On the Verde Store

The grand opening of the “Verde Store”, the merch store in the stadium at McKalla Place, is tomorrow, Saturday, May 1. Season ticket holders were able to get a preview today, so here are a few pics and, below, our thoughts.

To be quite honest, a gift shop full of stuff we’ve mostly been able to order online for a while now wouldn’t normally excite us all that much. But this gift shop is inside that glorious new stadium, and … Read the rest “On the Verde Store”

On the Name of the Stadium at McKalla Place

Though it has now become the center of many Austin soccer fans’ universe, none of us had ever heard of “McKalla Place” just a few years ago. We’re proud to have published the pragmatic and insightful post by Lee Nichols that introduced many to that name: My Stadium Pick: McKalla Place.

I’m assuming Anthony Precourt is going to read this, so let’s invite him: Mr. Precourt, make a visit to the McKalla tract. It won’t look very impressive. But

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On Chronicle Soccer Coverage, Past & Future

When we started this site in 2015, just before the Austin Aztex (2.0) shut down, we told ourselves we’d stick it out, and try to help keep the soccer flame alive in Austin. Our record on that over the past handful of years is mixed, at best.

If you want to look to someone who has truly kept at it, week in and week out, nobody in this town can hold a candle to Nick Barbaro, author of “Soccer … Read the rest “On Chronicle Soccer Coverage, Past & Future”

Lincoln Rose has posted a three-part chat with Arch Bell and Kit McConnico about the past & future of soccer in Austin. Watch the YouTube clips below (or listen to the audio on SoundCloud: part 1, part 2, & part 3:

Part 1:

Part 2:

Part 3:

Unquestionable Ambition

Austin FC stadium under construction

We are still a year away from watching our city’s first major league team take the pitch, yet Austin FC has already charted an ambitious start. For those of you that have followed sports in Austin over the last few decades, you know that securing a stadium has been the largest hurdle for any professional sports organization searching for sustainable success.

Austin FC has not only secured a stadium site, and inside Austin’s city limits at that, they have broken … Read the rest “Unquestionable Ambition”

Relocation Grudges Past & Future

Historic USA Map

by Chris G.

I hated Orlando after the Aztex (“1.0”) moved there. I hated Orlando a lot. I wished nothing but the worst for that team, top to bottom. I wanted that owner and his greedy and misguided plans to not just fail, but to fail spectacularly. Here’s a bit of what I wrote at the time on my blog, The Aztexan:

I hope Orlando The City Beautiful City Soccer City Club SC or whatever the fuck

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FC Austin Elite Brings Women’s Soccer to Austin

We’ve written before that even without an Aztex season, 2016 has a lot to offer soccer fans in Central Texas. Now, in addition to those games around Texas and around the world, there is another team starting up right here in Austin: FC Austin Elite, of the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL). We spoke with General Manager Danny Woodfill to get all the details.

Last year this team was known as the Austin Aces (not to be confused with … Read the rest “FC Austin Elite Brings Women’s Soccer to Austin”

Rally with the AO Family

Violet Crown Soccer recently had the opportunity to discuss this weekend’s AO Rally with Austin-based Dan Wiersema, Director of Communications for the American Outlaws. With over 32,000 current members nationwide, more than 125 of AO’s most passionate members and leaders are expected to descend on Austin for the event. This year’s rally, an AO member exclusive, is designed to energize and bring people together from across the country to continue to grow support for both the women’s and men’s national … Read the rest “Rally with the AO Family”

Road Report: San Antonio FC Home Opener

San Antonio FC kicked off their USL home campaign Saturday night with a record-setting crowd. The home team got off to a slow start as Swope Park Rangers took the early lead when a loose ball found the SAFC net in the 2nd minute.

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Both clubs are expansion sides for the 2016 USL regular season, but have had hot starts in league play. Throughout the first half, SAFC controlled possession and equalized in the 42nd minute.The second half was a … Read the rest “Road Report: San Antonio FC Home Opener”

Farewell to Futbol en Vivo

Futbol En Vivo was a bilingual radio program that aired every Tuesday from 1-2pm on 91.7 FM KOOP Radio in Austin, Texas. Work and family commitments of the hosts recently prompted them to halt the weekly show after nearly seven years on the air.

The program started in mid-2009 with Chilean David Alvarez and Mexican Jose de Loera as hosts. De Loera, current proprietor of Takoba, was unable to continue as host due to his Takoba obligations, so Alvarez, … Read the rest “Farewell to Futbol en Vivo”