Austin Business Journal 2011 Austin/San Antonio Growth Summit

A.D. Willis Company sponsored the event for the second straight year.

On September 9, 2011 A.D. Willis Company sponsored the Austin/San Antonio Growth Summit, an annual event hosted by the Austin Business Journal. Every year the event brings political and industry leaders together to learn about developments along the I-35 corridor between Austin and San Antonio that will impact the economy and region as a whole.

This year the nearly 500 attendees were eager to hear about Circuit of The Americas' Formula One (F1) Racing project, and the event featured speakers from the company which included Red McCombs, founding partner, and Steve Sexton, president.

Located just east of SH-130, the F1 Racing project is a 1,100-acre development with 330 acres of permanent buildings. The track itself is 3.4 miles long with 20 turns and an elevation change of 133 feet. It will generate 200 to 300 full time jobs and 4,000 seasonal and part time positions. It is expected to have an economic impact of $300 million annualy on the Central Texas region.

A single F1 race is estimated to have a world-wide audience of 500 to 600 million, while the actual attendance at a F1 racing event is around 120,000 with nearly 95,000 of those expected to come from out of state. The race is a one-day event, however the F1 project is a 365-day-a-year multi-functional facility that will not only attract other types of racing, but will also be the site of concerts, festivals and corporate events. The site will also feature a medical facility that will serve as a training center for police, EMS and other first responders.