The Austin City Council has delayed a vote on approving a concert put on by the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) during the Formula One race weekend.
The concert would need special approval because Auditorium Shores is already booked for the maximum number of event days for the year.
But that’s not the only conflict. The concert would be the same weekend as, and just across the street from, the Junior League of Austin’s “A Christmas Affair.”
The decades-old shopping event is the Junior League’s biggest fundraiser and planning for it starts two years in advance. Parking is already limited for the 30,000 or so anticipated attendees, and the Junior League believes adding another large event in the same area would be overwhelming.“The Junior League of Austin is not opposed to COTA events at all. We are currently concerned with the choice of venue and we would like to work with all stakeholders and necessary parties in order to find the most appropriate venue to meet both our needs and their needs,” Liz Fazio, Public Relations Chair for The Junior League of Austin, says.
The Circuit of the Americas issued this statement to KUT News:
“We understand the Junior League’s concerns and have met with them to discuss those. Our request for the event at auditorium shores is subject to City Council’s vote on August 16.”
