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Formula 1 facing strange schedule conflict for next race

BBG News

As a seasoned Formula 1 enthusiast with a penchant for American sports and a dash of wanderlust, I must say, this upcoming October is shaping up to be a true spectacle! The United States Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) promises an electrifying weekend, especially since it’s the first time F1 will share the spotlight with SEC football in Austin.

Ever since COTA took over as the U.S. Grand Prix’s official venue way back in 2012, Formula 1 has been a regular at this exhilarating track for me as a fan. Only once, in 2020, was there an absence due to the unfortunate removal of the race from the calendar because of government restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

After a four-week hiatus commencing from last Sunday’s race at the Marina Bay Street Circuit in Singapore, the series prepares for its yearly visit to Texas, also known as the Lone Star State.

The 56-lap race in October, specifically the 19-lap sprint race, on the 20-turn, 3.427-mile (5.515-kilometer) Austin road course signifies the inaugural visit of Formula 1 to Texas that takes place within SEC territory.

United States Grand Prix schedule conflict?

On October 19th, Saturday, both the sprint race and Grand Prix qualifying are planned at the venue, while nearby Darrell K. Royal Texas Memorial Stadium is set to host arguably the most exciting NCAA football game of the 2024 season, particularly considering the introduction of a new 12-team playoff format.

Steve Sarkisian’s Texas Longhorns are currently ranked No. 1 in the country, and they are scheduled to host Kirby Smart’s No. 2-ranked Georgia Bulldogs in an SEC battle. The stadium is about a 25-minute drive from the circuit.

The F1 sprint race is set for 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time, and qualifying for the Grand Prix happens at 6:00 p.m. ET. The game’s start time varies between 2:30 p.m. ET and 7:00 p.m. ET because of the adaptable scheduling method employed by the NCAA.

The Darrell K. Royal Texas Memorial Stadium boasts 100,119 seats, ranking it as the ninth largest stadium globally. However, in a previous match, it accommodated an impressive 105,213 spectators. With such an important game ahead, it’s not unthinkable that this record might be surpassed.

Conversely, COTA boasts a staggering influx of around 430,000 spectators for the US Grand Prix weekend in both the recent past years. This places it among the top seven weekend attendances ever recorded in Formula 1.

To put it simply, you have an unusual situation where two of the most popular global events scheduled for 2024 are happening just 12 miles apart from each other, on the same day or night.

If your destination is either location, make sure to arrange your plans properly. Keep a close eye out for an official announcement about when the Longhorns versus Bulldogs match will begin.

Luckily, the US Grand Prix on October 20 is not expected to be disrupted by any major sports event. Tune in to ABC for live coverage from COTA, starting at 2:55 PM ET. Don’t forget to sign up for a free trial of FuboTV and catch all the action!

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2024-09-24 17:32

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