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The Columbus City council approved their position of the cost of a new soccer stadium for the crew.  The city will contribute $50 million toward the $295 million in planned projects, with the remainder of a promised $140 million in public funding slated to come from Franklin County, the state and bonds issued by the authority that will own the stadium. Using an authority to own the stadium is a common trend in sports so the team won't have to pay taxes and I believe their rent is $1 a year. This clears the way for the Crew to buy the land. It makes the Austin FC deal look way better.

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2 hours ago, Pasken said:

The Columbus City council approved their position of the cost of a new soccer stadium for the crew.  The city will contribute $50 million toward the $295 million in planned projects, with the remainder of a promised $140 million in public funding slated to come from Franklin County, the state and bonds issued by the authority that will own the stadium. Using an authority to own the stadium is a common trend in sports so the team won't have to pay taxes and I believe their rent is $1 a year. This clears the way for the Crew to buy the land. It makes the Austin FC deal look way better.

There may be a better sports venue deal than Austin FC's somewhere, but I haven't seen or heard of it. 

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26 minutes ago, APMP said:

Anybody get a call from a Austin FC to talk about ticket options? They left a voicemail, should call back next week I guess.

Yep. I think they are just selling super premium club/suite tickets right now. Call was basically to figure out where my interest was. Seems like they are doing it in phases starting with the most expensive tickets first.

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Yep. I think they are just selling super premium club/suite tickets right now. Call was basically to figure out where my interest was. Seems like they are doing it in phases starting with the most expensive tickets first.
Cool, got any info you can share?
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Slightly off topic, just about the grass.  I would think, during the season---the clubs don't want any other events happening on the actual pitch? Maybe some corporate events up in the clubs/suites, but nothing on the actual grass---right?  Or what's been the event deal at other single-purpose MLS stadiums?  Or have there been concerts and stuff at those places with everybody up in the stands and only stage/crew on the actual field?  And then I would think in the off-season, they'd probably lease it out for bigger events and just repair the grass before the following season opener?  Better asked---how would y'all say other places handle this kinda thing?  

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Anthony Precourt started a new company to take over operation of Austin FC with new branding and a new ownership structure that will be more friendly to new investors. 

two-oak-ventures-logo*480xx727-969-117-0


Soccer shuffle: Austin FC under new parent company
By Daniel Salazar  – Staff Writer, Austin Business Journal
https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/news/2019/07/17/soccer-shuffle-austin-fc-under-new-parent-company.html

Two Oak Ventures LLC is the new parent company of Austin FC, the city's first major league professional sports franchise.

It replaces Precourt Sports Ventures as the official investor-operator of Major League Soccer's 27th franchise, although the top leadership remains effectively the same with Anthony Precourt at the helm as chairman and CEO of Two Oak.

In addition to the new name, Two Oak will have a new "ownership structure," according to Dave Greeley, president of PSV and now president of Two Oak Ventures.

Last year, Precourt Sports Ventures led the push to bring a MLS team to Austin with a stadium at North Austin's McKalla Place. Columbus Crew SC, PSV's original team, ultimately stayed in Ohio under local investors, and the league gave its blessing for a new, Precourt-led team in the Texas capital. Austin FC is set to kick off its first season in 2021.

With the political, legal and sports drama over the potential Columbus-to-Austin relocation in the rear view mirror, Precourt and company are now focused on courting investors and business partners for their team. St. David's HealthCare is already on board as the team's first corporate sponsor.

"We're a new club in a new city with a new agenda," Greeley said. "So it seemed to make a lot of sense to have a new parent company that would also represent the new ownership structure we're going to have."

"We want to find the right investors that have similar ideals and that can help us grow this club and the parent company," he added. "We want to create resources to win."

Greeley said The Butler Bros designed the Two Oak Ventures brand, as they did for Austin FC and the 4ATX Foundation. He said the company name is "somewhat of a double entendre," reflecting the intertwining oak trees in the Austin FC logo as well as the company's dual-focus on sports and entertainment.

Greeley said Austin FC represents a roughly $475 million enterprise between a roughly $240 million soccer stadium, a $35 million training facility and about $200 million for the MLS team itself. Forbes last year estimated the average MLS team was worth $240 million, ranging from Atlanta United's $330 million value to the Colorado Rapids' $155 million value. Those estimated values did not include stadiums or real estate.

"We have Austin FC as an unbelievable platform," Greeley said. "We've got to get that right and that'll create the launching pad for all of our future success."

"We think good soccer leads to good business," he added. "In turn, we think good business leads to good soccer."

Greeley said they could have other opportunities through their status as the only top-tier professional team in the market. For example, in the wake of Austin's ratings success during the FIFA Women's World Cup, Greeley said it could make sense to start a professional women's soccer team here.


Greeley said Austin FC is still on track for a stadium groundbreaking in September — the stadium site has been rezoned but the club still needs to clear some administrative hurdles. He also said Austin FC is considering a couple of places for a practice facility, aided by some early research into stadium sites in 2017 and 2018.

"We've been pressure testing this for a while so we're making a lot of advances on the training facility," he said.

And Greeley said the Austin FC headquarters near The Domain now employs about 40 people. That is expected to eventually grow to about 100.

 

 

 

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With almost $400K in anti-MLS donations to Fair Play Austin, Bobby Epstein has nearly doubled his investment in derailing the Austin FC MLS team & Stadium. The only other donor gave $25.

https://www.statesman.com/news/20190715/austin-council-member-natasha-harper-madison-may-have-broken-campaign-finance-law-report-shows

Quote

Push for soccer stadium vote

A campaign finance report filed Friday also showed Epstein continued to spend thousands of dollars to make the case for a vote on the McKalla Place soccer stadium, set to break ground in North Austin in the September.

Epstein gave $200,000 to Fair Play Austin, the PAC behind the petition ordinance. It more than doubles Epstein’s previous contributions toward the effort to place the deal for the future play site for Austin FC on the ballot.

READ: MLS stadium petition followed winding route to an uncertain future

“I support Fair Play Austin’s work to give Austinites visibility to, and a voice in, how our city uses its resources,” Epstein said in a text message. “These issues are especially important when our school district is wrestling with closures and our emergency service providers are struggling with staffing and fair pay.”


In the past nine months, Epstein has given $384,612 to the effort. Besides a $25 donation from the PAC’s treasurer, Epstein is the sole donor.

The latest report showed $178,594 in expenditures in what might become a major campaign this fall. The PAC paid $60,277 to the consulting firm of its campaign manager, Adam Resier, according to campaign spokesman Chris Lippincott, who is running communications for the PAC. Lippincott’s firm was paid $37,250. An additional $24,000 went to a consulting firm being kept on retainer in case Fair Play Austin ramps up campaign efforts in the coming months.

The PAC has also paid four legal firms a total of $20,482. They include the firm of election law specialist Buck Wood and Capitol lobbyist Margo Cardwell.

 

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It's official, Josh Wolff is the first head coach of Austin Fc.  

 

https://www.statesman.com/sports/20190723/josh-wolff-named-first-coach-of-austin-fc

Quote

The former United States men’s national team striker becomes the first and only face for the soccer team that will take the pitch in 2021. Wolff served as an assistant coach for the Crew for five seasons before leaving last winter to join the U.S. men’s national team coaching staff headed by former Columbus coach Gregg Berhalter. 

To U.S. soccer fans, Wolff is best known for playing in two World Cups (2002 and 2006) and for the part he played in stoking the rivalry with Mexico in the early-2000s. His goal in a Feb. 28, 2001 World Cup qualifying match kicked off the first of four-straight 2-0 victories over El Tri in Columbus, Ohio, and he had the assist on Brian McBride’s opening goal in the famed “Dos A Cero” win over Mexico that sent the U.S. to the 2002 World Cup quarterfinals.

The Georgia native played 14 seasons in MLS, compiling 80 goals and 49 assists in 267 regular-season appearances for the Chicago Fire, Kansas City Wizards and D.C. United. Last weekend, he was inducted as a “Sporting Legend” for his exploits during two stints in Kansas City. He also spent nearly two seasons in Germany with 1860 Munich.

As a player, Wolff’s place is firmly cemented in MLS history. Now he’s secured a spot in the league’s future, and the beginning of Austin’s role in it.

 

 

 

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  • 2 weeks later...

Allegiant Airlines just signed on to be the sponsor for the Vegas stadium which I thought was surprising that they had the money but makes sense since they are based in Vegas and so much of their business is Vegas focused. I still think Delta will sponsor the Austin FC stadium but Indeed would be my backup.

Want to try to predict the sponsor and then have a winner once it's announced? I made a quick google form. Doesn't collect email addresses. Put your username if you want.

https://forms.gle/9YcELvfnN55QhioY9

 

 

 

Edited by Pasken
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3 hours ago, Pasken said:

Allegiant Airlines just signed on to be the sponsor for the Vegas stadium which I thought was surprising that they had the money but makes sense since they are based in Vegas and so much of their business is Vegas focused. I still think Delta will sponsor the Austin FC stadium but Indeed would be my backup.

Want to try to predict the sponsor and then have a winner once it's announced? I made a quick google form. Doesn't collect email addresses. Put your username if you want.

https://forms.gle/9YcELvfnN55QhioY9

 

 

 

Why Delta? Just curious...

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34 minutes ago, wood said:

Why Delta? Just curious...

Because they are expanding operations in Austin and increasing the number of gates at the airport once the new terminal extension is complete later this year. I think they want to position themselves as the number 1 option for ABIA and would see value in putting their logo on the top of the stadium under a major flight path.

 

 

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We are now a Delta focus city, or about to become one.  

If fucking Lubbock can land United as a sponsor, we can get Delta.  

 I’m thinking Another industry though.  

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46 minutes ago, wood said:

Cool. Haven't been keeping up with Delta developments re: Austin. Will they end up with more gates & flights here than United or American?

They'll have more than both. Delta beat United in June in passenger count at ABIA and almost beat American. I don't think we'll see any new Delta flights until early next year. The big thing is getting the new east terminal extension gates open which should be in October. 

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Austin FC Split the site plan in 2 with one being erosion/sediment/grading (moving or not moving dirt) and the other everything else.  The first site plan was approved! They'll be able to get construction equipment on site as soon as they file their permits.

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On 8/6/2019 at 9:12 AM, Pasken said:

Allegiant Airlines just signed on to be the sponsor for the Vegas stadium which I thought was surprising that they had the money but makes sense since they are based in Vegas and so much of their business is Vegas focused. I still think Delta will sponsor the Austin FC stadium but Indeed would be my backup.

Want to try to predict the sponsor and then have a winner once it's announced? I made a quick google form. Doesn't collect email addresses. Put your username if you want.

https://forms.gle/9YcELvfnN55QhioY9

Indeed just announced an extension of their sponsorship contract with Eintracht Frankfurt today (Thursday, August 15th), so they are definitely in the business of soccer sponsorship.

The head of marketing was over there for the announcement of a 3 year extension of their contract as the main kit sponsor and to snap some photos.

 

Indeed-Announcement.jpg

Indeed-Announcement-1.jpg

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Full Statement from Fair Play Austin PAC
   
19. Aug | by Fair Play Austin | News |
In its current condition, passing Proposition A would do more harm than the good intended when we initially supported it. Given how far the ballot language has drifted from its original intent to give voters a say on whether the City should give away valuable land and waive property taxes, Fair Play Austin PAC will not undertake any effort to support the passage of Proposition A.

 

Edited by wood
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20 hours ago, wood said:

Yeah, I was skeptical when I heard Epstein was pulling his Fair Play Austin funding. Now the other shoe has dropped...

City of Austin hit with second lawsuit over ballot language https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/city-of-austin-hit-with-second-lawsuit-over-ballot-language/

3rd appeals Court denied request to change ballot language.

Edited by Pasken
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