New city survey looks for F1 impact

AUSTIN (KXAN) - City officials hope a new survey of Austin business owners will help determine what worked and what did not during the 2012 Formula One race weekend.

Shelley Meyer is the co-owner of two Austin businesses that are just six blocks apart, but her F1 experience was a tale of two weekends. At her store, Wild About Music, near the corner of 6th and Congress, business was good.

"We had a good weekend," said Meyer. "I wouldn't call it as good as some others, but it was definitely on the high side. We saw some traffic. I think it was traffic coming from Fan Fest going to explore east 6th street, so we were kind of on that travel path."

But it was a different story at Meyer's other business, Austin Rocks, located on 2nd Street inside City Hall.

"Our Saturday business was about half what a normal Saturday would be with no event," said Meyer. "Our Sunday business was nonexistent."

Austin city leaders said this is the kind of feedback they need to hear to improve Formula One weekend for all businesses in the years to come.

"We want to hear every experience out there," said Kristina Witt, an analyst with the city Economic Growth Department. "We want to hear from as many people as possible and make sure that we can provide the best services and the best information to help businesses make the most of F1."

The deadline to complete the survey is February 8. So far, 200 business owners have participated. Complete the survey here .