when finally someone that works there walked by the line saying they have a whole other side to assist with will call. THANKS!!! They only open a couple windows for will call as well. Also you apparently can bring your own booze and drink while in line. Security check is fast and easy, merch was fast to purchase. Beer is standard $ 9 for dos equis. Had floor tickets which was awesome, not over crowded. Weather was perfect. Sound was awesome and the show was amazing!!! Restroom has lines but move quickly. Got a few more shows I’m attending here this year, will update.

Sehr gute Organisation im Vergleich zu anderen Rennstrecken. WC Anlagen gibts übetall. Nettes Angebot an diverser Verpflegung. Getränkevetkäufer servieren auch auf bis zu den Sitzplätzen. Gut beschildert wo was zu finden ist. Zig Verkaufsstände.