Austin FC News

Austin FC Teams Up with Boingo for Wi-Fi 6 and Cell Services

August 5, 2020 by Shawn Collins

Boingo Wireless has been awarded the wireless rights at the upcoming Austin FC stadium.

Boingo will design, install, operate, and maintain cellular Wi-Fi 6 networks throughout the stadium, including bowl seating, suites, club sections, concourses, and the field.

Austin FC selected Boingo for its strong wireless carrier relationships and the ability to build networks that meet the data demands of the 5G era.

Boingo’s Wi-Fi 6 deployment will mark one of the first Wi-Fi 6 launches at an MLS stadium and will offer fans fast, free connectivity.

Wi-Fi 6 is the latest generation of Wi-Fi designed to deliver enhanced coverage, capacity, speed, and performance in dense, demanding Wi-Fi environments like stadiums.

There Will be a Beer Hall at the Austin FC Stadium

July 16, 2020 by Shawn Collins

Austin FC has announced a design update to the stadium’s “North Building” to prominently feature a Beer Hall open to all ticketed fans before, during, and after stadium events.

There will be 18 taps, 20 TV screens, a large video wall, and air-conditioning in the 400-person capacity space.

The Beer Hall will be located on the second floor of the building and will also feature a limited food menu and other drink options, in addition to the beers.

The North Building will also be home to a two-level Austin FC merchandise store, as well as a space for groups ranging from 10 to 50.

In addition to the Beer Hall, which will remain open after each Austin FC regular season match, the indoor/outdoor East Club will also convert into a post-match space for all ticketed fans after Austin FC regular season and playoff matches.

The East Club is a private membership benefit for East Club members before and during Austin FC regular season and playoff matches.

The North Building facade, facing the interior of the stadium, has been custom-designed to accommodate expandable seating capacity in future years.

I can’t wait to see the selection of beers in the Beer Hall!

Austin FC Names Davy Arnaud as Assistant Coach

July 13, 2020 by Shawn Collins

Austin FC has announced that Davy Arnaud will join the team as Assistant Coach on August 1, 2020. He will work with Austin FC Head Coach Josh Wolff as a key member of the coaching staff.

Born in Nederland, Texas and raised in the Lone Star State, Arnaud (pronounced “ARR-no”) joins Austin FC from the Houston Dynamo where he served in a variety of coaching positions, including a recent appointment as Interim Head Coach for a nine-match period from August 14, 2019 to October 25, 2019.

His MLS coaching experience dates back to 2016 when he became an assistant coach at D.C. United, following his retirement as a player.

In 2017, Arnaud returned to Texas, joining the Dynamo’s coaching staff as an assistant until August 2019 when he became interim Head Coach.

Arnaud and Austin FC Head Coach Josh Wolff were teammates at Sporting KC where Arnaud played from 2002–2011. Arnaud brings MLS expansion experience to Austin FC, having played for the Montreal Impact during their inaugural MLS season in 2012, scoring the team’s first-ever MLS goal.

Arnaud played 351 matches and scored 50 goals with 46 assists during his 15-season career in MLS.

As Austin FC’s Assistant Coach, Arnaud will report to Josh Wolff. As the Austin FC first team develops, Arnaud will play a key role in the day-to-day preparation, training, and recuperation of Austin FC’s first team, while helping to develop the first team’s playing philosophy and culture.

Austin FC Makes Their First Player Signing: Rodney Redes

July 6, 2020 by Shawn Collins

Austin FC announced today that Rodney Redes, the 20-year-old Paraguayan forward, will join the team via transfer as its first-ever player signing.

Redes will formally join Austin FC in January 2021 after remaining on-loan with his current side, Club Guaraní of Paraguay’s Primera División, until the end of 2020.

Terms of Redes’ transfer were not disclosed in accordance with Austin FC policy.

Redes was born in La Colmena, Paraguay on February 22, 2000. He joined Club Guaraní in 2018 after signing his first professional contract at the age of 18. In 2020, Redes has played six of Club Guaraní’s seven Primera División matches and has scored two goals to date.

Additionally, Redes has played eight Copa Libertadores matches for Club Guaraní, scoring three goals. Club Guaraní successfully qualified for the group stage of the 2020 Copa Libertadores.

Rodney Redes is the first player in Austin FC’s history to sign a first-team contract with the team. Redes will occupy one of Austin FC’s international player slots upon arrival to Austin in January 2021.

Rodney Redes Player Details

Name: Rodney Redes (pronounced “Rrod-nee Rreh-dess”)
Position: Forward
Height: 5’8”
Born: February 22, 2000
Age: 20
Birthplace: La Colmena, Paraguay
Nationality: Paraguay

Austin FC and Black Pumas Help the Austin Music Community

June 26, 2020 by Shawn Collins

Austin FC has teamed up with the 2020 Grammy Nominated Black Pumas from Austin to launch an exclusive, co-branded t-shirt to raise funds for the Black Pumas’ “Know You Better” campaign, benefiting local independent Austin music venues and record stores.

The limited-edition Black Pumas/Austin FC tee is available in youth and adult sizes from the Black Pumas site.

A portion of proceeds from each shirt sold will benefit the “Know You Better” initiative, which is devoted to preserving Austin music institutions through these difficult times until it is safe to open their doors once again.

The design features a mash-up of the Black Pumas’ logo and the Austin FC crest. The number 33 on the back of the shirts is a nod to the Black Pumas song, OCT 33.

I just got the Black Pumas’ self-titled debut album on vinyl and love it.