Austin: On the fast track to an economic boom or the destruction of a culture?

Formula 1 racing is returning to the United States and it's crash landing right here, in Austin, Texas. Circuit of the Americas is the first Grand Prix racing facility build in the US, and it will host many prestigious racing events year-round, including the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix. This massive structure is located in southeast Austin, close to the airport. The effects of this new Austin addition may be incredibly beneficial or incredibly catastrophic. From an economic standpoint, the track is a welcome sight. But if you take into account Austin's one-of-a-kind culture and unique population, you may very well see the downside of Austin's latest attraction.

Only 15 miles from downtown Austin, it's bound to have a huge impact, whether positive or negative. CoTA is predicted to draw hundreds of thousands of fans from all over the world. Hello, traffic.  300,000 people are expected to flood into Austin every Grand Prix weekend. The massive influx of out-of-towners is going to alter Austin's makeup, making it a more international city and possibly threaten to diminish Austin's beloved counterculture. The design itself doesn't reflect Austin, but the European tradition of sculpting the architecture to the contours of the land. Austin will be tested to see if it's able to hold its own against the invading European cultures. I hope that the wonderful and quirky Austin personality isn't at stake. Although they designed this building with sustainability in mind, the environmental effects cannot be overlooked. It will require huge amounts of water and resources, will increase cars on our roads and planes in our skies, and will cause massive increases in pollution to our beautiful, green, environmentally-minded city. Austin prides itself on being an outdoor city. We have the rare gift of getting to live in a city, while being surrounded by nature. Try to name other cities that can say the same thing, your list won't be very long. This circuit threatens to cityify our beautiful, green Austin. Austin might morph from forest green to sidewalk gray as new establishments are built to accommodate the influx of people. 

Am I the only one who thinks it looks like this little race car just comes in and destroys everything? (And stereotype much?)

Watch this video to see international F1 drivers' positive feedback on the track being built in Austin.

However, the track is expected to make $400 million to $500 million annually, which is $4 billion to $5 billion over 10 years. It will also be a huge employer, making a point to hire locally. Not only is is an economic asset to Austin, it is also bringing world-class entertainment to our backyard. The first Formula 1 United States Grand Prix is set for November 16-18. Austin Fan Fest Powered by Mobil 1 will also take place at the same time, featuring three big concerts. After reading a lot about this new track, it's also apparent that Circuit of the Americas is being very careful to keep the track in line with Austin's values. There are plenty of positives, but I just hope Austin will be able to remain as charmingly odd as it's always been.