Austin reveals eight possible stadium sites
Austin City Council received a memo Tuesday outlining eight possible locations for a soccer stadium.
The memo, sent by Kimberly McNeeley, acting director for the Austin Parks and Recreation Department, included three potential stadium sites within Austin’s urban core — Butler Shores Metropolitan Park, Guerrero Metro Park and a former Home Depot site about 5 miles north of the Texas State Capitol building — and another five outside.
Precourt Sports Ventures, Crew SC’s ownership group, announced Oct. 17 that it would consider relocating the team to Austin after the 2018 season and specified that a downtown stadium site or a site that is “a destination for the entire community” in Columbus or Austin would be a requirement.
At a Tuesday work session, Austin City Council members pushed any action on a proposed stadium site, originally scheduled for Thursday’s council meeting, to February while city staff puts together more information on the proposed sites and develops a clearer timeline.
City council approved last month a resolution instructing the city manager’s office to identify city-owned sites for a stadium and practice facility by Thursday.
Mayor Pro Tempore Kathie Tovo asked city staff if there are any sites within Austin’s urban core that are not parkland that could be identified, citing concerns expressed to council members about the use of parkland for a stadium site.
Other identified stadium sites include: Bolm District Park, the Travis County Expo Center, Walnut Creek Sports Park, a site on McKalla Place north of the urban core and the Burger Activity Center, which is owned by the Austin Independent School district.
Raitala chosen by LAFC
The Crew entered Tuesday as the only team in Major League Soccer to have lost at least one player in every expansion draft in league history.
That trend continued. Los Angeles FC, which will begin play as Major League Soccer’s 23rd club next season, selected Crew left back Jukka Raitala with the fourth pick in its five-pick expansion draft. About three hours later, he was on the move again. LAFC traded Raitala and No. 5 expansion pick Raheem Edwards of Toronto to the Montreal Impact for defender Laurent Ciman.
Raitala, a Finnish national who signed with the Crew last December, appeared in 28 games last season, starting 20. He also made two appearances, with one start, during the Crew’s playoff run.
LAFC’s other picks were Seattle Sounders goalkeeper Tyler Miller, Sporting Kansas City forward Latif Blessing and San Jose Earthquakes forward Marco Urena.
The Crew received $50,000 in general allocation money because of Raitala’s selection.
Francis update
Waylon Francis, a former Crew left back, had his option declined by the team early this month but will look to remain in the league.
Francis, a 27-yearold from Costa Rica, has received interest from MLS clubs as well as Costa Rican teams, but his “first and only interest” is staying in MLS, his agent said via email.
Francis appeared in 12 games for the Crew this season, starting 10.