Major development

Austin in the running to score Major League Soccer team

Owners of Major League Soccer's the Columbus Crew is eyeing Austin for its new home.

Photo by Matthew Stockman Getty Images

For years, the Austin area has played host to minor league teams like the Round Rock Express and the Texas Stars. Now, Austin might score its first major league sports team: a Major League Soccer franchise currently located in Columbus, Ohio.

The owner of Columbus Crew SC, one of 22 teams in MLS, says it’s considering relocating the team to Austin if Columbus doesn’t come through with a new downtown soccer stadium. If the new stadium fails to materialize in Columbus, the team is aiming to move to Austin in 2019.

Officials say the Columbus franchise suffers from dismal attendance, poor financial performance, and an outdated venue, even while MLS as a whole is enjoying record-setting crowds at more modern stadiums. “Despite our investments and efforts, the current course is not sustainable,” Anthony Precourt, CEO of Precourt Sports Ventures and chairman of the Crew, says in a release. “Soccer is the world’s game, and with Austin’s growing presence as an international city, combined with its strong multicultural foundation, MLS in Austin could be an ideal fit.” Austin is the largest U.S. city without a major league sports team.

In the release, MLS Commissioner Don Garber says that while the league is reluctant to let a team relocate to another city, MLS supports Precourt Sports Ventures’ exploration of Austin as its new home if a “suitable stadium location” is found here. “The stadium site itself is of paramount importance,” says Precourt. “We recognize that private funding will be key in any stadium solution.” However, Precourt most certainly would seek some public funding for the stadium — a proposition that likely would face stiff competition from the Austin City Council.

Indeed, a statement from Austin Mayor Steve Adler foreshadows the possible opposition. While Adler says the Crew would be “a huge success” in Austin and attract “tons of fan support," he also adds: “There is a lot of benefit that being in Austin would give a team, too, though not public funding of a stadium.”

A potential site for a permanent MLS stadium in Austin hasn’t been identified, although the Crew reportedly could play at Myers Stadium on the University of Texas at Austin campus during the 2019 and 2020 seasons. “We are aware of MLS interest in Austin and have no opposition to exploring possible collaborative opportunities,” UT Athletic Director Mike Perrin says in a statement provided to Austin TV station KVUE.

A 5,000-seat stadium is under construction at the Circuit of the Americas, but it’ll be the new home of the minor league soccer team formerly known as the Austin Aztex. Besides, that venue would be too small to accommodate an MLS team. If the Austin plan falls into place, the Crew would likely debut a new soccer stadium here in 2021.

If the Crew does stay in Columbus, the chances of getting an MLS team in the Capital City are slim. Currently, Austin is not on the list of 12 U.S. cities in the running for MLS expansion teams, though that list does include San Antonio. Dallas and Houston already have MLS franchises.

sports

Women's sports pub with Title IX inspiration acquires space near UT Austin

Photo courtesy of 1972

The new sports bar focuses on women's sports but welcomes fans of all kinds.

A pioneering bar celebrating women's sports has officially settled on a location in Austin. The idea was announced about a year ago, when it was called ATX Women's Sports Pub, but it now bears the more metaphorical name 1972, referring to the year Title IX started protecting women's rights in federally funded schools.

The new location is at 2530 Guadalupe St., the former home of Moody’s Kitchen and Bar. Moody's announced it was closing the same day that it handed over the keys, according to KXAN. The 1972 team expects it to be open "just in time" for March Madness, which starts March 16.

Old Moody's Kitchen and Bar location UT students probably know this space.Photo courtesy of 1972

Renovations are still underway, according to an email from a spokesperson. Once they're done, the team will be testing out menu options by culinary director Allison Hugunin, who worked as a chef for the extravagant mini-golf bar The Dirdie Birdie.

Debra Hallum and Marlene du Plessis are co-founders, drawing largely on du Plessis' sports background. Growing up in South Africa, she played field hockey, rugby, ran, cycled, and has competed in half-marathons and triathlons. In Austin, she has also worked as a high school campus director.

1972 ATX Women's Sports Pub patio founders Debra Hallum and Marlene du Plessis Marlene du Plessis (left) and Debra Hallum (right) signing the papers to acquire the space.Photo courtesy of 1972

The name 1972 is fitting because this pub will be near the University of Texas campus, and pledges to welcome all sports fans: women, men, LGBTQ+ community members, and allies. It's keeping "ATX Women's Sports Pub" as a tagline to clarify the numbers.

“We’re building more than a pub — we’re creating a space where every fan can feel seen, celebrated, and part of the action,” said cofounder Marlene du Plessis in a press release. “From die-hard sports lovers to casual spectators, 1972 is here for you.”

Title IX was not only about sports, but many of its most important impacts have been in athletics. Put simply, the law prohibits sex discrimination in general and has since been applied to sports in many more specific ways. The legislation was thrust back into headlines in the beginning of this month — just days after the 1972 bar team signed sale papers — as President Donald Trump's administration announced it would revert its Title IX enforcement to rules created in his first term, in 2020.

Much like the legislation, this concept has a lot to do with sports, but athletics isn't the only sphere it operates in; du Plessis is inspired by how sports can build confidence and leadership. Most important to the duo is how sports can bring people together despite differences in background, race, sexual orientation, or religion.

1972 ATX Women's Sports Pub patio founders Debra Hallum and Marlene du Plessis The cofounders in their new space.Photo courtesy of 1972

“At 1972, we’re not just building a pub — we’re building a movement," said Hallum in the release. "This is a space where women’s sports take center stage, and every fan, regardless of gender or identity, feels at home. Our goal is to celebrate the achievements of women athletes and foster a community where inclusion, equity, and the love of the game thrive.”

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