Circuit of the Americas Chair Bobby Epstein is "going all out to make" this year's F1 U.S. Grand Prix the "best ever," as he has signed Taylor Swift to perform a concert during the Oct. 21-23 event, according to Kirk Bohls of the AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN. Epstein said that he "expects to have to cut off ticket sales for the race, which drew 118,000 the first year." Epstein added if the F1 race does not "work this year, I'd say it'd be the end of it." Epstein: "The event will be here in the future, but I think it was critical we did something this year to increase the impact dramatically and demonstrate it's something people want to have around, especially coming off last year. We had to give people comfort and reason to come back." To ensure that, this year's event includes a 105% "money-back guarantee in the event" of inclement weather, as well as 20 bands performing. Epstein has "heard the rumors" about paying Swift up to $5M, "counting production costs." But he only said that her pay will "top" $1M. Epstein added, "The global nature of F1 was a big part of getting her. ... If we get 80,000 to 100,000 people, she could be worth half the crowd" (AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 9/27).
