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Austin FC juggles 34 matches in 2023 season including some first-ever encounters

The team is following up on a record-breaking season in 2022.

Photo courtesy of Austin FC

That wasn’t so bad, was it? After two months sans soccer following the last Austin FC (AFC) game in Los Angeles, the club announced its Major League Soccer (MLS) regular season schedule. The wait is over on February 25, when AFC gets the ball rolling with two consecutive home games at Q2 Stadium. The 2023 regular season lasts 34 matches (28 within the Western Conference and six with the Eastern Conference) until October 21.

AFC’s first challengers are MLS expansion club St. Louis City SC, followed by the most recent Eastern Conference runners-up CF Montréal on March 4, who have yet to visit Q2 until now. Austin may not have much home-team advantage in the traditional sense, but at the end of the 2022 season, players across the league voted Q2 stadium their favorite to play at. When AFC hits the road, their first stop is in Salt Lake on March 11. Last time Austin met Real Salt Lake, the Texas team won in a 3-1 penalty shootout in their semifinal qualifying match.

Other notable matches include Austin’s first-ever encounters with Toronto FC and New England Revolution, its first time hosting D.C. United, and six matches against other Texas clubs — three each against FC Dallas and Houston Dynamo FC. By the end of the season, AFC will have played every other club at least once, except Chicago Fire FC, New York City Football Club, and Philadelphia Union. Decision Day marks the end of the season, when AFC faces the San Jose Earthquakes at PayPal Park.

Tuning in from outside the stadium depends on a fan’s preferred viewing: All matches will stream on Apple TV thanks to MLS Season Pass, and four matches will also be broadcast on national television. The club maintains a list of bar partners, providing Austinites with an easy list of viewing locations and sometimes viewing parties. Most games occur on Saturdays, but seven fall on Wednesdays, and three on Sundays.

AFC is experiencing the league’s longest-active sellout streak, so Austinites interested in attending games should pull the trigger sooner rather than later. Season memberships are currently on a waitlist. More information about purchasing tickets is available at austinfc.com.

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Take Another Swing

Austin pickleball club reopens with Bill's Oyster spin-off food truck

Photo by Henry Selis Photo

Other Racquet Social Club is back after city woes.

Pickleball players at Austin's new Other Racquet Social Club were placed on a forced rest this summer as the sports venue dealt with city permitting complications, but it'll be back in action November 1. It brings with it a brand-new food truck from the folks behind the immediately popular and also relatively new downtown restaurant Bill's Oyster, called Bill's Dips.

Its mandated hiatus notwithstanding, Other Racquet opened in late 2023 as a members-only venture, but opened to the public a few months later, in early 2024. Now, members still get certain perks, but anyone can book a guest court or stop by to enjoy the bar and food trucks — a big part of the initial draw. Guests don't even need to book a court to stop by and hang out.

“It’s been a hell of a journey, but we’re grateful to be reopening our bar after being closed for seven months,” said Other Racquet owner Matt Wolski in a press release. Wolski is also the founder of Pursuit Concepts, which brought Austin places like Idle Hands, Parlor & Yard, and Victory Lap.

“This process has been challenging to say the least, but the goal from the beginning was to have Other Racquet fill a need on our strip of Manor," Wolski continued, "one that’s a space where everyone can enjoy not only pickleball but great food and drinks in a welcoming, laid-back environment.”

Bill's Dips will open with Other Racquet right away, on November 1. It joins farmers-market-stand-turned-food-trailer B. Cooper Barbecue, forming a meaty duo. Bill’s Dips focuses on "classic comfort fare," according to the release, which includes the signature Bill’s Burger alongside chili cheese dogs, queso blanco, and soft-serve dipped cones.

“Our Bill’s Burger has become a fan-favorite, so much so that we wanted to create a standalone destination where our guests could conveniently get their burger fix in East Austin,” said Bill's Oyster managing partner Dylan Salisbury. “Parking at Other Racquet felt like a natural segue for our guests that come into Bill’s, and we were able to create a menu that reflects the laid back vibes of the space.”

Other Racquet Social Club is located at 2717 Manor Rd. and is open Mondays to Thursdays from 4-11 pm, Fridays and Saturdays from 11 am-midnight, and Sundays from 11 am-11 pm. The existing cocktail bar is open the same hours, but closes an hour early except for Fridays and Saturdays. Finally, Bill's Dips will be open Thursdays and Fridays for dinner service, and Saturdays and Sundays all day. It accepts orders in person, online at billsdips.com, and via major delivery platforms including Uber Eats and DoorDash.

More information about Other Racquet Social Club is available at otherracquet.com.

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Fans of Austin sports and Austin food can now score tickets to The Tailgate, CultureMap's all-out party devoted to everyone’s favorite way to get in the gameday spirit. The event, presented by Verizon, goes down from 6-9 pm December 12 at Distribution Hall. Find out more about it here.

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