Austin council gives OK to identify stadium sites

Austin City Council took the first step Thursday night in searching for sites for a Major League Soccer stadium and practice facility, unanimously passing a resolution instructing the city manager to identify city-owned sites suitable for each.

The resolution gives the city manager a deadline of Dec. 7 and comes less than a month after Precourt Sports Ventures, which owns Crew SC, announced it would consider relocating the MLS franchise from Mapfre Stadium to Austin, Texas, after the 2018 season.

Council Member Leslie Pool took issue with the wording of a line in the resolution indicating Precourt would “pay all construction costs” associated with a stadium. Mayor Pro Tempore Kathie Tovo, who wrote the resolution, changed the wording to “pay all construction and operating costs.”

Richard Suttle, Precourt Sports Ventures’ attorney in Austin, reiterated that Crew investor-operator Anthony Precourt would not seek public funding for a stadium in Austin.

“We have an opportunity in Austin, Texas — which there are 12 other cities in the country competing to get an expansion team — exactly what we’re being offered here tonight (is) to not have to go through the expansion process,” Suttle said. “As part of that, Anthony Precourt has said he’s not looking for public funding for the stadium. I don’t know how I can be any more broad than that.”

Pool also sought to strike “Precourt Sports Ventures” and “Columbus Crew Soccer Club” from the resolution, wanting to keep the door open in the event any additional soccer teams seek to come to Austin.

Austin Mayor Steve Adler challenged Pool’s idea, adding the only reason for the council’s discussion of MLS is because of Precourt.

Said Suttle: “If there is one opportunity for a MLS soccer team (in Austin), it is this one.”