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Ben Sweat
Jersey Number: 22
Hometown: Palm Harbor, Florida
Position: Defender
Age: 29
Former Club: Inter Miami CF
Background
(Ben Sweat/Instagram)
On the same day that Austin FC secured four other players, including Julio Cascante, the team traded $100,000 in General Allocation Money to Inter Miami CF to bring Sweat to Austin.
Like his name implies, Sweat has put in real work to play at the level he's at today. He's been a part of three MLS teams so far, including two separate MLS Expansion teams, but he proved to be a bit of a late bloomer when it came to going pro.
Sweat first got experience at cracking a new team after spending two seasons in his home state with Inter Miami FC. Sweat was selected by the team as the first overall pick in the MLS Expansion Draft, where he played in 23 matches with the new MLS side, notching 20 starts and two assists to his roster.
Prior to his time in Miami, Sweat spent three seasons in the back line for NYCFC. The 6'2 defender served as a left back for the club in 81 matches, in which he scored one goal and tallied nine assists. During his time with NYCFC, he also played alongside Austin FC teammate Alex Ring.
Sweat was the 14th pick for the Columbus Crew in the 2014 SuperDraft, but it was several years before he cracked the MLS ceiling.
Before he went pro, Sweat played for NASL team the Tampa Bay Rowdies in 2015-16, where he made 23 starts. Sweat got his start near his hometown with 3-USL Pro side the Dayton Dutch Lions after being drafted by affiliate Columbus Crew SC in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft.
Sweat has also played in two matches for the US Men's National Team, including a friendly match against Colombia in Tampa Bay.
Before the big game, Sweat told U.S soccer it was a surreal moment to play for his country in his hometown.
"It's a special moment," Sweat said. "My first call up happens to be in my hometown. I've been emotional about it, and I'm excited for this opportunity."
With Austin FC
(Ben Sweat/Instagram)
As a solid left back, Sweat should be part of the starting lineup alongside fellow defenders Nick Lima and Matt Besler, although he could find competition in 32-year-old veteran Hector Jimenez. The 6'2 defender is one of the tallest of the team, and at 29, he's bringing experience as a starting left back in other MLS sides.
Because Sweat played for another MLS startup back in 2019, he also knows a thing or two about starting with a brand new team. His time with Inter Miami CF was marred by COVID, but Sweat said he brings his experience with a new team to the fledgling Austin FC program.
"Last year wasn't a normal season with COVID, so it was very difficult to have an expansion team," Sweat said. "But what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, and I can take that experience from Miami and what maybe Miami did really well or didn't do well and bring that here to Austin."
Sweat is coming off of a surgery in December but said he's recovered and better than ever after the long-overdue procedure. "I honestly feel better now than I have in recent years," he said. "I would say my fitness level is one of the best since when I was younger, and I'm excited to run without pain."
Sweat turns 30 this year, and he knows his years are numbered as a starting left back for an MLS side. That's why he's so motivated to win, and he hopes that Austin FC will become an underdog success story in their inaugural season.
"I want to win, and I think this is the place that's going to happen," Sweat said. "I think they've put together a culture already where everyone has bought in, (and) I think we're gonna have a lot of success here. I don't think an expansion team should go in and use that as an excuse."
Off the pitch
(Ben Sweat/Instagram)
A native English speaker, Sweat has used his experience working alongside Spanish-speaking teammates to pick up as much as possible. With his limited Spanish and years of experience at his side, Sweat works to be a positive role model for new players to the team. "I'm in a role now where I need to help the younger guys and and also have the ability to have a bigger voice and be more vocal on and off the field," he said.
Sweat is also a big proponent for the MLS said it could be a contender alongside the Premier League, the Bundesliga and other global giants in the next 5-10 years.
In a press conference Friday, Sweat said he sees a lot of homegrown and international players boosting the league's global footprint. "The MLS is a tough league," he said. "There's a lot of good players, it's growing, the player pool is getting bigger and better."
Soccer may come first, but fishing is a close second for Sweat. The Florida native is an avid angler and inshore fisherman. While he left the coast behind for the Texas Capitol, he still owns a fisherman's paradise, Twin Tails Outfitters, which specializes in fly fishing clothing and gear.
When moving to Austin, Sweat was accompanied by his wife, Inis Šišić, whom he married in 2018.
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Popular
(Gulfstream)
Elon Musk has placed an order for a new, top-of-the-line private jet: a Gulfstream G700, Austonia has learned. Delivery is expected in early 2023.
Billed as offering “the most spacious cabin in history,” the aircraft seats 19 and soars above the rest of us at up to 51,000 feet. Base price: $78 million.
The Gulfstream G700 was awarded the 2022 International Yacht & Aviation Award for excellence in cabin design this year. (Gulfstream)
According to the Gulfstream website, the G700 can fly up to 7,500 nautical miles without refueling, enough range to fly nonstop from Austin to Hong Kong. Powered by two Rolls-Royce engines, it has its own Wi-Fi system, 20 oval windows measuring 28” x 21”, and two lavatories.
The sweet new ride will replace his current top-of-line private jet: a 2015 Gulfstream G650, the aircraft that has been made somewhat famous by the automated @elonjet Twitter account, which tracks and reports his personal aircraft’s movements using public data.
Landed in Austin, Texas, US. Apx. flt. time 44 Mins. pic.twitter.com/jZ7HI0i4iV
— ElonJet (@ElonJet) June 24, 2022
Musk has repeatedly championed “free speech” as a guiding ethic in his planned purchase of Twitter. Last December, Musk offered the teenager who built the @elonjet tracker $50,000 to shut it down, citing security concerns. It’s still up.
According to the @elonjet account, Musk’s jet last traveled to Austin, where it’s been since June 23. The associated data says that his flight to Austin burned $2,573 worth of aviation fuel and discharged 4 tons of carbon dioxide.
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(Valencia Hotel Group)
Live music and beer? Say no more. With a location in Austin, and others throughout Texas, the court hotels by the Valencia Hotel Group have a new offering for weekend stays: Live Music & Longnecks.
Enjoy live music all weekend long and check out the hotels’ state-of-the-art amenities between sets. Make a splash in the pool, enjoy outdoor fire pits, or challenge your friends in a yard game while enjoying a weekend full of live music! Did we mention the package includes deluxe accommodations and a bucket of beer? Oh, and if you needed more convincing, this pet-friendly hotel means the whole family can join in on the fun.
The hotels
Explore any of the Court Hotels by Valencia Hotel Group for a memorable escape. Each property offers a unique experience remnant of yesteryear but with all of the modern amenities that make for a fun and comfortable stay. With acres of landscaped courtyards, relax and unwind in an outdoor environment perfect for doing everything or absolutely nothing at all. With locations in Austin, College Station, Irving, and Lubbock your urban retreat has never been so close.
The music
Locals and travelers alike are invited to enjoy the deep roots of Texas music all summer long with a robust lineup of live performances. From the banks of the San Antonio Riverwalk to Irving’s manicured streets, Valencia’s hotels are a place to gather and reconnect, offering uniquely Texan settings for the weekly performances.
“We’re proud of the community we’ve fostered among Texas musicians and the many rising stars who perform at our properties,” says Amy Trench, corporate director of brand marketing & PR for Valencia Hotel Group.
In Austin, you can catch good ol’ fashioned Texas country by Drew Moreland and Clayton Gardner, bluegrass by Reagan Quinn, and much, much more.
With unique programming at each of Valencia’s properties, there’s something for everyone to enjoy all summer long.
The perks
If you’re a Valencia Hotel Group Rewards member, the perks are plentiful. Enjoy up to 10% off the Best Available Rate, and for a limited time, members can save up to 15% off a stay of 2 nights or more, for select stays in 2022.
But that’s really just the beginning. At select locations, you can enjoy discounts on weeknight stays, a complimentary third night, or curated packages for a romantic getaway or a night of watching the Verde at Q2 Stadium. You’ll also find special rates for AAA and AARP Members, educators, and front-line heroes including military, law enforcement, fire, and rescue workers.