Amid increasing optimism that the race will go ahead, USGP organisers have revealed deatils of their ticketing process.
There may still be some doubts over the viability of the Circuit of the Americas as a host for this year's United States Grand Prix, but the venue has begun the process of selling tickets for the November round.
The first race the organisers face is to get construction of the circuit and its facilities completed in time for the return of the USGP to the F1 schedule. Much of the initial earthworks were completed before relations with the workforce broke down, and the result of them downing tools was to set the project behind schedule while financial wrangling took over.
With the state comptroller backtracking on advance payments from Texas' Special Events Fund, and chief financier Bobby Epstein apparently falling out with the man behind the race, Tavo Hellmund, both event and circuit appeared to be in jeopardy, but an alternative contract was agreed between Epstein and
Bernie Ecclestone that has secured the event's place on the calendar.
Recent media reports are now claiming that the circuit and its facilities could be ready as early as August, with
Italiaracing.net revealing that 'workers are working six days a week to complete the paddock buildings and grandstands'. The
Austin American Statesman newspaper confirmed that 'tonnes of equipment and hundreds of workers' had arrived on site since the new accord between Epstein and Ecclestone had been agreed, although the actual track surface will be among the last things to appear.
Amid the new optimism that the Circuit of The Americas will be completed in time, the venue has opened its ticketing process by launching its 'select seating wait list' for events at the track, headed by the USGP. The select seating wait list is the first of two ticketing stages designed to help fans purchase seats.
“We are receiving great interest in tickets every day from fans around the world,” said chief marketing and sales officer Geoff Moore, “In order to effectively manage the demand, we have created a two-stage ticketing process to help fans better understand the opportunities available. We want every fan to get the ticket that is right and
affordable for them. In this first stage, we are showing off the incredible entertainment experience our main grandstand offers.”
Obtaining a personal seat license is the first step in the initial stage of ticketing and, from Monday 23 January through Monday 13 February, fans may join the select seating wait list to be first in line to purchase a personal seat license, which will go on sale 1 March. Personal seat licenses will range in price from $1000 to $5000 per seat, depending on proximity to the start/finish line and amenities.
A personal seat license entitles its holder to purchase tickets for
all racing events at Circuit of The Americas for the next 15 years. The license also gives its holder a priority position to purchase tickets for entertainment events held at Circuit of The Americas for the duration of the license.
