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Megan Rapinoe, pictured right, spoke with Austin media about playing the first match at Q2 Stadium this summer. (USWNT/Twitter)
Austin FC may not get to christen their new Q2 Stadium, but a team with an even larger global reach will.
The U.S. Women's National Team is set to kick off play at Q2 Stadium as they face off against Nigeria as part of the Summer Series at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, June 16. The World Cup champions will play three days before Austin FC's historic home debut against the San Jose Earthquakes.
In a press conference with Austin media, USWNT forward and record-breaker Megan Rapinoe said the team was excited to play Nigeria, a team they've never faced outside a world championship, and that the team's success reflects a global trend of skyrocketing interest in women's soccer. Nigeria has won 11 Africa Women Cup of Nations titles and advanced to the quarterfinals in both the FIFA Women's World Cup and the Olympics.
"I think it's a big signal to how much the game is continuing to grow from a global perspective," Rapinoe said. "I think having an eye on the growing women's game and getting a team here that we normally don't get to play is really amazing."
Big fans of USWNT can get more than one taste of the championship team: as part of their Summer Series, they'll also play Jamaica and Portugal on June 10 and 13, respectively, at the BBVA Stadium in Houston.
Rapinoe said she knows about the buzz in Austin, and frankly, she said the team has had enough of playing in other Texas cities.
"I think most things about Austin have a nice buzz to it," Rapinoe said. "We do enough of the Houston-Dallas action. The breakfast tacos alone are reason to be excited about heading to Texas, and the being able to break in the new stadium for the national team and Austin."
⭐️🇺🇸⭐️🌳⭐️🏟⭐️
For the very first time, the @USWNT, 𝗧𝗛𝗘 World Cup Champions, are coming to Austin » https://t.co/sOA5tsFy59pic.twitter.com/M73SXmHFgF
— Q2 Stadium (@Q2Stadium) May 6, 2021
All three matches may be friendlies, but they serve as the ultimate test: the USWNT's match at Q2 will be their final showdown before Head Coach Vlatko Andonovski announces the Olympic roster, and it'll be their last simulation of a group stage before the real deal kicks off in July.
Rapinoe said the team will look to build chemistry and finetune their gameplay in the Summer Series.
"All of these minutes and seconds that we get together are really vital," Rapinoe said. "These games are huge, to be able to not only get together and continue to grow chemistry as a team and nail some things down, but start to get into the details a little bit more."
A month after making their Q2 Stadium debut, the team will head to Tokyo for the 2021 Olympics. They're set to face off against Sweden on July 21, New Zealand on July 24 and Australia on July 27 as part of Group G in the long-postponed Olympic Games.
Rapinoe and the USWNT have long been advocates for gender equality, racial justice and LGBTQ+ rights. Even with the Olympics looming closer, Rapinoe said activism is "a necessity" on and off the pitch. "It doesn't feel like an option," she said.
Rapinoe hopes that fight comes to Austin. Long after the USWNT leaves the Q2 Stadium pitch, Rapinoe said she hopes Austin FC owner Anthony Precourt follows through with bringing a National Women's Soccer team to Austin as he's teased interest in before.
"I'd ask to see his pitch deck and plans for an NWSL expansion team," Rapinoe said. "I think people ask all the time what they can do to support women's soccer...(and) I think the answers are really obvious. I would say Austin would be an incredible city to have an NWSL team."
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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.