Austin Chronicle on a New Bar Football Culture

Austin Spurs at Mister Tramps, 8/22/15

If you’ve spent much time at Aztex games, Scorpions matches, or the Austin Soccer Fan Zone on Facebook, you’ve probably run across Lee Nichols. He has an article in this week’s Austin Chronicle, Game Changer – A new football culture for Austin bars.

The season kicking off is soccer – the very first match of the 38-game English Premier League schedule that will last until May. This opening battle pits Manchester United (a team even the soccer-ignorant have

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Stadium Standards & Smoke Signals

On October 2nd the Austin Aztex announced that they will not be participating on the field in 2016, with the intention to return in 2017. The press release made clear that the Aztex are under pressure from USL to find a suitable long-term home for the club. If they are truly returning in 2017, the owners and the remaining staff must be working furiously to accomplish their goal. Their only public step so far is the nice-looking Stadium for Austin … Read the rest “Stadium Standards & Smoke Signals”

Kenn.com on 2015 USL Attendance

The most diligent keeper of attendance stats in American soccer over the years has to be Kenn Tomasch. With the 2015 USL regular season just completed, he has a new post with all the numbers: Taking Attendance 10/4/2015: USL First Division III League To Draw A Million.

There are lots of interesting facets to check out there, but here are the more Austin-specific bits.

The Aztex averaged 3,227, putting them 11th out of 24 teams. That’s solidly middle-of-the-pack, whether … Read the rest “Kenn.com on 2015 USL Attendance”

Is a Stadium Enough?

The Aztex organization recently announced that they would be sitting out the 2016 season, because they need to continue their “quest for a soccer friendly venue in which professional soccer in Austin can thrive”.

Concerns, plans, and fantasies related to a soccer-specific home stadium for Austin’s soccer team are nothing new. For that matter, the issue is hardly unique in American soccer. Ask any team in the country, at any level: D.C. United, the New England Revolution, and Miami … Read the rest “Is a Stadium Enough?”

It’s Aztex Déjà vu All Over Again

Earlier today, the Austin Aztex announced that they will not be participating on the field in 2016. The announcement ends speculation around the club’s immediate future but does not help with lingering concerns about the viability of soccer in Austin.

The United Soccer League announced today that it had granted permission for the Austin Aztex to not participate in the 2016 season due to the unavailability of a stadium that meets league standards and the unforeseen delays in the development

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Aztex Close Out Season with Comeback Win

The Austin Aztex (10-15-3) completed their inaugural USL campaign with a dramatic 3-2 victory over Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 (8-14-6) at Thunderbird Stadium in Vancouver. The win elevated the Texas club to a 9th place finish, in a parity-filled USL Western Conference. While outside of a playoff position, the Aztex completed the season on a strong note, winning their only game north of the border.

Sunday’s match did not get off to a favorable start for the visitors as Vancouver … Read the rest “Aztex Close Out Season with Comeback Win”

Aztex Blanked at Colorado Springs

On Wednesday night the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (14-9-3) shut down the Austin Aztex (9-4-13) attack and earned a 3-0 victory, mathematically eliminating Austin from USL’s Western Conference playoffs. The Aztex road form is mostly to blame for their standing out side of playoff contention. Having only earned 9 points as a visiting team on the season, the club has struggled to find themselves outside of Texas.

The match got off to a terrible start for the visitors when a … Read the rest “Aztex Blanked at Colorado Springs”

Aztex Shine in Final Home Match

In what was likely the final match at Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex for 2015, an announced crowd of 5,050 witnessed the Austin Aztex (9-13-3) defeat the Seattle Sounders 2 (12-11-3) by a narrow 2-1 margin. The victory allowed the club to post a winning home record in their first USL season. Saturday’s match also saw the Aztex wear pink jerseys that were auctioned to support Komen Austin and the Aztex Foundation.

Paul Dalglish chose a lineup combination and formation we … Read the rest “Aztex Shine in Final Home Match”

Aztex to End 2015 Home Season vs. Sounders 2

From AustinAztex.com: Preview: Aztex Close Out Home Schedule Versus Sounders 2.

The Austin Aztex (8-13-3) will look to close out their final home game of their 2015 USL inaugural season on a high note when they face Seattle Sounders FC 2 (12-10-3) Saturday evening at Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex.

This will be the first ever meeting between the two squads, which will face each other again in Seattle on September 17th. These teams will also be looking to reverse … Read the rest “Aztex to End 2015 Home Season vs. Sounders 2”

US Soccer Hall of Fame in Frisco?

Steven Goff at the Washington Post: Soccer Hall of Fame remains on track for Dallas suburb.

Frisco, Tex., home to MLS’s FC Dallas and an expansive athletic complex in the fast-growing north Dallas suburbs, is the clear front-runner to become the site of the National Soccer Hall of Fame, multiple sources told the Insider.

The developing story has FC Dallas fans connecting this potential news to recently announced 2016 ticket- and parking-cost increases at the club. From Peter Welpton’s … Read the rest “US Soccer Hall of Fame in Frisco?”