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Austin FC's long-awaited debut is finally in sight, Major League Soccer announced on Monday that the 2021 season will begin on April 3, with 34 matches for each of the league's 27 clubs.
The announcement applauded Austin FC's debut, along with its "new world-class stadium," which was named Q2 Stadium the same day. Preseason training will begin on Feb. 22 and the regular season ends on MLS Decision Day, Nov. 7.
📰 | @MLS today announced the 2021 season will begin on Saturday, April 3 and feature 34 matches for each of the league’s 27 clubs.— Austin FC (@Austin FC)1611608003.0
With the addition of Austin FC, the 2021 season will feature 27 clubs, 14 in the Eastern Conference and 13 in the Western Conference.
Playoffs will begin on Nov. 19 until the MLS Cup game, scheduled for Dec. 11. Prior to the playoffs, MLS clubs also will participate in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, Canadian Championship and Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League in 2021.
Keeping things COVID-friendly, players will be required to quarantine and conduct individual training upon returning to their clubs, in accordance with MLS health and safety protocols. Teams will be tested every other day, plus the day before matches during the regular season.
With travel restrictions still in effect between the U.S. and Canada, the MLS said it is in contact with its three Canadian clubs and will release more details about their involvement in the near future.
MLS said it plans to announce the full regular-season schedule in the coming weeks, but for now, here are the key dates to watch out for:
Feb. 22 MLS Preseason training begins (6 weeks)
- Players will observe a mandatory quarantine upon reporting
Apr. 3-4 MLS is Back - Opening Weekend 2021
Late August MLS Heineken® Rivalry Week
Late summer MLS All-Star Game presented by Target, Leagues Cup, Campeones Cup
Nov. 7 MLS Decision Day
Nov. 19 Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs begin
Dec. 11 2021 MLS Cup
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(Dolce Neve)
He's since been offering that same experience for the past seven years with his artisanal gelato shop, Dolce Neve, in Austin, alongside his sister and her husband.
Leo Ferrarese, Marco and Franscesa Silvestrini run Dolce Neve. (Dolce Neve)
While gelato always played a big role in Silvestrini's life, it wasn't in his plans to take on a business with his favorite treat. After a few years in New York working as a management consultant, he felt he was missing out on something. "I decided to take a step back and started thinking, what could... I do to make society better and happier, even just for a moment," Silvestrini said.
He thought back to his childhood and the role gelato played in it and wanted to offer the same experience to Americans.
Once he had the product idea down, it came down to location. Growing up among farmers in a small community in Central Italy, Silvestrini knew he wanted a slower pace of living than New York, so he asked around. The answer he got: "Austin." The only thing he knew about what would become his future home was it had a Formula 1 track.
But after visiting once, he felt a great sense of community he didn't feel in The Empire State. "I felt it was not just a good place for a concept like mine, but also a good place to live because at the end of the day, you cannot just think about your business," he said.
"Dolce Neve" translates to "sweet snow." The shops offers 12-18 flavors at a time. (Dolce Neve)
Similarly, his sister Francesca Silvestrini was experiencing the same feelings while studying for her Ph.D. in Ohio before teaming up with Silvestrini. She went back to Italy to be properly trained in making gelato while Silvestrini focused on the business plan. They brought Leo Ferrarese, her husband, onboard and opened their first shop on South First Street in January 2014. The rest is history.
On the menu, you'll find various traditional and innovative flavors that rotate out. Some of the staples include chocolate, 100% vanilla from Madagascar and salted caramel. Other rotating or seasonal flavors include whiskey and pecan, organic cantaloupe sorbet, goat cheese and pecan, almond custard and tiramisu. They've created over 300 flavors together in the span of the business.
So what's next for the shop? Lately, Silvestrini has been thinking a lot about that. With two locations in Austin, one in Houston—he's just not sure if expanding more is the right move. Maintaining a quality product and good service is of utmost importance that he's not willing to sacrifice.
"In order to be happy, it's not about making money, it's about being an integral part of the community," Silvestrini said. "There have been so many cases in which I think what I did today really made a difference in somebody's life."
