Austin FC, Matthew McConaughey dreaming massive

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A go to to SXSW about 10 years in the past, and a gathering, modified the trajectory of Main League Soccer’s make-up.

The customer? MLS commissioner Don Garber. Who was he assembly? The Mayor of Austin Steve Adler. Quick ahead to present day, the 2 are standing inside a model new $225 million stadium on 24 acres of land, reflecting on how their thought has blossomed into the twenty seventh franchise in MLS historical past.

Enter Austin FC, which will likely be enjoying its inaugural sport Saturday in Los Angeles.

As if navigating a pandemic didn’t already include sufficient hardships, think about attempting to get an expert sports activities staff up and operating? It’s precisely what the Austin FC entrance workplace was tasked with as they stored the ship afloat whereas different growth tasks like Sacramento crumbled.

Proprietor Anthony Precourt initially tried to relocate the Columbus Crew to Austin in 2017, however after backlash and a brand new possession deal stored the Crew in Ohio, the Austin mission started in earnest. Earlier than anybody concerned at Austin FC may even start to consider soccer, they’d to determine how one can make an immediate splash that will resonate.

Enter Academy Award-winning actor and writer Matthew McConaughey, who in 2019 was introduced as part-owner and “Minister” of Tradition of the brand new staff.

The Texas native had no hesitation when introduced with the chance to be a part of the mission he continuously refers to as a “legacy transfer” for him and his household. Married to a Brazilian spouse, soccer has grow to be a part of his on a regular basis life, and his objective now could be to rally that very same ardour across the metropolis itself.

“Contemporary, relentlessly optimistic metropolis,” McConaughey stated. “It’s the world’s sport, it’s coming right here. We bought folks from all around the world in our metropolis which have by no means had a staff to root for that represented the town of Austin.”

Matthew McConaughey is the latest celebrity to get involved in MLS ownership and promotion. (Photo by Rick Kern/Getty Images)

Matthew McConaughey is the most recent movie star to get entangled in MLS possession and promotion. (Picture by Rick Kern/Getty Pictures)

Together with being positioned in one of many fastest-growing cities in the USA, Austin FC has offered 15,500 season tickets and has a waitlist numbering one other 15,000 already. 

“Matches the model of Main League Soccer: A metropolis on the rise that marries completely with a league on the rise,” Garber stated. “It appears so excellent. It appears to be like like Austin, it appears like Austin, it displays the tradition of the group.”

That group is embedded inside the house floor itself. Q2 Stadium was designed to emulate the out of doors areas within the downtown bars and streets, and it is positioned close to The Area, a retail and residential heart that is nonetheless comparatively new.

“When you take a snapshot from the sky [over Q2 Stadium] and also you zoom in, you must be capable to see within the crowd the range, the artistic colours, the vibrancy that signify Austin,” McConaughey stated. “On any given night time if you’re in that stadium, it ought to really feel, scent and style like one of the best of Austin, Texas.”

Austin FC gained’t get to expertise its house surroundings till June 19 as stadium development finishes. MLS schedule-makers didn’t spare the newcomers any favors by pitting them in opposition to star-studded LAFC on this weekend’s opener, to not point out 5 extra 2020 playoff groups within the following six matchweeks. 

Garber sees parallels between Austin FC and different latest growth golf equipment.

“I inform all new house owners: It is vitally tough to crack the code,” Garber stated. “We noticed the challenges that Toronto had after they launched their staff earlier than they had been capable of obtain success, Orlando is one other instance of that. You need to count on that you just simply can’t are available in right here, snap your fingers and count on to be an MLS Cup champion. It’s a tough league to achieve success in.”

LAFC has been the most effective latest fashions of how one can hit the bottom operating and McConaughey, who has attended video games in L.A., has absorbed perception from that possession group. 

It additionally helps that his pal Will Ferrell is one in every of LAFC’s co-owners. In actual fact, McConaughey stated the 2 have engaged in “a confrontation” over the opener and would possibly place a wager on it.

All that anticipation is now just a few days away from paying off.

“How a lot success can we have now in 12 months 1? We’ll see,” McConaughey stated. “We’ve not constructed [Austin FC] in a day and we’re not going to be a fad. That is the start. The seed is planted to develop a giant robust oak, a legend, and we have now the lengthy view right here for what we’re constructing and going to grow to be.”

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