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"Will Ecclestone/McCombs pay property taxes to Austin? Is there a hidden taxbreak?" Yes, and no. The City of Austin is currently preparing to annex the track property. They see the value even if you do not. The investors will be paying property taxes to the City of Austin and the Del Valle Independent School District (a relatively disadvantaged district which will benefit tremendously from the track in the form of money and specialized educational programs formed by F1 and Cambridge University). There is a tax break, not uncommon for large projects, but it is by no means hidden. The property will receive a break on only a portion of the property due to the restoration of previous Blackland Prairie areas. As to the supposed football conflict, the University of Texas Longhorn Football team will be out of town playing at Kansas State on the weekend of the event. McCombs is an avid supporter of the University of Texas. You may have heard of the McCombs Business School. Yes, that avid. Hellmund is a native Austinite and vocal support of University of Texas Athletics. He is very tuned in to the importance of Texas Football to the city and the state and is very well aware of the potential hotel and traffic issues, among others, that a conflict with a Longhorn home game would likely create. Sure, there are always legitimate concerns when faced with a project of this scope, some not so legitimate. Practically every objection you have raised here is born of fallacy or intentionally propagated myth. A bit of research into the facts of the matter would truly be advised for your next piece.