Sports in Austin

[drummer]

^ We had extensive discussion re: Butler Shores when they were looking for an MLS stadium location prior to Q2 happening by the Domain. It would be amazing for baseball - SW orientation for home plate and looking toward downtown right over 2nd base. There was a LOT of pushback from the neighborhood and other groups and ultimately it killed it. That spot wouldn't have direct access to a rail line in the near term, if ever.

Auditorium Shores isn't ever going to have a stadium built. There was a stadium that was west of the current Palmer Events Center decades ago, but if I recall, it was orientated toward the SE.

The Statesman site would be awesome, but unlikely to happen based on all of the above. But I'm still not giving up hope, as farfetched as it may be!

Other locations on the river that were discussed previously are the Roy Guerrero Park (different locations mentioned over time), and even at Lamar Beach. The latter of which is unlikely to happen due to other planned development.

[Riverranchdrone]

This is what is holding Austin back from being a contender for the next expansion of MLB. We have no real plan for a place for the stadium or even a plan for the stadium. All we have right now is a website and a pipe dream.

[wwmiv]

Originally Posted by Riverranchdrone

This is what is holding Austin back from being a contender for the next expansion of MLB. We have no real plan for a place for the stadium or even a plan for the stadium. All we have right now is a website and a pipe dream.

I (also?) don’t think we’re going to get an expansion team, fwiw.

[Armybrat]

Originally Posted by drummer

^ We had extensive discussion re: Butler Shores when they were looking for an MLS stadium location prior to Q2 happening by the Domain.

Auditorium Shores isn't ever going to have a stadium built. There was a stadium that was west of the current Palmer Events Center decades ago, but if I recall, it was orientated toward the SE.
.

The first Disch Field was located in what is now called Butler Metro Park……next to the Dougherty Arts Center along West Bouldin Creek. And the old City Coliseum was between it and Riverside, about where that pond is now. The Coliseum was a reconstructed airplane hanger that had been relocated from Bergstrom Airfield after WW2, I think.
The ramshackle wood ball park was home to the Austin Senators and later the Braves.
I attended a Senators game there about 1960 - about 50-100 fans were in attendance. Also, my St.Edward’s High School played our homecoming football game there in 1961.
Judging from the FB photo (that won’t load), you are correct about the SE orientation of the field.

These pics from FB won’t post for me, dammit! One of you computer whizzes can google the FaceBook pics up and post them.
For some reason unknown reason I cannot post photos here anymore.

IMG_8408.jpeg (11.52KiB)
IMG_8407.jpeg (27.5KiB)

[urbancore]

Originally Posted by Armybrat

The first Disch Field was located in what is now called Butler Metro Park……next to the Dougherty Arts Center along West Bouldin Creek. And the old City Coliseum was between it and Riverside, about where that pond is now. The Coliseum was a reconstructed airplane hanger that had been relocated from Bergstrom Airfield after WW2, I think.
The ramshackle wood ball park was home to the Austin Senators and later the Braves.
I attended a Senators game there about 1960 - about 50-100 fans were in attendance. Also, my St.Edward’s High School played our homecoming football game there in 1961.
Judging from the FB photo (that won’t load), you are correct about the SE orientation of the field.

These pics from FB won’t post for me, dammit! One of you computer whizzes can google the FaceBook pics up and post them.
For some reason unknown reason I cannot post photos here anymore.

IMG_8408.jpeg (11.52KiB)
IMG_8407.jpeg (27.5KiB)

Armybrat, I love you man. Keep those stories coming....I could read them all day. So good.

[urbancore]

Originally Posted by drummer

^ We had extensive discussion re: Butler Shores when they were looking for an MLS stadium location prior to Q2 happening by the Domain. It would be amazing for baseball - SW orientation for home plate and looking toward downtown right over 2nd base. There was a LOT of pushback from the neighborhood and other groups and ultimately it killed it. That spot wouldn't have direct access to a rail line in the near term, if ever.

I've lived in the Zilker neighborhood for 15 years now and I am interested to see what the attitude for such a project would be in another 5-10 years. The neighborhood association, ZNA, has been run by well seasoned Boomers since its formation decades ago.....the exact same people. The Zilker demo changed quite a bit in my time here, many more younger urbanites with kids. I do not hear about about traffic, construction, the changing character of the neighborhood from the newcomers. The doomsdays had their day, and guess what, Zilker is far better now than in 2011 when i first moved in.

I reduced my online presence to near zero after being threatened on Nextdoor because I advocated for a stadium on Toomey. People started looking up my businesses and vaguely threatened my family, "We know where you live"...type stuff. It was wild. All because I reasoned that Toomey could work perfectly for a 20k stadium.

This forum is the only venue I use to state my opinions, but even here, I asked Kev to change my log in name after that happened.

All that to say, I am still curious to know what the Zilker newcomers feel about a downtown stadium. I think you would find a lot of support, where there was none.

[Riverranchdrone]

Originally Posted by urbancore

I've lived in the Zilker neighborhood for 15 years now and I am interested to see what the attitude for such a project would be in another 5-10 years. The neighborhood association, ZNA, has been run by well seasoned Boomers since its formation decades ago.....the exact same people. The Zilker demo changed quite a bit in my time here, many more younger urbanites with kids. I do not hear about about traffic, construction, the changing character of the neighborhood from the newcomers. The doomsdays had their day, and guess what, Zilker is far better now than in 2011 when i first moved in.

I reduced my online presence to near zero after being threatened on Nextdoor because I advocated for a stadium on Toomey. People started looking up my businesses and vaguely threatened my family, "We know where you live"...type stuff. It was wild. All because I reasoned that Toomey could work perfectly for a 20k stadium.

This forum is the only venue I use to state my opinions, but even here, I asked Kev to change my log in name after that happened.

All that to say, I am still curious to know what the Zilker newcomers feel about a downtown stadium. I think you would find a lot of support, where there was none.

Stay safe my friend. There are some crazy people online. I have people all the time trying to threaten me by posting my address. I even had a complaint get sent to my work because of the Charlie Kirk drama back in the day.

[drummer]

Originally Posted by urbancore

I've lived in the Zilker neighborhood for 15 years now and I am interested to see what the attitude for such a project would be in another 5-10 years. The neighborhood association, ZNA, has been run by well seasoned Boomers since its formation decades ago.....the exact same people. The Zilker demo changed quite a bit in my time here, many more younger urbanites with kids. I do not hear about about traffic, construction, the changing character of the neighborhood from the newcomers. The doomsdays had their day, and guess what, Zilker is far better now than in 2011 when i first moved in.

I reduced my online presence to near zero after being threatened on Nextdoor because I advocated for a stadium on Toomey. People started looking up my businesses and vaguely threatened my family, "We know where you live"...type stuff. It was wild. All because I reasoned that Toomey could work perfectly for a 20k stadium.

This forum is the only venue I use to state my opinions, but even here, I asked Kev to change my log in name after that happened.

All that to say, I am still curious to know what the Zilker newcomers feel about a downtown stadium. I think you would find a lot of support, where there was none.

Sorry to hear that you've received that sort of pushback. I remember you being for it during the previous discussions. Yeah, times change and attitudes with them. I think people will see more and more logic with proper urban development (which is why the moves in Dallas surprise me beyond the $$$$$ and development opportunities...from a business sense, I guess I get it, but it's terrrible for urban and regional planning).

[drummer]

@Armybrat, agreed - keep the stories coming!

What I can share is this:
https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth124073/

Here is a full list of photos at the Portal to Texas History:
https://texashistory.unt.edu/search/?q=Disch+Field&t=fulltext&sort=

[Armybrat]

Originally Posted by drummer

@Armybrat, agreed - keep the stories coming!

What I can share is this:
https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth124073/

Here is a full list of photos at the Portal to Texas History:
https://texashistory.unt.edu/search/?q=Disch+Field&t=fulltext&sort=

That first pic is the same one I tried to post.

[38 Geary]

Some nice aerials from that link. You can clearly see the old Disch Field and its orientation along the riverfront. It looks like then we have a viable site for a potential future MLB ballpark especially given the precedence historically. Perhaps the new one can be moved closer to the waterfront, and the orientation rotated so home runs over left field can land in the river, and then the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail can be redone into a nice modern waterfront promenade. The existing road, Riverside Drive would have to be demolished (tunneling underneath the ballpark would be cost prohibitive I think as well as pose security risks), but not a big loss I think.







https://texashistory.unt.edu/search/?q=Disch+Field&t=fulltext&sort=

[Armybrat]

Nice!
That last pic is what downtown looked like when I was in high school at St. Ed’s 1959-62.
The City Auditorium (Palmer) was brand new then, and it was still just the Colorado River before Longhorn Dam was built.
I went to a UT bonfire pep rally somewhere on Auditorium shores prior to an A&M game …. Fall of ‘62 I think.
DKR gave a pep speech from atop a flatbed trailer, followed by Cactus Pryor cracking a bunch of Aggie jokes. Of course the Longhorn Band was there along with the cheerleaders & football team. Several thousand fans. mobbed the area.

[Lobotomizer]

It would be a legendary spot with the train, river, and skyline, but Butler Park is not, nor should it be turned into a ballpark at this point. Butler is one the best parks in the city.

[J78704]

Originally Posted by urbancore

I've lived in the Zilker neighborhood for 15 years now and I am interested to see what the attitude for such a project would be in another 5-10 years. The neighborhood association, ZNA, has been run by well seasoned Boomers since its formation decades ago.....the exact same people. The Zilker demo changed quite a bit in my time here, many more younger urbanites with kids. I do not hear about about traffic, construction, the changing character of the neighborhood from the newcomers. The doomsdays had their day, and guess what, Zilker is far better now than in 2011 when i first moved in.

I reduced my online presence to near zero after being threatened on Nextdoor because I advocated for a stadium on Toomey. People started looking up my businesses and vaguely threatened my family, "We know where you live"...type stuff. It was wild. All because I reasoned that Toomey could work perfectly for a 20k stadium.

This forum is the only venue I use to state my opinions, but even here, I asked Kev to change my log in name after that happened.

All that to say, I am still curious to know what the Zilker newcomers feel about a downtown stadium. I think you would find a lot of support, where there was none.

That’s crazy! I’m in Zilker (new since 2016) and I’m all for it. Butler Shores seems like a tight fit at this point. While unpopular, Butler Metro Park seems like the best fit to me as does the statesman site.

[Nickelplate]

The Statesman site is the perfect location if that whole Congress/Riverside corner plot is commandeered. Light Rail, skyline view, retractable roof, big window, natural light, day games, Dell Diamond, Austin Express. Speak it into existence.

[Riverranchdrone]

What about the NXP campuses? The one in Oak Hill is pretty much shut down. They are looking at selling the Ed Bluestein factory which would be a great huge site. Now that BAE Systems moved north and Tech 3443 is pretty much abandoned. There Is even a rail line around the site.

[SproutingTowers]

Use eminent domain to claim the land bordered by I-35/E Cesar Chavez/Waller St/E 4th St to build a MLB ballpark. A deck cap/stitch is already planned next to it where fans can easily cross over from downtown. This is similar to the idea in SA for Project Marvel where initially wanted a land bridge over I-37 to access the Alamodome, but in Austin the cap will become a reality.

[Jdawgboy]

Originally Posted by SproutingTowers

Use eminent domain to claim the land bordered by I-35/E Cesar Chavez/Waller St/E 4th St to build a MLB ballpark. A deck cap/stitch is already planned next to it where fans can easily cross over from downtown. This is similar to the idea in SA for Project Marvel where initially wanted a land bridge over I-37 to access the Alamodome, but in Austin the cap will become a reality.

This would be a bad idea for multiple reasons, not least the backlash from long time East Central residents, which are unfortunately becoming fewer due to being pushed out. As a city, Austin has done significant gentrification the point where other cities are looking at Austin for what not to do. The east side is already changing rapidly, but something like this could be the breaking point. I know these are simply what ifs, but areas such as Butler, Guerrero, East Central and other established areas should and will in reality be left alone. For the reason why I interjected, I have a long time friend that I've known since highschool who's family lives within the red box. I guarantee you that she and her family would be outraged if even a hint of a possibility ever was presented.

[wwmiv]

A good number of the homes in that red box are local historic landmarks. There are numerous politically connected long-time families in that red box, or just outside of it, including former elected officials.

NEVER going to happen.

A site out in Govalle would still offer potential skyline views AND be close enough to the river to offer some sort of plaza connection and pedestrian bridge to Guerrero Park. It’s also a rapidly developing area, and a ballpark could catalyst more.

Con: no rail (although via Govalle [down 7th] is my preferred way to reach Bolm, Dog’s Head, and Tesla with light rail, which the city seems to be bypassing in favor of using the Airport route—which is a long term mistake).

Dog’s Head is so large there might be an argument for both routes (creating a large X across the geography and allowing a transfer station).

[wwmiv]

Another option: I bet you that the developers of River Park would play ball and incorporate a stadium into their plans if they were approached. River access, close to transit, already planned urban redevelopment, potential skyline views, etc.