Austin FC becomes MLS’s 27th Team
#AustinFC #GrowTheLegend
2021 may seem a way off to all of us who have just celebrated the dawning of 2019 but in sports terms, it is around the corner and one that many can’t wait to reach. With the exciting news that Austin FC is to be Major League Soccer’s 27th franchise in 2021, those minutes till the first kick off will, in many ways, fly by.
Austin is an interesting city for soccer. With just over 2 million people in the Austin metropolitan area, Commissioner Don Garber says the capital city of Texas is a “perfect fit.”
“We think of us being a league for a new America,” Garber said. “Austin is diverse. It has enormous energy. It has people who really believe in the city. … We need to be here.”
The man behind this expansion team is Austin’s majority owner Anthony Precourt from California. An investor, he is reported as providing the land for a privately-funded $225 million stadium.
Congratulations Austin.
The new soccer-specific 20,000-seat stadium will have a grass playing field on the city-owned McKalla Place tract of land in North Austin, a spot that has been vacant for 25 years.
“We are elated to have such a talented and diverse group join Austin FC as charter members of our inaugural staff,” said Andy Loughnane, recently appointed the president of Austin FC.
The first wave of Austin FC hires includes former MLS player Tyson Wahl as Academy general manager. Wahl, a current resident of Austin who had most recently served as youth development director/head coach for Austin Texans, joins Austin FC as the head of Austin FC’s Developmental Academy program. Wahl played professionally across 11 seasons as a defender for five MLS teams before retiring during his fourth season with Columbus Crew SC.
“We’re going to unite this city. We’re going to fight for this city,” Precourt said.
With so many cities clamoring for a franchise, the MLS is in a very desirable position. Most cities dream of an MLS expansion. What will happen to Phoenix Rising FC’s MLS expansion dreams? And the many other cities longing to pride themselves in the international game of soccer?
The success of Austin landing the coveted MLS franchise was not without it’s troubles.
A divided Austin city council fought over the stadium deal for months before it was finally approved on a narrow vote.
Unlike most of America, San Diego was the only contender whose city council was widely recognized for refusing to work within the preferred MLS timeline and welcome the expansion opportunity, paving the way for more welcoming cities to take advantage of the many benefits. In San Diego, the vote failed.
The question on everyone’s mind, will it be as successful as Atlanta?
The new Austin ownership group, which also includes Cleveland Browns Dee and Jimmy Haslem, will surely be working hard to reach the high bar set by this year’s MLS Cup.
