Stadium details to be explained at meeting
The debate surrounding a Major League Soccer stadium proposal is coming to the Central Library, but don’t expect it to get any quieter.
In a Friday news release, the city announced it will hold an information session Thursday to gather feedback on community benefits that could be derived from a stadium at McKalla Place in North Austin.
The meeting, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the library’s special event center on the first floor, is a response to a resolution passed by the Austin City Council on June 28.
The resolution directed the city manager to begin negotiations with Precourt Sports Ventures, the ownership group that hopes to move Columbus Crew SC to the Texas capital next spring. It also called for further community engagement.
City staffers and representatives from PSV will be on hand to provide information and answer questions, similar to community engagement meetings held in early May.
PSV submitted an initial stadium proposal to the city June 1, the same day the city’s economic development department released a detailed report regarding the use of the McKalla Place site for a stadium.
Community benefits suggested in the PSV proposal include:
Cash contributions to local affordable housing nonprofit Foundation Communities, including $500,000 upfront for a new Waters Park Studio development and $125,000 annually.
One hundred full-time jobs averaging $50,000 per year and 800 part-time staffers at an average of $12 per hour.
Extensive youth soccer programming, including a free MLS academy, youth club scholarships, soccer camps and per-game ticket donations for local organizations.
Free use of the stadium for one Austin school district event per year.
The proposal also suggested terms of a $1 per year lease for use of the land, waiving property taxes and having the city pay for any off-site infrastructure improvements.
Council members have suggested further community benefits in exchange for the land, including fully funding a Capital Metro rail station at the site and providing onsite affordable housing.
The full proposal can be viewed at austintexas.gov/ mckalla.