Austin’s “Biggest Weekend” Packs the City and Overwhelms the Airport
Spurs, Longhorns and F1 converge on the capital, and the rideshare line at Austin-Bergstrom is the first casualty.
Austin is the center of the Texas sports world this weekend, and the crush of visitors is already testing Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS).
Three major events are on the calendar.
The San Antonio Spurs took on the Houston Rockets at Moody Center last night.
The Texas Longhorns face Ole Miss at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium this evening.
The Formula 1 United States Grand Prix rounds out the weekend Sunday at Circuit of the Americas.
Two-hour waits at the curb
The airport has been the pinch point. Travelers reported waiting up to two hours at the rideshare pickup area, with some calling the airport “a madhouse.”
The FAA also delayed some flights Friday.
Capital Metro buses were available at the airport to carry passengers downtown for $1.25, but many travelers stuck with rideshare anyway.
None of this is new.
AUS has long said the Monday after F1 is among its busiest days, and officials routinely urge passengers to arrive 2.5 hours before domestic flights and three hours before international ones. Last October, more than 40,000 travelers were expected to depart on a single day after a combined F1 and Longhorns weekend, clogging airport roads and nearby highways.
Fixes on the horizon, but not this weekend
Airport officials say they plan to change the rideshare setup.
The pickup area, tucked beneath the rental car facility and a long walk from the terminal, is slated to move closer to the front doors as part of the planned Arrivals and Departures Hall. The change is expected in 2027, when the airport plans to remove the Red Garage and replace it with the new Yellow Garage, which will hold roughly 7,000 spaces.
Transit is the longer-term question.
Early Project Connect plans included a light rail line to the airport, but inflation and supply chain pressures forced the city to scale back. The approved Phase 1 route runs from 38th Street to Oltorf Street to Yellow Jacket Lane and stops short of AUS. That prompted the Airport Advisory Commission to call for better transit access, with commission secretary Patrick Rose saying Austin needs to connect its transit systems to the airport.
Rail service to the terminal could still come within the next decade, but it is not part of the first phase.
What travelers should do now
Until then, build in extra time.
Consider the $1.25 CapMetro bus. The No. 20 line runs between AUS and downtown. Check flight status often and leave for the airport early. If this weekend is any preview, the curb will be crowded.
Sources:
- Houston Chronicle, “Austin Apple Maps update F1”: https://www.chron.com/culture/article/austin-apple-maps-update-f1-22478265.php
- Houston Chronicle, “Formula One driver roasts Texans”: https://www.chron.com/sports/article/formula-one-driver-roasts-texans-21100340.php
- CultureMap Austin / KVUE, “Austin airport’s rideshare pickup will move closer to arrivals in 2027”: https://austin.culturemap.com/news/travel/airport-pickup-area-moving-closer/
- VisaVerge, “Austin Airport Gridlock as 40,000 Travelers Exit After F1 UT Game”: https://www.visaverge.com/news/austin-airport-gridlock-as-40000-travelers-exit-after-f1-ut-game/
- FOX 7 Austin, “Long lines expected at Austin airport following Formula 1 weekend”: https://fox7austin.com/news/austin-airport-bergstrom-record-travel-formula1-f1-weekend
- KVUE, “With light rail no longer expected to extend to the Austin airport…”: https://kvue.com/article/money/economy/boomtown-2040/austin-airport-alternative-transportation/269-007f1eaf-6032-4b48-a8b4-d791a4446015
- KXAN, Airport Advisory Commission transit recommendation: https://digital-release.kxan.com/?p=1792973
Travis County Early Voting: Week One by the Numbers
Unofficial totals through Friday, Oct. 23, 2026
Travis County voters came out in force during the first five days of early voting. Through Friday, 212,041 ballots had been cast in person and by mail, or 22.35% of the county’s 948,575 registered voters, according to unofficial figures from the Travis County Clerk’s Elections Division.
A steady pace
In-person turnout held remarkably steady all week. Monday was the busiest day, with 40,777 voters at early voting locations. Thursday was the slowest, at 37,774. Friday bounced back to 40,453, about 7% above Thursday and the second-highest day of the week.
Mail ballots told a different story. Monday’s tally included 9,170 mail ballots received, then the daily count dropped to between roughly 500 and 1,100. That Monday surge is why Friday’s overall total (41,378) sits about 3% below the Monday-through-Thursday average, even though in-person turnout was up.
Of the 212,041 total, 198,853 voters used early voting locations, 12,698 returned mail ballots, and 490 cast limited ballots.
Where voters showed up
Five locations led the county over the first five days:
| Rank | Location | 5-day total |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bee Cave City Hall | 8,380 |
| 2 | Ben Hur Shrine Center | 8,103 |
| 3 | PfISD Rock Gym | 7,524 |
| 4 | Austin Energy Headquarters | 7,006 |
| 5 | Typhoon Texas Waterpark | 6,712 |
Bee Cave City Hall drew roughly 4.2% of all in-person voters on its own.
At the other end, the five quietest locations were:
| Rank | Location | 5-day total |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (lowest) | Travis County Civil and Family Courts Facility | 2,325 |
| 2 | Cepeda Branch Library | 2,405 |
| 3 | Chinatown Center | 2,678 |
| 4 | Community Center at Del Valle | 2,714 |
| 5 | Riata Trace | 3,166 |
The busiest site saw about 3.6 times as many voters as the quietest. The Travis County Correctional Complex reported no data and is excluded from these rankings.
A note on reading the numbers
Raw counts say more about a location’s size, hours and surrounding population than about voter enthusiasm. A busy site in a fast-growing suburb isn’t necessarily “more engaged” than a smaller site in a different part of the county. Turnout rates by area would give a fuller picture, but the daily totals file doesn’t break out registered voters by location.
What’s next
Early voting continues through Friday, Oct. 30, ahead of Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 3.
All numbers here are unofficial and subject to change.
Source: Travis County Clerk, Elections Division, Unofficial Early Voting In Person and By Mail Totals for the Nov. 3, 2026 Joint General and Special Elections.
Daniel Vasquez, 31, has been charged with first‑degree felony murder after a March 2026 unprovoked assault on 62‑year‑old Alonzo Mabry at the Austin Central Library left the victim with severe head injuries that led to his death in June. (Austin Police Department)
Shane James faces multiple capital murder charges in connection with a double homicide in Bexar County and a string of shootings in Austin that killed four and injured three others, including two police officers. A competency hearing is set for Monday, and if he is found competent, jury selection will proceed on Tuesday. (Austin American-Statesman)
Another body was recovered from Lady Bird Lake on October 16, renewing attention to deaths in the waterway that have raised questions about public safety. Austin police said the latest death isn’t being investigated as a homicide, and investigators found no obvious signs of trauma.
In Travis County, National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with free, anonymous drop‑off at multiple locations.
WEATHER
FRIDAY’S HIGH / LOW TEMPERATURES
AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
CAMP MABRY
5-DAY FORECAST / AUSTIN, TEXAS
Halloween is next week and FOX Weather is taking a look at early forecasts for the holiday. Find out which regions could see wet weather and cooler temps and which will be warm and dry.
State Rep. James Talarico brought his populist U.S. Senate campaign home to Austin on Friday, aiming to maximize early-voting turnout in the capital city, while Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton courted voters in Selma.
Previously unreleased records from Attorney General Ken Paxton’s 2023 impeachment investigation reveal that a blind trust established for him and his wife, state Sen. Angela Paxton, operated with little actual oversight or independence.
Among its transactions was a $600,000 investment in a construction materials firm launched by Scott Sherman—a North Texas developer who had completed a federal prison term for mortgage fraud just four years prior. (Texas Tribune)
Some experts say the results of a new congressional map in Texas may not deliver the Republican gains once expected.
Latino voters in one part of Texas could help decide control of the U.S. House of Representatives in next month’s midterm elections.
PODCASTS
The Democratic nominee for governor on her appeal to MAGA voters and her refusal to engage in the “culture wars.”
The guys run through the early Early Voting numbers with one week to go before the election and dive into the last-ditch ploys of the campaign.
It seems some of the biggest names in Texas GOP politics didn’t get the “One Party, One Mission” memo: Sen. John Cornyn, Ag Commissioner Sid Miller, and former Speaker Dade Phelan were all on national broadcast TV this week saying something very different.
Plus a history lesson from Karl Rove.
Then WFAA Senior Investigative Journalist Tanya Eiserer joins us to talk about the search for the origin of those mysterious transgender pamphlets mailed to kids all over Texas.
And finally: A reality check on just how many more Republicans there are in Texas than Democrats. Will they get out to vote?
(Episode from October 23, 2026)
In the October 25 episode, Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate James Talarico shares what he learned from Beto O’Rourke and Ted Cruz’s past campaigns as he makes his final pitch to voters. Mayes Middleton, the GOP nominee for Texas Attorney General, dismisses suggestions that show a close race with his opponent.
And Sean Pease, the president of the Dallas Police Association, reveals why the influential organization is now the latest advocate to save Dallas City Hall.
Elon Musk is pumping about $200 million into the election to help Republicans. So then is Musk on the ballot?
Also, Governor Abbott said he hit pause on new data centers — but that didn’t really happen.
And if this becomes a blue wave election could the federal government stop the certification?
(Episode from October 23, 2026)
Bexar County election officials are responding to complaints from voters who say touchscreen voting machines have changed their selections during early voting.
In a statement Friday, Bexar County Elections Administrator Michele Carew said her office is monitoring the concerns and communicating with the voting machine manufacturer to determine whether any action is needed. (Texas Public Radio)
The director of the embattled agency that oversees Texas’ youth prisons has resigned, according to a message she sent to staff members on Friday morning. (Texas Tribune)
Attorney General Ken Paxton sued Open AI and its affiliated entities, including its CEO Sam Altman, for imposing negative side effects on consumers.
Four Texas State University fraternity pledges were arrested after witnesses reported seeing a man being forced into a pickup truck while yelling to be released, according to San Marcos police.
The Texas Animal Health Commission released movement restrictions for areas of Texas previously designated as New World screwworm Infested Zones.
Families whose homes were destroyed during this year’s floods in Kerr County say they don’t where to turn following FEMA’s denial of individual assistance funding last month.
SPORTS
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: With back-to-back three-point losses to Oklahoma and Florida derailing their early momentum, Steve Sarkisian and the Texas Longhorns enter tonight’s prime-time showdown against Ole Miss at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium under a suffocating spotlight.
Sitting at 4-2 (1-2 SEC) and on the brink of playoff elimination, the Longhorns face immense pressure to fix a sluggish offense that managed just 13 first downs last week. At the center of it all is redshirt freshman quarterback Arch Manning—described by Sarkisian as having a new, “edgy” disposition amid relentless national criticism—who must prove he can spark the offense, handle the heat, and keep Texas’ season alive against a formidable Rebel squad.
TEXAS A&M / TEXAS TECH / TEXAS STATE / HOUSTON
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Key high school football scores from Friday night, across the Austin area:
Featured Marquee Matchups
- Westlake 38, Lake Travis 17
In the Battle of the Lakes rival game, Westlake pulled away to secure a convincing district win over Lake Travis.
- Round Rock 49, McNeil 7
Round Rock dominant victory over McNeil at Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex.
Austin Metro & Surrounding Area
- Dripping Springs 42, Hays 0
- Waco Christian 30, Valor North Austin 18
- Cedar Ridge 68, Stony Point 29
- Liberty Hill 58, Long Creek 28
- Georgetown 41, A&M Consolidated 38
- Davenport 77, Taylor 10
- Stephenville 42, Jarrell 20
- Giddings 71, Austin Achieve 0
- Thrall 21, Rogers 3
Central Texas Private Schools
- Veritas Academy 42, Saint Mary’s Hall 7
- Hill Country Christian 61, Annapolis Christian Academy 0
- Central Catholic 31, St. Michael’s 21
- Grace Academy 54, Valor South Austin 0
- TCSACH 50, Round Rock Christian Academy 0
NBA: It was a big night for Texas basketball on Friday, as both the Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks pulled off impressive victories on the road and on neutral soil.
In Austin, the Houston Rockets edged out the San Antonio Spurs 114–110 at the Moody Center. Alperen Şengün powered the Rockets with a team-high 29 points, while Amen Thompson delivered the game-sealing moment by blocking Victor Wembanyama’s potential game-tying layup attempt with under a second remaining.
Meanwhile in Indianapolis, the Dallas Mavericks cruised to a dominant 121–105 win over the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Kyrie Irving led the charge with 24 points, pacing five Mavericks in double figures to build an early 30-point lead and lock in their first victory of the young season.
ON THE SCHEDULE
All three teams are back on the courts today with the Spurs playing in Dallas and Houston at Atlanta.
MLS: Austin FC continues its fight down the homestretch of the MLS regular season on Saturday night. The Verde & Black make the trip to Kansas City to face Sporting KC, with the match is set for a 7:30 p.m. CT kickoff. (Austin FC)
The Formula 1 United States Grand Prix returns to Circuit of the Americas (COTA) Thursday for a four-day event.
AUTO RACING: Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc threw down an early marker at the Circuit of the Americas on Friday, topping the timesheets in both opening practice sessions for the United States Grand Prix.
Leclerc set the pace early in FP1 before clocking a day-best 1:35.291 lap on soft tires in FP2, narrowly edging out Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli by just 0.042 seconds and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen by under two tenths. With McLaren and Mercedes breathing down Scuderia’s neck and long-run race pace favoring Red Bull, the stage is set for a tight battle when qualifying kicks off this afternoon.
“I don’t know if I can emphasize enough how dire and urgent it really is.”
As the Rio Grande river system collapses, millions across Texas and Mexico will lose their drinking water, the farming industry will collapse, and countless will migrate.
Taps are running dry. The National Guard was called. Farmers are desperate, animals are dying. Follow Jack Herrera and photojournalist Jordan Vonderhaar as they travel the full length of the Rio Grande to witness an unprecedented water crisis in American history.
