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Austin FC's Julio Cascante celebrates after scoring in Austin's last home match of the season. (Austin FC/Twitter)
Austin may have had a bittersweet night in their final home match on Wednesday, but they made sure to soak it all in as they took down powerhouse Sporting Kansas City for a 3-1 victory at Q2 Stadium.
Despite a chilly Austin night, stands were still packed with jacket-clad Verde fans who endured the late weekday match to see their team's last hoorah of the season.
And they got what they've been wishing for all season. In just the first minute of play, star transfer Sebastian Driussi scored on a header to make the fastest goal in history. That wasn't the only first, either—after another Verde goal off a header from Julio Cascante in the 22nd minute, winger Jared Stroud took advantage of his rare starting role with his first MLS goal to make it 3-0 Austin in the 60th minute.
Sporting KC would score just five minutes later as a rare shot slipped past keeper Brad Stuver, but as the story goes, the David and Goliath battle went in No.13 Austin's favor as they triumphantly took home a late-season win.
Austin was awarded three points for the win. While the formerly last-place West Conference team is still far from the playoff line, the win propelled the team over Texas rivals Houston Dynamo and put them within a point of fellow Texans FC Dallas.
They'll look to rise up another spot in the rankings as they take on the Portland Timbers (who have lost to them twice before) for a final away match on Sunday.
Here are the biggest moments of Austin's final home match:
FT: Austin wins!
65' Sporting KC scores
Johnny Russell gets his goal to bring one back for #SportingKC.
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) November 4, 2021
His 10th straight game with a goal or assist makes it 3-1. pic.twitter.com/FKYW3ns151
Just after Stroud's goal, Sporting KC responds with their first goal off a header from Johnny Russell. Kansas City has narrowed the lead, but Austin is still up 3-1 with 25 minutes to go.
60' Jared Stroud scores for Austin
That's 3️⃣ for @AustinFC!
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) November 4, 2021
Jared Stroud scores his first career MLS goal to keep the party going in Austin. 🎉 pic.twitter.com/UJIPAjC9oE
It's his first start in a long time, and Austin FC winger makes sure that fans remember what they were missing out on as he scores to give Austin a 3-0 lead by the 60th minute.
Stroud knocks one in to the bottom left corner off of a fast break by Diego Fagundez to secure his first career MLS goal.
22' Austin doubles the lead
.@zankolmanic with a beauty of a set-up for @JulCascante! pic.twitter.com/EJ0mgTYrMN
— Austin FC (@AustinFC) November 4, 2021
It's a good time to be an Austin fan. Left back Zan Kolmanic sets up a beautiful cross from behind the box to Julio Cascante, who heads it in off a set piece situation to double Austin's lead in just the 22nd minute of play.
Austin supporters go wild as their team continues to hold the edge over No. 2 Kansas City.
1' Austin FC scores!
#AustinFC with a dream start in the opening minute!
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) November 4, 2021
Sebastian Driussi with the header to make it 1-0 early. pic.twitter.com/XCPEGsmR9c
Scoring has never looked this easy. Less than a minute into the match, Austin FC easily snakes their way down the field as Diego Fagundez sets up a cross. Sebastian Driussi is ready, heading the ball in for what must be the quickest and cleanest goal in Austin FC history.
It's just 41 seconds in, and Austin is already going out with a bang.
Verde and plaid before the match
(Claire Partain/Austonia)
Starting lineup: a back line shakeup
One last time in front of the home crowd. #AustinFC x @YETICoolers pic.twitter.com/NjikPIBgFK
— Austin FC (@AustinFC) November 4, 2021
Center back Jhohan Romana caught an injury in Dallas, and it looks like Captain Alex Ring will move from his usual spot in center midfield to fill in his shoes.
Tomas Pochettino, Daniel Pereira and Diego Fagundez will likely fill out that midfield slot.
Up front, Jared Stroud will see a rare starting role alongside forwards Moussa Djitte and Sebastian Driussi.
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Popular
The Trail of Lights is going on its 57th year as the most famous light show in Austin. (Trail of Lights)
Don't miss these nine holiday-themed light shows.
Trail of Lights
(Trail of Lights)
Austin's most famous annual light show and a Readers Choice of USA Today's 10 Best Public Displays of Holiday Lights, the Trail of Lights will be drive-thru again this year Nov. 27-Dec. 31. For 57 years in a row, the Trail of Lights has lit up Zilker Park with games, food, local vendors and more than two million lights gleaming for the holidays. The event, as always, is free to the public and you can reserve slots here. The Zilker Tree is already up, so you can already see it if the holiday cheer is too much to bear.
Peppermint Parkway
(Peppermint Parkway)
Coming back for the second year in a row, Peppermint Parkway will transport you to COTALAND, where six million lights gleam and Christmas is just a one-mile drive away. The hybrid event will have you drive through the display of lights, dancing elves and unique little villages before you hit the walking plaza, where you can grab a bite to eat and meet Santa. Tickets range from $40-$95, some including a lap around the COTA track, running from Nov. 26-Dec. 26.
Dreamland's Lights and Delights
(Dreamland Dripping Springs)
Dreamland Dripping Springs has been transformed into a winter wonderland—running throughout the month of December, the venue's first-ever holiday display is taking over with activities for the whole family. Plus, running from Nov. 20-Jan. 4, a pop-up ice skating rink will really bring the holiday cheer for $10 or $5 Monday specials. The lights display will feature half a million lights and warm, festive sips from the taproom.
Hill Country Galleria
(Anne Burnett/Hill Country Galleria)
With events galore for the holiday season, winter is really when the Hill Country Galleria thrives. Starting with its Light Up The Plaza event on Saturday from 6-8 p.m., where visitors can see Santa, gaze at the official lighting of the holiday tree and hear some live tunes from rock band American Authors. The Galleria will also hold a holiday market every Thursday, Friday and Saturday leading up to Christmas Eve and periodic photos with Santa at Buenos Aires Cafe.
Deck the Halls at the Driskill Hotel
(Courtesy of the Driskill Hotel)
This holiday season, the Driskill will deck out every nook and cranny of the historic hotel from the grand staircase to the 16-foot Christmas tree in the lobby to be lit on a Dec. 1 ceremony that will be open to the public. Touches of Driskill festivities can also be seen at Dell Children's Hospital with a gingerbread village for its annual "Cookies for Caring" event.
December in Downtown and Tree Lighting
(Downtown Austin Alliance)
Kicking off the lighting of the tree on Saturday, Dec. 4, Austinites will gather on the steps of the Texas Capitol at 6 p.m. to sing the 45-foot tree to life. Afterward, local band Los Coast will close out the night with a free concert. The fun doesn't stop there though as the Downtown Austin Alliance will host the Downtown Holiday Stroll, with "holiday passports" and stamps to collect for local restaurants and stores, and a Frida Friday Holiday Market at Republic Square.
Luminations at the Wildflower Center
(Joanna Wojtkowiak/Wildflower Center)
Combining festive holiday lights and the beautiful native plants of Central Texas, Luminations at the Wildflower Center is back with thousands of lights, luminarias and a lit-up look at Fortlandia. This year will also feature an interactive light maze called "silvana" by Ben Busche of architecture firm Brut Deluxe, which will be the maze's first appearance in North America. The event will run Thursdays-Sundays from Dec. 2-Jan. 30 for $10-$25 per person.
Mozart’s Christmas Lights Show
(Mozart's)
Reserved tables are back for Mozart's Coffee Roasters annual Christmas Lights Show for $20 four-person tables and $30 six-person tables—so get your tickets early because these tables are likely to sell out. The light show will also feature a festival-style Bavarian marketplace for those last-minute gifts. If you're too late to reserve a table, don't worry, there will be standing room available for free so come one, come all, and come early for parking.
Round Rock Light Up the Lake
(Round Rock Light Up the Lake)
From Dec. 2-4, Old Settlers Park will light up with holiday displays, family activities, festive refreshments and live music. Watch the balloons hover above the lake as you sip on a hot chocolate or give to those in need, with stands for Round Rock Operation Blue Santa, which is taking toys for kids in need, the Play For All Foundation, which is accepting cash donations for disabled children, and the People & Parks Foundation, accepting cash donations for green space in the community. Admission to the event is free, along with most of the activities in the park.
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Texas linebacker Bijan Robinson came out with his own NFT trading card. The USMNT also came out with an NFT by an Austin artist.
NFTs, which are essentially unhackable codes used as one-of-a-kind "certificates of authenticity" paid for with cryptocurrency Ethereum, have been cropping up in the Austin art scene and worldwide—and they're quickly evolving into a sports fans' paradise as a new way to snag some bragging rights through digital trading cards, tickets and highlight reels.
Here are five Austin-based athletes and sports venues now involved in NFTs:
NiftyHorns—emerging Texas NFT producer
🚨🤘🏽Player Announcement!
— Nifty Horns (@NiftyHorns) September 24, 2021
First up to the plate - a man who capped a scorching spring with postseason heroics in Omaha - from El Paso, TX…
Ivan Melendez! @ivanmelendez17_
NFT trading cards for the Hispanic Titanic will be available this fall as part of our first pack drop. pic.twitter.com/2xI3aMd6Tv
College sports' entrance to NFTs originally came from another Austin—a picture of Stephen F. Austin's women's basketball team as they made their first NCAA championship berth was the first to break into the market in March 2020.
Now with NCAA NIL rules in their favor, it's easier than ever for Texas athletes to cash in on their clout. The University of Texas' LEVERAGE Lineup looks to serve as a database to connect even walk-on Longhorn athletes—like Surly Horn's "Burnt Ends" tight ends deal—to lucrative sponsorship contracts.
But there hasn't yet been a database that gives each player their own Robinson-esque NFT trading card—until NiftyHorns stepped in with an NFT business model that they hope to one day have officially linked to the school.
They've already made headway with an NFT for Longhorns baseball player Ivan Melendez using the same blockchain utilized by TopShot.
"(We want to) not make it exclusive to star players or just the big three sports," NiftyHorns co-founder Josh Pitel said. "We feel very fortunate to be in a space where the fan base is large enough and passionate enough to actually support a wide variety of athletes."
Bijan Robinson—Candy.com trading card
With nearly 130,000 followers across Twitter and Instagram, Bijan Robinson is a star on and off the football field. He's used that clout to his advantage and partnered with Raising Cane's, Athletic Brewing and Centre Apparel.
And he's now following in the footsteps of NBA's TopShot with his very own NFT. Trading cards are a growing commodity in the NFT community, with TopShot raking in $700 million on cards, highlight reels and more last year.
Robinson's 100 Rare NFTs currently sit at $250 and feature a hero shot, his jersey number, position and an animated signature with a sleek, high-tech gold finish.
COTA NFTs—360 views and tickets too
Each of the two NFTs feature 360 views of different aspects of the COTA track. (Circuit of the Americas)
Back in October, Circuit of the Americas chairman Bobby Epstein appeared to embody his promise to make the 2021 U.S. Grand Prix the "biggest event on the planet this year" as an estimated 400,000 attendees made it through the gates for the Formula One weekend event.
To commemorate the event, the circuit decided to leap into the trendy NFT scene with two 360-degree panoramas, set at minimum bids of $30,000 each. And like many who look to tack on physical elements to the mystical crypto world, the circuit includes two VIP passes for MotoGP or Formula 1 events this year or next.
"Circuit of The Americas hosts some of the world's most iconic sports and entertainment events," Epstein said in a press release. "Just as visitors realize how unique and special COTA is, we know collectors will appreciate the significance behind our designs as well as the premium hospitality associated with the winning bids."
Campbell-Williams Field NFT Collection—a true UT NFT
Check out this dope project I did for the Campbell-Williams Field NFT Collection!
— Bryson Williams (@artofbryson) September 11, 2021
Titled "Longhorn Legacies" Made in collaboration with @VybHouse and @Rickthelaureate
For more info check out https://t.co/XFr5gDSFta pic.twitter.com/SRCyWsjVqM
As the school's two Heisman Trophy winners, UT football legends Earl Campbell and Ricky Williams made sports history at their times as running backs for the Longhorns football team—and they encouraged others to become part of sports history themselves with a rare collection of 100 NFTs in honor of the renaming of the school's historic football stadium.
In collaboration with UT, Campbell and Williams created the collection a year after the Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium was renamed in their honor. The "Campbell-Williams Field NFT Collection" included:
- The Campbell-Williams Experience NFT, which gives its owner two VIP tickets to the 2022 Super Bowl and Williams' Super Bowl 2022 party in Los Angeles,, dinner with Earl Campbell and friends and a 'UT Legend' memorabilia package.
- The ArtofBryson NFT, which included two tickets to The Red River Showdown (UT vs. Oklahoma) on Oct. 9, a Zoom call with both Williams and Campbell, signed cleats from current running back Robinson, and other care package add-ons.
- The Moon Ticket: six NFTs that grants its owners to an out-of-this-world astrology chat with Williams
- And the 100 trading-card style NFTs featuring artwork and both players' digital signatures.
USMNT—and their NFTs—come to Austin
Own a piece of #USAvJAM 🔒
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) October 7, 2021
Fans at @Q2Stadium can download a @PaniniAmerica NFT of our #OnlyForward match poster with a QR code at your seat. pic.twitter.com/J3IuEW1Ykn
As the U.S. Men's National Team headed to Austin's brand-new Q2 Stadium to play Jamaica in October, so did its Only Forward Art Series. This edition of the months-long series featured a poster design from Austin artist Phoebe "Feebee" Joynt.
Joynt incorporated her specialties in graphic design, street art and logo work to create the gameday poster, which was featured around town, at Austin FC's downtown store and online as an NFT.
"I was thrilled to work with FootyCon and U.S. Soccer," FeeBee told the USMNT. "I've always had a passion for soccer after being introduced to the sport by my dad as a young child and I'm so excited to create a piece inspired by the game that also references and is in dialogue with the amazing city of Austin that I call home."
The rare free NFT became available to all fans attending the Oct. 7 World Cup Qualifier as well as via purchase on the NTWRK app the day before the game.
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