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The wait is finally over, Austin FC has released the official home jersey for the 2021 Austin FC season.
<p>The jersey, available for sale <a href="https://www.adidas.com/us/athletic-austin_fc-soccer-jerseys?cm_mmc=AdieSEM_Google-_-DSA-General-2-_-DSA-Soccer-X-General-_-39700030337390494&cm_mmca1=US&cm_mmca2=&ds_agid=58700003799987176&gclid=Cj0KCQiAqdP9BRDVARIsAGSZ8Alr4sXL_8M_PEMqIjLhCEdPCHRCr7KK2oGs9buNxEZvDGIARcQD1xkaAnxAEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds&strcountry_adidascom=pl" target="_blank">online at Adidas</a>, is a classic green and black striped jersey with the official Austin FC logo in the right corner and Yeti across the chest. At the bottom corner, a patch reads "Est. 2021." </p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="57f44b31a0804e2618cf35fd7b75edef" id="a4149"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1329041110736510977"><div style="margin:1em 0">🚨 BREAKING: #AustinFC 2021 home jersey released @adidas.
#VERDE & BLACK stripes on front with white @YETICoolers… https://t.co/LejyUWMK2o</div> — Capital City Soccer (@Capital City Soccer)<a href="https://twitter.com/CapCitySC/statuses/1329041110736510977">1605703067.0</a></blockquote></div><p>The jersey will also be available for in-person sale at the Yeti store on South Congress and the Domain, along with the team's "Verde Van." To pick up merchandise from the Verde Van, which will travel across Austin, a reservation is required; two time slots have already been filled.</p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="7e1d4c70b291d30f946decb2013b05a3" id="e3fbf"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1328788790631084039"><div style="margin:1em 0">𝗗𝗮𝗺𝗻, 𝘆'𝗮𝗹𝗹.
Slots at Easy Tiger and SoccerZone are now full BUT we’ve added two new slots to get your jersey on N… https://t.co/7kJe5UD6pV</div> — Austin FC (@Austin FC)<a href="https://twitter.com/AustinFC/statuses/1328788790631084039">1605642910.0</a></blockquote></div><p>In 2019, the Major League Soccer group announced Austin FC as the 27th official club, making it the newest official professional sports team in the city. The Austin FC season will start in the spring at the new stadium at McKalla Place.</p><p><br/></p><p><strong>More on Austin FC: </strong></p>
<h2><a href="https://austonia.com/austin-fc-stadium-update" target="_self">Austin FC stadium comes to life ahead of 2021 season opener</a></h2>
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDYyNjgxNy9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxMTY5NDg1Mn0.079R1pFgFnI7yJoVI6kHRE1Ci0EmRI5nc0IXUzLWYyo/img.jpg?width=980" id="e9642" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="3cc5e75765cce2aa5a16e248e9c87d13" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />Austin FC stadium comes to life ahead of 2021 season openeryoutu.be
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Third time’s a charm: Why Austinites passed Prop A when other light rail proposals have failed
17 November
(Emma Freer/Austonia)
After a contentious campaign period, and two failed transit initiatives in 2014 and 2000, Austinites voted to approve Proposition A, which permanently raises the city's property tax rate to help pay for Project Connect, a $7.1 billion plan to overhaul the local transit system.
Unlike other races this election cycle, the results weren't close. Prop A passed by a nearly 19% margin, which local political analysts and transit advocates attributed to record-breaking turnout, a younger electorate and a new approach to transit planning.
<p><strong>A once-in-a-lifetime election</strong></p><p>Travis County set multiple new records this election. More residents voted early this year than in the entire 2016 race. Ninety-seven percent of eligible voters registered, and more than 71% actually turned out.</p><p>When turnout is low, it tends to favor the most reliable voters: older, wealthier and disproportionately white. High turnout, on the other hand, brings a more representative electorate to the polls.</p>
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<a href="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDUxNzI0Mi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1NjY4OTkyMn0.wdz5Wn431g4_9tkUBgCkVL1830dMA1cYCjIHx658YtM/img.jpg?width=980" target="_blank"><img class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="811cf905ee3f7e77e1ac4e07a160dca0" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="d7fdb" type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDUxNzI0Mi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1NjY4OTkyMn0.wdz5Wn431g4_9tkUBgCkVL1830dMA1cYCjIHx658YtM/img.jpg?width=980"/></a>
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption..." spellcheck="false">Travis County, Texas surpass 2016 turnout during early voting—with Election Day sure to widen margin.</small>
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="add photo credit...">(Bob Daemmrich)</small>
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<p>Mark Littlefield, a local political consultant, said this was critical to Prop A's success.<br/></p><p>"The difference this time around … was that this was going to be the largest electorate that we've ever had in Travis County, just because of the presidential election," he explained.</p><p>Another important development in Prop A's favor was that Austin's demographics have shifted since 2014, when less than a quarter of early voters were under the age of 40, according to data collected and analyzed by Littlefield. This election, nearly half were. </p><p>"The professionals brought to our attention the influx of new, young voters that have come to Austin in the last couple of years," Capital Metro Chairperson Wade Cooper said. "We were cognizant of the fact that they tended to be pro-transit."</p><p>The reasons for this are less partisan than generational, Littlefield said.</p><p>Younger Austinites are more likely to cite climate change and equity as concerns, both of which Prop A supporters addressed in their campaign. This demographic is also more likely to consider transit as a bonus.</p><p>"We see a lot of young professionals moving into the city every day, even during the pandemic, and they're coming from bigger cities that already have this infrastructure set up," said Alyssia Palacios-Wood, president and CEO of the Austin Young Chamber. "(They) already love transit."</p><p>This is anathema to some older generations, Littlefield said, who may find it hard to believe someone would eschew a car voluntarily.</p><p>This was part of the oppositions' argument, from groups such as the political action committee Our Mobility Our Future and the nonprofit Voices of Austin. But it carried little water with the younger voters, which Prop A proponents were banking on.</p><p>"They were campaigning to the choir," Littlefield said.</p><p><strong>Lessons learned</strong> </p><p>In addition to a changing electorate, Prop A also benefited from Project Connect's broader scope and grander ambition.</p><p>Conventional wisdom used to be that a transit referendum would be more likely to pass if it appealed to transit skeptics, said Christof Spieler, a senior lecturer at the Rice University School of Architecture. </p><p>This was often achieved by limiting the amount of funding and bundling in spending for different kinds of infrastructure.</p><p>In 2014, for example, Austin voted on a $1 billion transit proposal, which included one light rail as well as roadway improvements. But it failed <a href="https://www.kut.org/post/austins-rail-and-roads-bond-defeated" target="_blank">by a margin of 14%</a>.</p><p>This time around, Capital Metro and city officials learned from past failures. Project Connect included more than seven times the investment and focused exclusively on transit, with two light rail lines, expanded bus service and other components. </p><p>"I think we learned from 2014 that the public didn't want just a project," Cooper said. "They wanted a plan that they could see would really move the needle in Austin."</p><p>Another key change, Spieler said, is the attention paid to advocacy groups and grassroots organizing.</p><p>Capital Metro reports that around 60,000 Austinites provided input on Project Connect, and advocates—some of whom opposed the last ballot measure because they felt it did too little—were more directly involved.</p><p>"Those advocacy groups were a major voice in the creation of the plan and then rally their supporters to turn out to vote for it," Spieler said.</p>
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<a href="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDYyNzc4Ny9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzODc4NzU3MH0.7Gd6yNacEZLyZG0_F-dXylE9Ruf2qpcrcuxh-bogMZk/img.jpg?width=980" target="_blank"><img class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="399db329ff5cd510c0d5127cfdf5db38" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="a4509" type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDYyNzc4Ny9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzODc4NzU3MH0.7Gd6yNacEZLyZG0_F-dXylE9Ruf2qpcrcuxh-bogMZk/img.jpg?width=980"/></a>
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption..." spellcheck="false">Austin leaders urged residents to support Proposition A in the final days of voting.</small>
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">
(Emma Freer/Austonia)
</small>
</p>
<p>Transit for Austin, a pro-Prop A PAC, also convened a large coalition of supporters, with environmental groups, social justice advocates, elected officials and trade organizations among its ranks.<br/></p><p>"The accessibility of the (soccer) stadium is our talking point," said Tony Cardone, director of social for Austin Anthem, the official supporters group for Austin FC.</p><p>Kathy Sokolic, the chairperson and co-founder of Central Texas Families for Safe Streets, was swayed by transit's safety benefits.</p><p>"It's kind of a no-brainer for our folks," she said. </p><p>The Mueller Neighborhood Association also endorsed Prop A. Many of its residents—who have opted to live in a high-density, transit-oriented, economically diverse development—put Prop A signs in their yards and discussed the measure on their private Facebook group.</p><p>Andrew Clements, the association's chairperson and a longtime transit advocate, said the downtown tunnel proposed under Project Connect was particularly compelling because it will allow light rail trains to avoid traffic and expand capacity. Where maybe a few train cars could fit on a city block before blocking intersections, many more than that can travel underground.</p><p>"We were kind of surprised by the audacity of even proposing the tunnel," he said.</p>
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(Laura Figi/Austonia)
Austin's soccer fans can rejoice and prepare to experience soccer as they never have before in their hometown. Austin's first and only Major League Soccer team, Austin FC, will kick off the excitement with the grand opening of its new stadium.
<p>The $242 million privately-funded facility is on track to open in the spring of 2021 and—COVID-19 permitting—begin the 2021 season in the team's new home at 10414 McKalla Place.</p><p>On a 23.5 acre plot, the new stadium has a green seat for 20,500 people with 15,500 season tickets already sold-out and 5,000 general admission tickets available on game day. </p>
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<span class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="5593df5993e7834c3f6536d92b855ce9" style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" type="lazy-iframe" scrolling="no" data-runner-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Klmog991EiI?start=4&rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe></span>
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">Austin FC stadium on track for 2021 games</small>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Klmog991EiI&t=4s" target="_blank">www.youtube.com</a>
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<p>Austin FC President Andy Loughnane said Austin's love for soccer created the demand for the new stadium.<br/></p><p>"It's a growth sport across the country," Loughnane said. "The intersection of Austin being a market without a major league team, Austin being a city that loves the sport of soccer, the intersection of soccer and Austin's ripeness, it's just the perfect combination of pent up demand."</p><p>As of today, the stadium is about 75% finished. Green seats are being laid, grass has been planted and it is starting to look game ready.</p><p>With open corners for air-ventilation and a distinct wing on top to protect crowds from the sun, the stadium was designed with fan comfort in mind.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="b501fe0b192faef2d19ea03e6ce91555" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="482a7" type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDc2ODM3OC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzNzAwODg4NH0.F9bDwJFBlBb4zBnk6PYWAW7VAY16uqLbW7mlNOihcgQ/img.jpg?width=980"/>
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">The stadium's wing extends over the seats and provides extra air ventilation for games on hot days.</small><small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">(Laura Figi/Austonia)</small></p><p>"I know Austin's ready from an emotional, spiritual perspective; this market has so much pent up demand for major league sports," Loughnane said. "I think we're meant to be the sort of flag bearer for all of Austin."<br/></p><p>Though the stadium is being built specifically to host soccer games, the new venue will have something for everyone. Loughnane said the stadium was designed around Austin, which means it must include live music.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="2dff9ca000bae72ac2e1f5d015e27dc2" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="b52e0" type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDc2ODM3Mi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyOTkxMDQyMX0.PUnZE5ht3gkQqqL1_7-Pli4JKJueiahRownMilD8ywY/img.jpg?width=980"/>
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">A view from where the stage will be placed inside the stadium.</small><small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">(Laura Figi/Austonia)</small></p><p>Upon completion, Austin FC's stadium will be able to host concerts for up to 22,000 people.<br/></p><p>The stadium will also feature a <a href="https://austonia.com/sports/beer-hall-expanded-retail-added-to-austin-fcs-260-million-stadium" target="_blank">beer hall and merchandise area</a>.</p><p>"The stadium is inspired by Austin, between the sum of the architectural features of the stadium," Loughnane said. "We've made an investment in the stadium that represents the sounds of Austin, the tastes of Austin, and, you know, the smells of Austin. Some of that will come to life soon enough."</p>
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(Austin FC)
As the Austin FC season approaches, a new media company covering soccer in Texas is preparing to launch.
<p>The new media company—yet to release its name—will launch as a website and app in early 2021 to cover soccer across Texas. </p><p>Former Austin American-Statesman journalist Johanna Gretschel will be the managing editor of the new organization, she announced on Twitter Monday. She had previously teased on her account the emergence of a new sports organization she would be part of. </p><p>Along with her announcement, came the announcement of three other Texas journalists on the team: Statesman freelancer Chris Bils, Houston-based sports journalist Victor Araiza and Dallas-based journalist Jon Arnold.</p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="c3a03c30a6ff35e075ac8615c228faf4" id="cc06c"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1325853228307767309"><div style="margin:1em 0">I’m really excited to launch a new app & website covering Texas soccer at all levels (MLS, NWSL, USL, college, yout… https://t.co/DkpjwmhFwn</div> — Johanna Gretschel (@Johanna Gretschel)<a href="https://twitter.com/jojo_shea/statuses/1325853228307767309">1604943017.0</a></blockquote></div><p>In her tweet, Gretschel said the new digital organization will cover soccer at all levels, including MLS, NWSL, USL, college, youth and more. </p><p><span></span>More information on the media company will be released in early 2021, just before the start of the long anticipated Austin FC season opener.</p>
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The roar of Austin FC fans will be heard soon, as the newest Major League Soccer member looks to kick off their season in a brand new stadium in 2021.
<p>A 23.5 acre site, located at 10414 McKalla Place, is the future home to the 20,500 seat Austin FC stadium—a $242 million privately-funded, state-of-the-art facility for Austin's newest team.</p><div class="rm-embed embed-media"><iframe allowfullscreen="" aria-hidden="false" frameborder="0" height="450" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d3441.7050557034395!2d-97.72175558487675!3d30.387732081758692!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x8644cbd96a7af0dd%3A0x79427365a674ed87!2sAustin%20FC%20Stadium!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sus!4v1603902827628!5m2!1sen!2sus" style="border:0;" tabindex="0" width="600"></iframe></div><p>"I was tracking this for a long time," Chris Welhausen said. A born and raised Austinite, Chris has been watching MLS for a while and the second there were even rumors of a team coming to Austin, Chris was on board.<br/></p><p><span></span>Rumors first started about a potential MLS expansion team that could be coming to the capital city when Two Oak Ventures, led by investor Anthony Precourt, bought the MLS Columbus Crew in 2013. The intention behind closed doors at the time was to move the franchise to one of the fastest growing areas in the country—Austin. <span></span><br/></p><p>In 2017 Two Oak Ventures made their intentions known. The ownership group announced plans to move the Crew to Austin and start playing games as soon as 2019. </p><p>Before the team could be moved, Cleveland businesses, lead by Jimmy and Dee Haslam, owners of the Cleveland Browns, <a href="https://www.dispatch.com/sports/20191010/as-team-breaks-ground-on-stadium-today-dee-haslam-says-it-was-just-honor-to-help-save-it-for-columbus" target="_blank">stepped in and bought the rights to the Crew</a>. Because the Crew would not be moving, MLS granted Two Oak Ventures a franchise, creating the expansion franchise Austin FC. </p><p><br/></p><div class="rm-embed embed-media"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="650" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://cdn.knightlab.com/libs/timeline3/latest/embed/index.html?source=1bH32AhCfE8bsG8CZVy7igJdOGlvhe1Oue1lXfp0Jue0&font=Default&lang=en&initial_zoom=2&height=650" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="100%"></iframe></div><p>In 2019, MLS announced Austin FC as the 27th official club, making it the newest official professional sports team in the city. Before the move, Austin was the largest city in the U.S. without a major professional sports league. Austin FC joins the Austin Huns Rugby Club as the only other pro league in the city.<br/></p><p>"I think it's the best possible outcome," Jeremiah Bentley said. Bentely moved to Austin after attending the University of Texas in 1992. Bentley said he makes up the core demographic of Austin FC's fans: Austinites who love the city and have been looking for a team that is their own. <br/></p><p>In August, Austin FC<a href="https://www.fox7austin.com/sports/austin-fc-sells-out-of-season-ticket-memberships" target="_blank"> sold out of season ticket memberships</a>. That is equal to about 15,000 seats or almost 75% of the stadium capacity. The club selling out season tickets still leaves about 5,000 tickets available for individual purchase for select games in the spring.</p><p>The addition of all star players like <a href="https://austonia.com/austin-fc-cecilio-dominguez" target="_self">Cecilio Dominguez</a>, the 26-year-old Paraguayan National Team forward, along with 20-year-old Paraguayan left winger <a href="https://austonia.com/sports/austin-fc-announces-paraguayan-forward-rodney-redes-as-first-club-signer" target="_self">Rodney Redes</a> adds excitement. Redes was<a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2020/07/06/austin-fc-announce-paraguayan-winger-rodney-redes-first-signing" target="_blank"> the first player officially signed to Austin FC</a> after he transferred from Paraguay's Primera Division Club Guarani in July. Fans can expect more players signing down the road.</p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="cccf97ca6be63552fe5c80b11615d6c6" id="779b3"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1311848665942720517"><div style="margin:1em 0">If they’re as good in Austin as they are in Libertadores, we’re going to have some fun next year. A goal from Cecil… https://t.co/ox5UCWiugw</div> — Austin FC (@Austin FC)<a href="https://twitter.com/AustinFC/statuses/1311848665942720517">1601604069.0</a></blockquote></div><p>Even with the COVID-19 pandemic preventing other expansion franchisees like Charlotte and St. Louis from starting on schedule, Austin FC is still set to open their doors and play their first home game in the spring of 2021, according to Austin FC representatives.</p><p>The MLS schedule won't be released for a few more months, but fan support for the team is already building.</p><p>The official Austin FC Twitter and Instagram accounts combine for more than 80,000 followers. Austin FC already has arguably the most famous fan and now part owner, UT's Minister of Culture and Academy Award winner <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2019/08/23/matthew-mcconaughey-headlines-new-partners-joining-austin-fc-ownership" target="_blank">Matthew McConaughey</a>. </p><p>"I think (McConaughey) is the guy that most represents Austin and the culture," Bentley said. "It's cool that he's really involved and really into it. He's not just another famous person who is just lending their name to sell some extra tickets. He is all in on the whole experience."</p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="fd96e5c28162f99abc7811a727706bc4" id="19814"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1164934911385636864"><div style="margin:1em 0">New @MLS owner @MatthewMcConaughey is an actor, producer, and philanthropist. McConaughey, a graduate of @UTAustin… https://t.co/K8sH6YeRp0</div> — Austin FC (@Austin FC)<a href="https://twitter.com/AustinFC/statuses/1164934911385636864">1566577100.0</a></blockquote></div><p>The Austin FC front office group hosted McConaughey on a<a href="https://austonia.com/matthew-mcconaughey-austin-fc" target="_self"> Zoom call for local supporter groups</a> in August. Bentley said McConaughey talked for an hour about chants and the experience he was looking for from the club.</p><p>Fan groups sprung up almost as soon as the announcement that a MLS team would be coming to the capital city. The fan groups have shown their support for UT women's soccer games this season, drumming up excitement for the upcoming season. </p><p>Groups like <a href="https://www.losverdesatx.org/" target="_blank">Los Verdes</a>, <a href="https://capitalcitysoccer.com/2020/07/07/sgs-of-austin-fc/" target="_blank">Capital City Soccer</a> and<a href="https://austinanthem.org/about/" target="_blank"> Austin Anthem</a> are a few established supporter groups for Austin FC fans. <br/></p><p>"The fan movement and supporter culture here is unbelievable," Welhausen said. "We have a really tight knit group that's already been connecting online. It's super organized, growing really fast."</p><p><span></span>Between the new stadium, the new players and the fan support, Austin FC looks poised to surprise not only the city but the rest of MLS when the season kicks off next year.</p>
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(Austin FC)
Austin FC, Austin's newest pro soccer team, announced Thursday that the club would be entering a partnership with Austin based Netspend to be the team's official jersey sleeve sponsor.
<p><a href="https://www.netspend.com/" target="_blank">Netspend</a> is a payments and digital solutions provider connecting people and brands to innovative payment products. Netspend products and affiliated technologies will also be integrated within the stadium to enhance the speed and safety of food, beverage, and merchandise transactions, according to the club.</p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="a6959b2dc3606aeeb37024f3d46a55a6" id="fec83"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1319279364962279425"><div style="margin:1em 0">We’re very proud to announce our new Partnership with Austin FC. Like and follow @AustinFC to keep up with all the… https://t.co/HSst5uRZ7H</div> — Netspend (@Netspend)<a href="https://twitter.com/Netspend/statuses/1319279364962279425">1603375686.0</a></blockquote></div><p>Netspend joins St. David's HealthCare and Yeti as founding partners of Austin FC, but the newest member of the Austin sporting community wants to add more local brands to the mix.</p><p> "We are proud to incorporate an Austin-based brand on the sleeve of our authentic jersey collection that will be worn by our players and available at select retail locations," said Andy Loughnane, president of Austin FC.<br/></p><p>As a Jersey Sleeve Partner, the Netspend logo will appear on the right sleeve of Austin FC's primary and secondary jerseys, which are set to be revealed before the start of the 2021 season, the clubs inaugural year. The patch will be on fan jerseys as well on digital eSports jerseys in video games like FIFA. </p><p>The partnership also means the launch of community-focused programs. The first joint-initiative will take place Thursday at Burnet Middle School in Austin. Netspend and Austin FC will reportedly donate $10,000 in Netspend cards for purchase of school supplies to the staff at the local school. </p><p><strong>More on Austin FC:</strong></p>
<h2><a href="https://austonia.com/austin-fc-stadium-seats" target="_self">Austin FC stadium one seat closer to opening this spring</a></h2>
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDU0NDg4MC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0MDY0NzMxNH0.9AIdxqIrxk1aMUd-KVup8nZ_c-hgh0oayAl_KNcNEWg/img.jpg?width=1200&coordinates=0%2C580%2C0%2C580&height=800" id="fef20" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="1b7c3b012c818423e68fb1612269a51e" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />Austin FC stadium one seat closer to opening this spring
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(Austin FC/Facebook)
Austin FC is one seat closer to opening the doors to its new stadium for the 2021 Major League Soccer season.
<div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="6e740949dde8192ce5bcef44525886db"><div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/AustinFC/posts/626207471406427"></div></div><p>On Tuesday, the organization posted to Facebook that the club installed the first stadium seat of the Austin FC Stadium at <a href="https://www.statesman.com/news/20180222/mckalla-place-the-good-bad-and-ugly-for-possible-mls-stadium-site" target="_blank">McKalla Place</a>. The stadium, located near the Domain, will reportedly hold 20,000 plus fans when it opens for the team's next season. <span></span></p><div class="rm-embed embed-media"><iframe allowfullscreen="" aria-hidden="false" frameborder="0" height="450" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d3441.7050557034395!2d-97.72175558487675!3d30.387732081758692!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x8644cbd96a7af0dd%3A0x79427365a674ed87!2sAustin%20FC%20Stadium!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sus!4v1603231798317!5m2!1sen!2sus" style="border:0;" tabindex="0" width="600"></iframe></div><p>Austin FC also launched their <a href="https://www.austinfc.com/post/2020/10/19/verde-listos-campaign-highlights-austinites-legendary" target="_blank">"Verde Listos" campaign</a>, highlighting local Austinites in an effort to better connect with the Austin community. The campaign includes Austin musician Shakey Graves, Valentina's pitmaster Eliana Gutierrez and muralist Chris Rogers among others.</p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="4c0fec0199595722ba3a0471b22db4b2" id="aa5d2"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1318201472417452032"><div style="margin:1em 0">Join us... #VERDE... #LISTOS https://t.co/KY7YspS4C1</div> — Austin FC (@Austin FC)<a href="https://twitter.com/AustinFC/statuses/1318201472417452032">1603118696.0</a></blockquote></div><p>The Austin FC season starts in the spring. Season tickets <a href="https://www.austinfc.com/tickets/season-tickets" target="_blank">went on sale in August</a> and sold out, however, fans can add themselves to the <a href="https://www.austinfc.com/tickets" target="_blank">waitlist for when tickets</a> become available again. </p>
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(Capital Metro)
This November, Austin voters will choose whether to raise their property tax rate to pay for a proposed $7.1 billion transit overhaul called Project Connect. It includes expanded bus service, including an Eastside transit center.
Austin voters will decide Nov. 3 whether to increase their tax rate to pay for a $7.1 billion, 15-year overhaul of the city's transit system.
<p>If approved, Project Connect will expand Austin's rapid bus line system, add two new light rail lines—from North to South Austin and to the airport—and lead to the construction of <a href="https://austonia.com/underground-rail-tunnel-in-austin" target="_self">a multi-block underground tunnel downtown</a>.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-youtube">
<span class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="a02cd9b235b34c9120d8c62078656a80" style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" type="lazy-iframe" scrolling="no" data-runner-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/M1fP7IJVW8I?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe></span>
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">A New Transit Plan for Austin | Project Connect by Capital Metro</small>
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">
<a href="https://youtu.be/M1fP7IJVW8I" target="_blank">youtu.be</a>
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</p><p>Austin City Council voted unanimously last month to <a href="https://austonia.com/transportation-austin-project-connect?share_id=5699284" target="_self">add the measure to the upcoming ballot</a>. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the council scaled down an earlier version that would have cost $10 billion. </p><p>The new figure of $7.1 billion would come from two sources. The larger amount would come from a hike in property taxes. Additionally, Capital Metro, the city's transit agency, says it will ask the federal government for a grant of $3.25 billion. </p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="82ef205855621198c971b603aa27fa34" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="2fdab" type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDQyNDAzMS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyMTcyMjMxOX0.XK13E7gymIPqN_lbrLYJHSPbTSKaEu9CDgzp-hmeWOs/img.jpg?width=980"/>
</p><p><strong>A step forward?</strong><br/></p><p>Transit for Austin—a coalition of community organizations and elected officials that includes all 11 members of City Council, has voiced support for the project.</p><p>The group argues that a city of Austin's size—<a href="https://data.austintexas.gov/stories/s/Imagine-Austin-Population-and-Jobs-Forecast/j5a7-yk8d/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">and continual growth</a>—is long overdue for a comprehensive transit system.</p><p>Building one through Project Connect, its members say, will make the city greener by reducing reliance on personal vehicles, more equitable by allocating $300 million to help prevent displacement and safer by getting people out of cars.</p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="f9d7618456f5e4b5bf315c54ac631900" id="5129a"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1306369522824290308"><div style="margin:1em 0">Can Project Connect Promote Equitable Access and Mobility Justice?
Only an active, informed, and engaged… https://t.co/UqbeJ83nXq</div> — Austin Justice Coalition (@Austin Justice Coalition)<a href="https://twitter.com/AtxJustice/statuses/1306369522824290308">1600297740.0</a></blockquote></div><p>Austin Mayor Steve Adler has been a vocal proponent of Project Connect for these reasons—and more.</p><p>"I think people want us to do this project because they want something done about traffic, they want something done about the environment; they want something to stop the fatalities and to actually address mobility equity for essential workers," he told Austonia.</p><p>In Adler's view, the broad scope of Project Connect is essential to its appeal.</p><p>"I don't think people want us to be nibbling around the edges and spending money on things that aren't actually going to be transformative," he said. "When something's big, obviously it's going to take time for it to be completed. But the public will start seeing this being handled immediately."</p><p>If voters approve the tax rate increase, Adler said they can expect to see the city purchase land for affordable housing along the proposed light rail lines and make updates to the bus rapid transit system in the short term.</p><p>For Austinites who don't plan to use transit now or in the future, Project Connect may still offer a tangible benefit.</p><p>"Even if I'm driving on the road and not trying to get on transit, I want everybody else to get off the road and get into transit," Adler said. "But in order for that to happen, people actually have to have choices that are good."</p><p>In July, a political action committee called Mobility for All <a href="http://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=344030" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">filed paperwork</a> signaling its intent to raise money in support of the tax rate increase, which will appear on the ballot as Proposition A.</p><p>While it has not yet filed a campaign finance report, the group lists its top donors on its website, including infrastructure design firm HNTB, Major League Soccer club Austin FC and Silicon Labs chairperson Nav Sooch.</p><p><strong>A step back?</strong> </p><p>But there is also vocal opposition to the project, spearheaded by two groups: the Our Mobility Our Future PAC and advocacy group Voices of Austin.</p><p>Both argue that Project Connect is too expensive—the median homeowner will see a $317 increase to her tax bill this year, if it is approved—and that the city is overpromising to voters what it can realistically achieve.</p><p>Robert Falk, an analyst with OMOF and volunteer with the Travis County Taxpayers Union, said it is "insensitive and out of touch" for the city to ask voters to approve "the greatest debt and tax increase in Austin's history" given the pandemic and uncertainty of the future.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="af393ccc22c987241cb15c47613eed5f" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="53742" type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDQyNDAzMi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYwODI1NDAxNX0.nb0v-ghFTvFrDH888zebR8qftVxIxSaWCSSzbrib5ZA/img.jpg?width=980"/>
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">Sources: Austin Community College, Austin ISD, Central Health, city of Austin and Travis County.</small></p><p>The PAC also argues that Project Connect lacks the necessary engineering and federal funding commitment to ensure it adheres to the proposed budget, which could leave local taxpayers footing the bill.</p><p>"We're building our whole house on this sand foundation of this federal money," Falk said.</p><p>Some Austinites are invested in preventing Project Connect from being approved.</p><p>OMOF has raised nearly $100,000, <a href="http://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=343270" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">according to its July 15 campaign finance report</a>, with the majority coming from four donors: real estate investor John Lewis, Mercedes-Benz dealer Bryan Hardeman, Travis County Commissioner Gerald Daugherty and Aminex Therapeutics chairperson Jim Skaggs.</p><p>The group feels it needs to counterbalance the city's slick marketing and "propagandizing" of Project Connect using taxpayer dollars.</p><p>"Prop A reads like a sales brochure," Falk said.</p><p>Voices of Austin, which formed this summer to represent Austinites who feel their views are unheard at City Hall, similarly believes that the city is not being transparent about the full cost of the plan.</p><p>"In these dire economic times we do not need Project Con, especially using illegal and misleading ballot language," Executive Director Peck Young said <a href="https://voicesofaustin.org/voices-of-austin-asks-whether-project-connect-is-really-project-con/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">in a statement</a>.</p><p>Falk describes Project Connect as 20th-century technology that will only benefit those who live along the fixed-route system. As an alternative, OMOF supports investing in emerging technologies such as micromobility—like scooters—and the promise of <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2020/4/23/21233085/v2x-vehicle-to-everything-fcc-safety-spectrum-airwaves-wifi" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">vehicle-to-everything, or V2X technology</a>, and autonomous vehicle fleets.</p><p>"The future of transit is distributed, on-demand, doorstep-to-destination convenience," he said.</p><p>Unlike a light rail system, which requires riders to come to it, these new technologies meet users where they are.</p><p>"Why would we go all in on a system that will be obsolete before it's complete?" Falk asked.</p><p><strong>The next step</strong></p><p>After more than <a href="https://communityimpact.com/northwest-austin/transportation/2018/10/26/what-is-project-connect/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">seven years of development</a>, Project Connect now faces voters, who will ultimately decide whether the plan becomes reality.</p><p>Despite the pandemic, turnout is <a href="https://austonia.com/city/5-lessons-learned-election" target="_self">projected to break records</a>, and Adler is hopeful that voters make it down to the proposition portion of their ballots.</p><p>"There's probably no perfect time to hold an election," he said.</p><p><br/></p><p><strong>More on Project Connect:</strong></p>
<h2><a href="https://austonia.com/underground-rail-tunnel-in-austin" target="_self">Dramatic downtown Austin drone flight reveals scope of Project Connect's massive underground rail tunnel</a></h2>
Project Connect massive underground rail tunnel
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="1b92a6069738020cade05c1c163212cb"><iframe lazy-loadable="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OLZM_FXO8Bw?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span>The downtown transit tunnel would separate the light rail lines proposed under Project Connect—Capital Metro's 20-year, $7.1 billion overhaul of the city's t...From Your Site Articles
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