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No longer the new kids: new MLS club Charlotte FC swipes an Austin FC player in Expansion Draft

Austinite McKinze Gaines was nabbed by new MLS club Charlotte FC in the 2021 Expansion Draft. (Austin FC/Twitter)
Austin FC's first native Austinite left his hometown team Wednesday morning as new MLS team Charlotte FC selected forward McKinze Gaines in the Expansion Draft.
Gaines was among five players selected by Charlotte FC, which was allowed to take one of Austin's players in the draft on Tuesday night. Charlotte FC is the newest club in MLS, meaning that the team was permitted to select five players of their choice from certain MLS clubs as they work to build their first roster. The Verde and Black will receive $50,000 for the Gaines transaction and won't have to participate in the next Expansion Draft.
In addition to making waves as the club's first true hometown player, Gaines made a name for himself after scoring just 10 minutes into his first match to help the team to a 2-0 victory on Sept. 26. Gaines went on to make nine appearances with the team.
Making his city proud. Take a bow, @McKinzeGaines. 🤩 pic.twitter.com/43zEI1ZDdq
— Austin FC (@AustinFC) September 27, 2021
As the first native Austinite to score with the team, Gaines was met with beer showers and a deafening crowd.
"Nothing quite like it honestly," Gaines said. "To score like that in front of 20,000 screaming Austinites was something crazy; I'll never forget that."
Before Q2 Stadium, Gaines was a Round Rock kid and member of the acclaimed Lone Star Soccer club and was one of the few Austin kids to try their luck at professional soccer overseas. Gaines initially made the cut in the top flight German Bundesliga but couldn't quite find his footing abroad. After swapping clubs for five seasons, the 23-year-old decided it was time to come home.
Austin FC will have a chance to fill Gaines' shoes and boost their roster at the upcoming MLS SuperDraft on Jan. 11.
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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.