Tag: Austin
Finish Line
When the announcement came that MLS was negotiating with the Haslam/Edwards group, I reported that a source had told me that the deal was "largely done." And that was true, inasmuch as a buyer had been identified, and potential land located (and essentially approved by MLS). But with deals of this nature, it's the fine ...
City of Austin, MLS Execute Lease Development Agreement
Big news out of Austin, Texas. As I mentioned in a Patreon report, the imminent finalization of the lease agreement between The City of Austin and MLS has occurred, with the City executing the lease development agreement, which clears the way for MLS to announce the long awaited franchise in the city. The Term Sheet ...
Cat’s Out of the Bag: There Will Not be an MLS Team Playing in Austin in 2019
Forbes is out with their valuations for each Major League Soccer team, and buried in the story are some quotes from an interview with MLS Commissioner Don Garber. Aside from the usual platitudes, there was a discussion about expansion. With Cincinnati coming online in 2018, Garber was asked about the future of MLS expansion. That ...
Exclusive: With 2018 Season Over, What’s Next For the Columbus Crew?
The Columbus Crew suffered a tough defeat at the hands of the New York Red Bulls Sunday evening, ending their 2018 season after losing 3-1 on aggregate in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. But the good news for fans of the club is that the 2019 season is just around the corner, a fact that a ...
The Vote: SoccerSuffrage2018 [Live Blog]
Well, here we are. The votes that will decide the future...of MLS expansion/relocation. Sort of. Polls are already closing around the country, and for those of you who won't be hiding under your beds, or drinking yourselves silly. I'll be following the important votes impacting MLS expansion and/or relocation. A short summary: MIAMI: At stake ...
SavedTheCrew: What Now?
So, the Crew have been saved. Well, not quite, but it's looking good. There's actually a lot of work left to do, and plenty of unanswered questions. From not knowing when this deal will be finalized (and whether there will be a new stadium), to the background behind the attempt to move the team in ...
Schedules and Standards: “Parallel Paths” Likely Creating Headache for MLS in 2019
One of the outstanding questions in the SaveTheCrew saga (aside from the question of whether they'll be saved) revolves around how MLS will handle the 2019 season with the fate of the team not resolved. PSV has been processing ticket payments from Crew fans, in anticipation of playing at Mapfre in 2019, though the fine print ...
Austin Initiative Aims to Rein in Council, Expand Disclosures (And an Update on the PSV Lease)
It's been a very slow period for news both out of Columbus and Austin as it pertains to where the Columbus Crew will end up in 2019 (and beyond). It's been a bit surprising; if you read my "Save These Dates" story, you'll have seen that we've already blown through a couple of deadlines with ...
Save These Dates
With the oral arguments for the PSV/MLS Motion to Dismiss in the rear-view mirror now, we can look forward as the Modell lawsuit continues on its track towards a potential trial in March, 2019 (although that is not a firm date as of yet). However, there are number of upcoming dates which could impact this ...
The Decision 2: Austin City Council Votes on MLS2ATX [Live-blog]
Note: I recently started a Patreon for those who want to help support/expand my writing content. Whatever you'd like to contribute is greatly appreciated! End plug. Become a Patron: The beginning of the end; or, the end of the beginning. Either way, we've been promised a decision Wednesday (8/15) by the Austin City Council on ...
A Look at the Proposed Austin City Council Amendments to the PSV Term Sheet
Note: I recently started a Patreon for those who want to help support/expand my writing content. Whatever you'd like to contribute is greatly appreciated! End plug. Become a Patron: The big day in the MLS2ATX saga returns on Wednesday, August 15, when the Austin City Council reconvenes to consider the proposal from Precourt Sports Ventures/Major ...
Austin City Council Votes on MLS2ATX [Live-Blog]
Note: I recently started a Patreon for those who want to help support/expand my writing content. Whatever you'd like to contribute is greatly appreciated! End plug. Become a Patron: We're about 20 minutes away from the Austin City Council returning from recess to take up the MLS2ATX proposal, which if successful would pave the ...
Handicapping the MLS2ATX Vote Tonight
Note: I recently started a Patreon for those who want to help support/expand my writing content. Whatever you'd like to contribute is greatly appreciated! End plug. Become a Patron: Well, we're finally here. This evening, the Austin City Council will vote on the proposal to allow Precourt Sports Ventures (PSV) to construct a soccer ...
PSV and City of Austin Release Revised Term Sheet to Build Stadium at McKalla Place
Note: I recently started a Patreon for those who want to help support/expand my writing content. Whatever you'd like to contribute is greatly appreciated! End plug. Become a Patron: Since the original term sheet was released about 10 days ago, there has been much discussion over certain line-items in the proposal. Some of those concerns (including ...
Austin Versus Columbus: Or, Why Can’t We Have Both?
Note: I recently started a Patreon for those who want to help support/expand my writing content. Whatever you'd like to contribute is greatly appreciated! End plug. Become a Patron: Don Garber dropped a bit of a mini-bombshell last night, revealing some interesting information about MLS' "ongoing" talks with the Crew. Anyone who reads this site already knew ...
Major League Lobbying
Note: I recently started a Patreon for those who want to help support/expand my writing content. Whatever you’d like to contribute is greatly appreciated! End plug. Become a Patron: Sometimes when you're researching a story, you see a little nugget that you originally don't pay much attention to, but when you take a closer look, ...
Austin City Council Campaign Finance Disclosure Day
Note: I recently started a Patreon for those who want to help support/expand my writing content. Whatever you'd like to contribute is greatly appreciated! End plug. Become a Patron: Some of you may recall last month that I told you to "Save the Date" for July 15, 2018. That was the date that financial disclosures ...
Austin City Council Meeting Live Blog [MLS2ATX]
Note: I recently started a Patreon for those who want to help support/expand my writing content. Whatever you'd like to contribute is greatly appreciated! End plug. Become a Patron: The Austin City Council is currently meeting to discuss and vote on various agenda items before them. Of course, this type of thing happens in city ...
Q & A with Austin Attorney Bill Aleshire Discussing MLS2ATX
Today is a big day in the process of determining the viability of the potential move of the Columbus Crew to Austin. The Austin City Council will vote on two resolutions: Item 60 would authorize the City to solicit offers from interested parties who would like to develop the McKalla Place site. Item 64 (now ...
City of Austin Threatened with Lawsuit if Council Enters Agreement with PSV/MLS to Lease McKalla Place for Soccer Stadium
If there is one thing I've learned since covering stadium issues with local municipalities and MLS, it's that in recent times, these things rarely get built without a lawsuit trying to stop them. From Nashville to Miami, there is generally some issue that gives rise to a lawsuit. In Miami, it was the no-bid deal ...
