The first of five national competitions is set to take place in October 2024 at Capitol City BMX.
With over a thousand riders competing in each event, the partnership is expected to have a $13 million economic impact on the community, according to Austin Sports Commission Director Drew Hayes.
The backstory
Capitol City BMX is owned and operated by Travis County Parks as a part of the Northeast Metropolitan Park in Pflugerville. The track is home to USA BMX-affiliated races, clinics and coaching for adults and children as young as 3 years old.
The track previously hosted national BMX events in 2017 and 2022.
In preparation for the events, Travis County Parks is planning renovations to the track and its amenities.
Track Operator Tanner Sebesta said he looks forward to the new resources and sponsorships the events will create for future generations of Texas BMX racers.
"You usually have to drive 10-plus hours to get to the closest national race," Sebesta said. "More young riders will get to really see what racing is like at the highest level."
As a USA BMX Elite Pro and former U.S. Olympic long team member, Sebesta has coached all ages of racers since the track opened in 2015.
Zooming in
The USA BMX events will be funded by Texas' Event Trust Funds Program, a state initiative meant to attract more visitors. In recent years, the initiative sponsored other major sporting events, such as the 2017 NFL Super Bowl and the Formula One U.S. Grand Prix in 2019.
Quote of note
"Austin is a prime location for events like this. The families don't have to just stay in their hotels; they can do things in their downtime. They're going to be at our local restaurants, eating the barbecue and taking in the live music scene," Hayes said.
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