Crew owner clears hurdle for Austin move

Columbus Crew owner Anthony Precourt got a major boost to his effort to move the Major League Soccer club to Texas when the Austin City Council voted Wednesday to move ahead with a plan for a new, privately funded stadium on city land.

Precourt has been courting Austin for a potential move since late 2017 and has sought a deal to build a 20,000-seat stadium on 24 acres of city property in time for the 2021 season.

Austin is the largest metropolitan area in the country without a major league sports franchise.

The 7-4 vote allows city staff to “negotiate and execute” a stadium plan with Precourt Sports Ventures. The final contract would not need another council vote.

“It’s been a long, emotional process,” Precourt said. “We’re thrilled to move forward. The work starts now and we’re bringing Major League Soccer to Austin, Texas.”

The San Francisco-based investor bought the Crew in 2013 and moving the team would uproot a bedrock MLS franchise that won the championship in 2008. The Crew is in the hunt for a playoff berth this season.

Precourt has said he wants to move because of poor attendance, lack of corporate support and an aging stadium in Columbus.

Precourt’s plans have upset Crew fans in Ohio. Fan groups have rallied to try to save their team with pledges for future season tickets and pleas for local investors to step in to buy the team. Ohio and Columbus officials also have sued Precourt and MLS to stop or slow the move. Ohio law requires teams that use tax-supported facilities and accept state financial assistance to give six months’ notice and give local investors a chance to buy the team. The law was enacted after the NFL’s Cleveland Browns moved to Baltimore in 1996.

IN MLS GAMES >> Wayne Rooney scored two goals and D.C. United beat the Portland Timbers 4-1 in Washington to move out of last place in the Eastern Conference. … Christian Ramirez scored his first two goals since joining Los Angeles FC in a trade last week, helping the expansion team beat visiting Real Salt Lake 2-0. ATLETICO MADRID WINS SUPER CUP FINAL >> Atletico Madrid finally got the better of Real Madrid on the European stage, scoring twice in extra time to win 4-2 in the UEFA Super Cup final in its rival’s first game without Cristiano Ronaldo, in Tallinn, Estonia.

NBA

LEE SIGNS WITH HEAT >> Antioch’s Marcus Lee signed a free-agent contract with the Miami Heat. Terms were not announced.

The 6-foot-11 forward, who starred at Deer Valley High, was not drafted after his senior season at Cal. Lee joined the Bears after three seasons at Kentucky.

Football

MANZIEL IN CONCUSSION PROTOCOL >> Johnny Manziel was placed under the Canadian Football League’s concussion protocol.

The Montreal Alouettes quarterback was hit at the goal line last weekend, leading to a fumble that a teammate recovered for a touchdown in a 24-17 loss at Ottawa. Manziel completed the game, but missed practices Tuesday and Wednesday as the team prepares to play at Edmonton on Saturday night.

“On Tuesday morning, Johnny Manziel mentioned to our medical staff that he felt symptoms that could be associated with the prescribed medication he uses for a previously diagnosed medical condition,” the Alouettes said in a statement. “He then missed practice in order to have some blood work done.

“In view of the hit he received on Saturday and the potential mitigating side effects of his prescribed medication, the Alouettes medical staff has placed Manziel under the CFL concussion protocol for further observation and precautionary reasons. Manziel will be closely observed and assessed in the next few days.”

Manziel has said he suffers from bipolar disorder.

Tennis

STEPHENS OVERCOMES AILING THUMB >> Defending U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens overcame a thumb injury to cruise into the third round of the Western & Southern Open with a 6-3, 6-2 win over qualifier Tatjana Maria.

Third-seeded Alexander Zverev was less fortunate, slipping to 0-4 in Cincinnati with a 5-7, 6-4, 7-5 second-round loss to Robin Haase. Novak Djokovic overcame an upset stomach and a sluggish first set, beating Adrian Mannarino 4-6, 6-2, 6-1.

A trainer applied a bandage to the third-seeded Stephens’ right thumb between the third and fourth games of the second set of this U.S. Open tuneup. The match was Stephens’ first since losing on Sunday to Simona Halep in the finals at Montreal.

Defending tournament champion Garbine Muguruza had a third-set meltdown and lost to Lesia Tsurenko 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 after a critical double fault.

The seventh-seeded Spaniard was up 4-2 and serving in the third set when she double faulted to drop the game, a look of disbelief coming across her face after her final serve went long. Given the reprieve, Tsurenko closed it out.

Fourth-seeded Angelique Kerber overcame a long rain delay in the first set for a 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 victory over Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

NHL

DUCKS’ KASE GETS EXTENSION >> The Anaheim Ducks re-signed right wing Ondrej Kase to a three-year, $7.8 million contract.

Kase scored 20 goals last season, establishing himself as a promising talent when given his first extensive NHL playing time. The 22-year-old Czech forward added 18 assists and had a plus18 rating.