Well folks, you'd have to live here to understand the opposition. Some of it is opposition to motorsports in general, not just F1. If everyone in Austin was transported to the UK, 80% of them would immediately become
Guardian readers as, frankly, would I.:lol:
We've just gone through a tough, tough, state legislature session, where the Texas state budget was cut by $25 billion USD. That's not a reduction in growth, that's an actual cut of roughly 15%. That's unheard of here in this state.
We are literally laying off thousands of teachers, cutting health care payments to the indigent, forcing retirees to pay much more for prescription drugs, refusing to pave streets that need it, etc.
This kind of economic climate gives rise to all kinds of arguments that the $250 million ($25 million per year over 10 years) needs to go somewhere else. Given the economic impact on the area, I don't buy that argument, for in the long run F1 can be a huge moneymaker for central Texas if it succeeds.
But you are plunking down the highest-profile car race...in the world...in the only part of Texas that is considered "green" politically. There's bound to be some blowback, especially since the politicians who brought it here (with NO public notice whatsoever) are on the other side of the political fence from the folks who run Austin.
But the deal's done. And I wouldn't miss it ... for the world!