From an idea to reality, the Austin FC journey has come full circle

Photo Credit: Scott W. Coleman

There’s a chant that the Austin FC supporters’ groups have that reflects the moment Major League Soccer in Central Texas became a reality: 

“7-4, 7-4, it was the vote, that built our home. And now we live, among the trees. Listo! Verde! Austin FC!”

That was the margin of the Austin City Council vote in August 2018 that approved what is now Q2 Stadium at McKalla Place and set into motion the final stage of the Austin FC journey that started nearly four years ago. 

“What’s kept me ticking over the last three years has been the vision,” Austin FC Owner/CEO Anthony Precourt said. “Standing here today in the stadium. That’s kept me energized, thinking of the day when we could walk across the pitch with the commissioner and the mayor, and the day we see the players on the field and fans in the building.”

It all started with a tweet. 

Sports Illustrated’s Grant Wahl Tweeted on October 16, 2017: “Columbus Crew owner Anthony Precourt is set to move team to Austin, Texas, in 2019 if downtown stadium can't happen in Columbus. Story soon.”

Two Oak Ventures (formerly Precourt Sports Ventures) president Dave Greeley met and spoke with fans at the Black Sheep Lodge in early November, saying a downtown stadium location was the main goal in Austin. 

A few potential places were put on the table, including Butler Shores just across the river from downtown and Roy Guerrero park, but using a public park for a stadium was too big a huddle for many on the Austin City Council to overcome.

After many, many late nights in Austin City Hall, with supporters of a team that didn’t even exist yet packing the chambers, the McKalla Place site was approved. 

“It takes me back to that period of time when we were just bringing the concept to the council,” Austin Mayor Steve Adler said. “Those were not meetings where we had unanimity on the dais. I remember those times. I know that sometimes decisions that help steer the directions of cities are decided on votes of three or four people."

Soon after the 7-4 vote, the group unveiled its badge and colors, giving Austin FC a distinct color and style. 

In October 2018, Jimmy and Dee Haslam, owners of the Cleveland Browns, and Dr. Pete Edwards emerged as potential new owners for Columbus Crew SC. MLS then granted Precourt Austin FC as an expansion team. On January 15, 2019, MLS Commissioner Don Garber officially announced Austin FC as the league’s 27th team. 

“The hurdles along the way make this all the sweeter,” Adler said. “I was trending on Twitter in Columbus, Ohio in not a very kind way. When you graduate past those and move forward, it makes it more special. It feels like it was more earned.”

Award-winning actor and Austin native Matthew McConaughey and four other local investors joined the ownership group in August 2019, and the team broke ground on the stadium in September of that year.  

With the logistical side of things steaming ahead, Austin FC started to build the on-field component, with head coach Josh Wolff and sporting director Claudio Reyna joining the fold in November 2019. 

More than 30,000 fans made a deposit for season tickets when the club opened up the list in June. The Austin FC website crashed on the first day. Now, 15,500 season tickets have been sold and more than 15,000 people are on the waitlist, according to club officials. 

“We feel the support, oh man, do we feel it,” Precourt said. “Austin is behind us. We’ve felt it since day one in January 2019 when we announced our club. It’s an honor, but we’ve got to deliver. In some ways, the work is just getting started.”

Rodney Redes was the first-ever player signing in June 2020, and since then, Wolff and Reyna have filled out the roster with Designated Players Cecilio Domínguez and Tomás Pochettino and MLS stalwarts like Matt Besler and Alex Ring. 

Five preseason matches have all led up to this weekend when Austin FC takes the field at Banc of California Stadium against LAFC, considered by many to be MLS Cup favorites. 

Precourt hasn’t slept much in the last week out of pure excitement. 

It’s been quite the journey, with many hurdles and speed bumps, but after nearly four years of preparation, it’s finally a game week for Austin FC.

“I’m not feeling a lot of complacency yet,” Precourt said. “I’m not sitting back yet. I want to keep pushing this club forward, and I have a lot of ambition to make it a proud and successful club. When we win an MLS Cup maybe I’ll sit and rest.”

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Originally published at https://www.hillcountrynews.com/stories/from-an-idea-to-reality-the-austin-fc-journey-has-come-full-circle,85687?