In 2022, McLaren’s rising star Lando Norris found himself at one of Jack Zimmerman’s restaurants for what was supposed to be a low-key dinner after finishing sixth at the U.S. Grand Prix. The British driver was joined by chart-topper Zedd for a late-night bite at Devil May Care in downtown Austin, which quickly led to the pair jumping behind the DJ booth, with Norris getting an impromptu crash course in mixing tracks. “You don’t tell Zedd he can’t DJ,” Zimmerman, the founder of Nova Hospitality, says with a grin as he recalls the legendary party that eventually spilled next door to his Vegas-style nightclub, Mayfair.
That was the first night I met Zimmerman. It was well past 2am when he ushered me into the glitzy venue where Norris (a hobbyist DJ at the time) was putting on a show for hundreds of racing fans who were thrilled to have scored the hottest after-party ticket in town. But as the celebration raged on, Austin’s undisputed nightlife impresario wasn’t basking in the spotlight. Zimmerman, who has cemented his bars, clubs and restaurants as the hottest of spots when F1 shows up in the Texas capital, quietly slipped away just as the party hit its peak.
That wasn’t always how the hospitality veteran’s nights would pan out.
Jack Zimmerman
Photo by: Nova Hospitality
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Born in London to an American mother and a British father, Zimmerman spent his childhood steeped in the roar of the V12 engines that defined Formula 1 in the mid-90s. “On Sundays as a kid, F1 was always on the TV,” he says. But after moving to Dallas as a teenager, Zimmerman’s love for motorsport faded amid time zone differences that made it difficult to watch races.
He landed in Austin in 2005 to study finance at Texas State University, years before the Circuit of the Americas was even a twinkle in Bernie Ecclestone’s eye. While studying, Zimmerman worked in hospitality: “Back then it was a casual city — lots of small bars and live music, but not much glitz.”
At 24 he found more glitz than any one man can handle, having landed in Las Vegas to work at the Wynn hotel’s XS, one of the highest-grossing nightclubs on the planet. “It was 2010, and the big DJs weren’t really a thing yet. Then suddenly some competition opened up in Marquee [an ultra-club owned by the Tao Group], and we were in this race to book all the big names: Swedish House Mafia, Deadmau5, Avicii. It went absolutely crazy,” he says. “I would show up at 7pm and work until 7am, and I loved every minute of it.”
After four years at the Wynn hotel’s ultra-opulent haunt loved by celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio, Zimmerman consulted in nightclubs and venues in places like Miami, Dubai, and Shanghai. “Every market is wildly different,” he says. “In Shanghai, for example, people would buy a bottle service table and then sit and play dice. Not a whole lot of dancing — just playing dice and drinking games while spending thousands on champagne and whiskey.”
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Yuki couldn’t go two feet without being stopped. It was crazy everywhere these guys went on Sunday night.
Formula 1 changed Austin. When the Circuit of the Americas opened in 2012 about an hour outside the city (two on race day), it re-established America’s place on the F1 calendar after a seven-year trial separation. But the city itself still wasn’t sure what to do with the traveling circus and the first-class-flying party people who came with it.
In 2015 Zimmerman returned home with a plan to turn up the volume on Austin’s boots-and-beers nightlife. He founded Nova Hospitality and channeled what he learned from his tours of duty in Vegas and beyond.
“The first couple of years there were some big parties, but the venues weren’t prepared to support the type of events that the F1 crowd wanted and there was a bit of a drop-off,” Zimmerman reflects. Flash forward to the release of Netflix’s “Drive To Survive” in 2019, and Austin’s relationship with the sport began to shift dramatically. “All of a sudden, people were talking about Formula 1.”
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The boom put Nova Hospitality in the right place at the right time. Zimmerman had launched the group with Mayfair and modern Japanese restaurant TenTen before expanding to include boutique nightclub Devil May Care, an event space called LZR, and The Well — a local café chain that’s become a favorite among locals, including Olympic golden girl Gabby Thomas. Zimmerman was then tapped by Sports Illustrated ahead of the 2021 U.S. Grand Prix — the first American race to take place in the midst of F1’s skyrocketing popularity — to produce its sold-out Circuit Series party headlined by Travis Scott and the Chainsmokers. “There was an endless line of people outside trying to get in,” he remembers. “We were just coming out of the pandemic, and ‘Drive to Survive’ was wildly popular. I thought, ‘This is epic.’”
I witnessed the “epic” first-hand in 2022 at that year’s party. Shortly before Post Malone took the stage at Mayfair, a frazzled publicist asked me if a few extra guests could join the table, which was a group of journalists sipping drinks. That’s how I spent the night next partying with (okay, near) Serena Williams, Karlie Kloss, and a swath of celebrities who stuck around until the early hours of Sunday morning — before heading into the F1 paddock that afternoon.
Deadmau5
Photo by: Nova Hospitality
Zimmerman now has an ongoing partnership with his former colleagues at the Wynn who help book headlining talent during F1 weekends at Mayfair. Devil May Care, however, “self-populates with celebs and bigger names,” he tells me. “We don’t need to book anyone big there — it just happens.” Most of the current drivers have come through, too. “I’d say 13 or 14 of the drivers on the current grid have been through with their teams, or their wives and girlfriends.”
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“We’ve found that some of these guys value privacy more than others,” says Zimmerman. “Last year we had Max [Verstappen] at TenTen for dinner with his girlfriend on the Monday after the race and it was pretty quiet, nobody bothered them. But one day prior to that, Yuki [Tsunoda] couldn’t go two feet without being stopped. It was crazy everywhere these guys went on Sunday night.”
Last year, Zimmerman escorted one driver from dinner at TenTen to a table at Mayfair, before swiftly moving him to a private room to escape all the fans pleading for a selfie. “We try to communicate with the drivers ahead of time about how much privacy they care for so we can put them in a private section if that’s what they’d prefer,” he says. “Or, if they’re open to it, we can put them front and center … Lando [Norris] is pretty welcoming to that.”
This year is looking more chaotic than ever, with a huge college football game between the University of Georgia Bulldogs and the University of Texas Longhorns on Saturday, overlapping with F1’s qualifying and sprint race. Zimmerman expects his Sunday night closing bash, headlined by Diplo, will be over the top.
Lando Norris & Zedd
Photo by: Nova Hospitality
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Maybe it’s the Austin in him, but Zimmerman’s much more relaxed than his nightlife kingpin counterparts in New York or Las Vegas, whose empires have been built on their larger-than-life personas and constant visibility. Speaking of, Zimmerman doesn’t have plans to infringe on their turf, despite his success.
“We don’t have any desire to open venues outside of the city anytime soon, maybe ever,” he says. Which makes sense: the carbon-copy flaming-bottle mega-clubs of the early aughts have given way to places like his: more carefully considered, and part of the city that created them.
Which isn’t to say Zimmerman’s spots won’t give everyone looking for bottle service and heart-thudding beats a place to spend their evenings. Just don’t expect to find Austin’s nightlife kingpin staying up with the crowds anymore. “Things have changed for me,” Zimmerman says. “These days you won’t find me in the venues after 10pm unless there’s something special going on.” At 38, he’s more concerned about longevity and balance than FOMO. “I want to wake up early, have a healthy day, and be ready to do this for the next 10 years without burning out.”
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A closer look from a building next to the arena features a gallery and huge windows that look out to a park and statues of United legends.
Foster+Partners, who designed Wembley Stadium, are the architects that have made the latest drawings.
They have also put together a map of what the area could look like, with the “urban regeneration” spreading across the whole of the Trafford Park region.
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New houses, commercial areas and improved transport links have all been proposed.
Mayor of Manchester Andy Burnham said: “This could be the biggest regeneration scheme ever seen in this country.”
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The plans would regenerate the area around the groundCredit: https://www.manutd.com/en
LAS VEGAS – UFC Fight Night 245 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex with a full card on ESPN+.
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Before fight night arrives, though, notable athletes from the event are scheduled to speak to reporters Wednesday at media day, including middleweight headliners Anthony Hernandez (12-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) and Michel Pereira (31-11 MMA, 9-2 UFC), and MMA Junkie has videos of the interviews.
Check below for the archived videos of each media day session, and watch the live stream above.
Formula 1 is roaring back into Texas for the United States Grand Prix, bringing with it a slew of southern-inspired fashion collections. From uniquely American brands like Levi’s and Cherry Los Angeles, to driver-led projects like Lewis Hamilton’s +44 and Daniel Ricciardo’s Enchanté, here’s everything you need to know about where to shop in Austin to discover unique racing pieces.
Red Bull Racing x Cherry Los Angeles
Red Bull Racing and Cherry Los Angeles have joined forces on a 12-piece collection
Photo by: Red Bull Racing
Red Bull Racing is teaming up with Cherry Los Angeles for a second capsule collection, launching ahead of the 2024 US Grand Prix. The 12-piece drop marks the reigning World Champions’ return to Texas and blends streetwear with motorsport heritage. Standout pieces include a retro-inspired racing jacket and a bowling shirt with intricate chain stitch embroidery.
The collection, which was designed and crafted entirely in the US, will launch on Friday, October 18 at the Cherry Holiday Store in Austin before arriving at Cherry’s flagship location in Los Angeles and online.
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MX TX by +44
Lewis Hamilton’s +44 will host another pop-up during the US Grand Prix
Photo by: Plus44
Lewis Hamilton is dropping a limited-edition +44 collection, MX TX (read: motocross and Texas), inspired by the off-road motocross scene in America during the ’90s. The exclusive drop features a race jacket adorned with the words ‘Hamilton Crew’ across the shoulders, along with one of the world champion’s favorite quotes, ‘Still We Rise.’
Fans will also be able to shop a long sleeve Moto tee with neon graphics, a pullover and a zip-up hoodie, which were modeled by LA-based dirt bike riders Spoety Young, Sabrina Victoria and Trevor Stewart in the collection campaign. All pieces will be available online and at a custom pop-up at Austin-based boutique ByGeorge from October 17-20.
Enchanté Garage
Daniel Ricciardo may not be in Austin, but his influence will definitely be felt at Enchanté Garage. The fan-favorite Australian athlete is set to release his latest fashion collection at an exclusive pop-up presented by Cash App. Described as a “place for motorsport enthusiasts and gearheads alike,” fans will have the opportunity to shop hoodies, crewnecks, tank tops, sweaters and more.
McLaren’s second collaboration with heritage brand Levi’s is set to launch this week to coincide with the US Grand Prix. The capsule collection, which celebrates the fusion between the iconic American fashion label and the British racing team, features some of Levi’s beloved garments adorned with McLaren logos and stitching.
The upcoming drop also features graphic tees emblazoned with the image of classic McLaren cars, along with the Track Trucker, Sports 501® Jeans, Speed Trucker, Speed Jeans, Second Skin, Fleece Hoodie and more. Both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri star in the collection campaign, which was shot on location at the McLaren Technology Center in Woking. Fans can shop the collection online from October 17 and at a pop-up in downtown Austin on October 18 and 19.
One of the world’s best grapplers will continue his MMA transition next month under the ONE Championship banner.
Kade Ruotolo (1-0) will take on Ahmed Mujtaba (10-4) at lightweight at ONE 169, promotion officials told MMA Junkie. The event (Prime Video) takes place Nov. 8 at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
Ruotolo, a 21-year-old from Hawaii, is a ONE submission grappling champion and won the Craig Jones Invitational grappling tournament in August – and its $1 million prize. The renowned jiu-jitsu black belt and his twin brother, Tye, both signed deals with ONE to grapple and eventually transition to mixed martial arts.
Kade Ruotolo made that move in June at ONE 167 and submitted Blake Cooper with a first-round rear-naked choke. The finish was good enough for a $50,000 performance bonus in Bangkok.
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Mujtaba, a 31-year-old from Pakistan, has fought for ONE since 2016 and is 4-4 with the promotion. Three of those four wins are stoppages. But potentially working against him is that three of his four losses are by submission.
In the main event at ONE 169, three-division champion Anatoly Malykhin will defend his heavyweight title against “Reug Reug” Oumar Kane. Two-division champ Christian Lee will defend his lightweight title against unbeaten Russian challenger Alibeg Rasulov.
Be sure to visit the MMA Junkie Instagram page and YouTube channel to discuss this and more content with fans of mixed martial arts.
LAS VEGAS – Clayton Carpenter beat Lucas Rocha with a second-round technical submission Saturday to open the preliminary card at UFC Fight Night 244 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Take a look inside the fight with Carpenter, who stayed unbeaten in his return after a 20-month layoff and called out recent flyweight title challenger Steve Erceg for his next test.
Clayton Carpenter def. Lucas Rocha, UFC Fight Night 244
“As soon as I took the back, I felt like it was pretty sunk already before it was really under his chin. It took me a second to really get my second hand involved. I was trying to choke him out with one arm. I wanted to ‘Nate Diaz’ him – I wanted to choke him out with one arm like Nate Diaz and try to get the $50K (bonus), but I was like, I’ll probably just stick to the finish.”
Carpenter on his layoff and Steve Erceg
May 4, 2024; Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BRAZIL; Alexandre Pantoja (red gloves) fights against Steve Erceg (blue gloves) during UFC 301 at Rio Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jason Silva-USA TODAY Sports
“It was the roughest sh*t ever. I mean, I could give two f*cks if people forgot about me. But for me, it was bullsh*t. It felt like the biggest c*ck block of my life: I get in here, first-round sub, win my (UFC) debut, the next thing you know, I’m out. And I was supposed to fight f*cking Stephen Erceg. I was all hyped. He was ducking me the first few times, ducking me on (Dana White’s Contender Series) and postponed our second fight (booking). It was after that postponed that I had my stuff happen to me (and I was out).”
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Carpenter on what he wants next
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 12: (L-R) Clayton Carpenter punches Lucas Rocha of Brazil in a flyweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on October 12, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
“I’m going to talk to my coaches about that. I dealt with some adversity in this fight camp that I had to power through. I’m going to talk to my manager and talk with my generals and see what the best decision on that is. I am counting the days (for Erceg) … counting the days. (I) can’t wait”
To hear more from Carpenter, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.
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