The stadium is being built on a 24-acre site at McKalla Place in north Austin AUCTION FC
MLS expansion club Austin FC CEO Anthony Precourt and Austin Mayor Steve Adler celebrated at a groundbreaking ceremony for the team's 20,500-seat, $242M soccer-specific stadium, which will be "privately funded and built" on city land, according to Phil West of PRO SOCCER USA. Precourt and Adler yesterday were joined by MLS President & Deputy Commissioner Mark Abbott, as well as club investors Matthew McConaughey and Pixiu Investments Managing Partner Eddie Margain, before the "actual shovels-in-dirt moment." McKalla Place is the 24-acre "tract of land in north Austin where the stadium will be constructed." Precourt said that the club will be "prepared to take the initial part" of its inaugural '21 season "on the road, similarly to LAFC prior to opening Banc of California Stadium last year." About 2,000 fans "have joined" the Austin Anthem supporters' group, and "nearly 50 of its most active members came to the groundbreaking to showcase a few of their fledgling chants" (PROSOCCERUSA.com, 9/9).
GROW THE LEGEND: In Austin, Chris Bils notes if all "goes according to plan," the stadium will "open for matches and events in April" '21. The "initial phase of construction that has been approved is mass grading and erosion control." Other phases of the site plan are "still waiting on approval from the city." Once open, the stadium will have a "natural grass playing surface, with a canopy that covers 100% of the seats, concourses and plaza entries." The stadium's open corners are "designed to allow airflow." In addition to MLS and international soccer matches, the stadium also will be "equipped to handle concerts and music festivals" (AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 9/10).
