MLS

Austin FC Billboards are Popping Up Around Austin

April 24, 2019 by Shawn Collins

I was seeing lots of Tweets yesterday about an Austin FC billboard on South Lamar, so I drove over to take a look for myself.

It was really cool to see the billboard in a bustling area of south Austin.

And then last night I was driving along Airport Blvd near my house and I saw another, different Austin FC billboard.

This is so exciting to see the early days of Austin FC take root before our eyes, and I can’t wait until March 2021.

In the meantime, I am polishing my credit card for when season tickets go on sale.

Austin FC Scarves are Now Available

April 15, 2019 by Shawn Collins

Ruffneck Scarves, the official scarf provider for MLS, is now selling three Austin FC scarves, and there are also scarves on the MLS Store from Fanatics.

The options are the Skyline scarf, Bar Scarf, and Modstripe scarf.

Every officially licensed MLS Scarf from Ruffneck Scarves comes with a free hanger.

They are all 100% acrylic jacquard knit scarves. I am hoping some lighter weight options come available, too. I like the one with the skyline the best, and I just ordered one.

Get your Austin FC scarf.

MLS First Game of the 2019 Season Social with Austin Anthem

February 23, 2019 by Shawn Collins

Major League Soccer starts the 2019 season on Saturday, May 2 and Austin Anthem is organizing an MLS 2019 Season First Kick Social to get local fans together at the St. Elmo Brewing Company.

This is a fitting location since Austin Anthem got Austin FC fans together at St. Elmo Brewing Company last October for the final weekend of the 2018 MLS regular season.

The get together will begin at 3:00 PM and the crowd will be watching the 3:30 PM and 5:00 PM games together there.

St. Elmo Brewing Company is located at 440 E St Elmo Road, Austin, TX 78745.

REVIEW: The United States of Soccer: MLS and the Rise of American Soccer Fandom

February 13, 2019 by Shawn Collins

The United States of Soccer: MLS and the Rise of American Soccer Fandom is a comprehensive history of professional soccer in the U.S. by Phil West.

Back in the late 1970s and early 1980s I was a fan of the Washington Diplomats and Team America in the NASL (North American Soccer League) and I was devastated when the teams and league folded.

So when it was announced in 1988 that the U.S was awarded the 1994 World Cup, I was ecstatic. And then learning that a condition of the World Cup in the U.S. was that there would have to be a top tier soccer league established had me out of my mind excited.

The United States of Soccer covers the lead up to MLS (Major League Soccer) and I was fascinated to get a peek behind the scenes. In the early days, I was attending MetroStars and DC United games, but I was not really aware of all of the league goings-on until I read this book.

Phil West has a compelling style of storytelling with the history of MLS, and I loved learning more about the struggles and successes of the league, the emergence of supporters in different cities, and the future.

I’d recommend this book to hardcore fans and folks new to the beautiful game.

PSV: Petition Does Not Impact MLS Coming to Austin

February 11, 2019 by Shawn Collins

Back in November, it was revealed that Circuit of the Americas chairman Bobby Epstein funded a petition campaign using misinformation to gather signatures to fight MLS coming to Austin.

Paid canvassers caught giving bogus info about soccer petition: https://t.co/Y9u1VOJLSE pic.twitter.com/Ddj6NkaAuN

— Austin Statesman (@statesman) November 8, 2018

This was in addition to anti-semitic and transphobic scandals surrounding the paid canvassers working on Epstein’s behalf.

Today Austin’s city clerk validated the petition.

However, Precourt Sports Ventures has issued the following statement:

“Neither the petition nor a possible election impact Major League Soccer coming to Austin in March 2021. Austin FC is already a part of this community. The City Council approved lease for McKalla Place is signed, and the site plan has been filed. These decisions were made after a thorough community engagement process that included more than 10 community engagement sessions and eight city council meetings.

As a result of the site plan being filed, this petition initiative cannot retroactively overturn the binding result of the council vote that approved the 100% privately financed construction of the stadium and soccer park at McKalla Place.”

On August 15, 2018, the Austin City Council voted 7-4 in favor of MLS coming to Austin.