Circuit of The Americas Chair Bobby Epstein said that it would "make sense" for new F1 owner Liberty Media to "buy some circuits as part of their long-term strategic plans for the sport," according to Alan Baldwin of REUTERS. Epstein said he would be happy to do a deal "at the right price." However, he added that there had been "no discussions with Liberty." Epstein: "It would have to be part of any long-term strategy for them. I see a lot of logic and business reasons for them to own some circuits." F1's previous business model, which the new owners have said they want to change, had been "based on television revenues and circuits paying significant hosting fees with an annual escalator." COTA's annual fee has been reported at around $33M, with $25M coming from state subsidies. Epstein: "All of the circuits struggle under the current environment." F1 Managing Dir of Commercial Operations Sean Bratches said there were a "number of different models that can be pursued" when asked about the possibility of Liberty buying circuits. Epstein said that COTA "could become the 'brand-building headquarters for F1' in North America and a permanent home while other races came and went" (REUTERS, 3/29).
TAKE BACK THE NIGHT! In Austin, Kevin Lyttle reports Justin Timberlake will perform at this year's U.S. Grand Prix on Saturday, Oct. 21, the night before the F1 race. Last year, Taylor Swift performed in front of a "track-estimated crowd of 80,000, created a social-media buzz and received plenty of credit for COTA’s revival weekend." Crowd counts had trended downward since the first race in '12, but last year "produced a record weekend attendance listed at 269,889." Epstein said, "These things are very difficult to put together. We’ve been working on this since November. It helped that Taylor’s camp gave us the seal of approval." COTA in the past three years has "booked Elton John, Usher, Swift and now Timberlake" (AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 3/30).
