MLS to Austin looks like it’s happening

quote:

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ATXCouncil votes to negotiate and execute a deal

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suckers

I’m very surprised the vote passed today. I watched the whole boring 5 hours today and all of the meeting last Thursday. Heading into today, it seemed likely to fail, but 3 or 4 of the undecideds who were leaning no swtiched to supporting it. Precourt himself never spoke even once. Very different from the Miami meetings where Jorge Mas and David Beckham personally spoke to the council many times.

So it looks like Austin will get an MLS team at this point, although it’s possible a petition will force a public vote that could fail to pass. But I doubt that happens. The date of 2021 was specifically mentioned as the year they are aiming to launch. Austin’s mayor seemed to see it as a legacy project, and really wanted to be involved in getting the city’s first pro team at whatever the cost. I didn’t think it was a particularly great stadium deal for Austin. Much closer to Nashville than Miami in terms of what the city is giving up.

The only question that remains is if they get a new team or a relocated Columbus Crew. Ohio is Fighting like hell to keep the team, and all the lawsuits have favored them so far. We’ll find out in the coming weeks is PSV’s appeal is dismissed. If it is, I think MLS will try to settle instead of entering a long appeals process that could expose the league’s financials to public record.

We don’t know much about the ongoing negotiations by local ownership in Columbus because they’ve signed a non-disclosure agreement, but I’m sure those talks will continue in earnest after today. I do know that several of the wealthiest families and corporations in Columbus are involved, so there’s still hope for the Crew. I hope Don Garber realizes that the Crew could be a successful small-market team will local ownership that cares.

Boooooooo

$10 says Columbus gets a new team within 2 years of the Crew moving to Austin.

One thing Im starting to realize.

MLS need competition not teams. Pro/Reg PLEASE

Nah

I feel for Columbus, it sucks.

Precourt is a shitbag.

No stadium or planned ground

No bid for a franchisee

Shitbag owner using inside information before buying the team before moving it

And now this joke of a badge

This whole effort to move the Crew to Austin has been so half assed. It’s getting beyond pathetic and not a good look for MLS.