Sports in Austin

[chinchaaa]

Originally Posted by Novacek

Considering the majority of Austin lives in the suburbs, seems like a lot of people.


There's been mention of Dogs Head, but what about Robinson Ranch. There was news about Endeavor finally starting up something there.

Mixed use stadium/entertainment district with a Red Line stop?

Closer to Cedar Park and the existing Stars fanbase.

Only a couple of miles further from the metro population center (which has been continually moving north anyway).

Downside of further from San Antonio, if they were hoping to pull some fans from there.

No one wants to live in a city optimized around the suburbs.

[wwmiv]

Originally Posted by chinchaaa

No one wants to live in a city optimized around the suburbs.

This is clearly untrue

[Lobotomizer]

Originally Posted by chinchaaa

No one wants to live in a city optimized around the suburbs.

It's worth mentioning, for better or worse, the City of Austin isn't known for "playing ball". If it were I have little doubt Austin would already have at least one of NFL, NBA, MLB, or NHL. There are about dozen smaller metros in this country that have teams in these leagues. The reason a team in one of these leagues may end up in the Austin suburbs is because their city councils and electorate will vote to help pay for a stadium.

[SproutingTowers]

The Spurs are trying to get a new arena in San Antonio but think about this. Knowing now Austin is on the board for a possible NHL team some of the Spurs ownership may see an opportunity to partner with the future NHL team owner to build and share the arena with the Spurs and future NHL team. We have already seen private investment for music venues in Austin including OVG for the Moody Center so would not be surprised same for NBA/NHL.

[wwmiv]

Originally Posted by SproutingTowers

The Spurs are trying to get a new arena in San Antonio but think about this. Knowing now Austin is on the board for a possible NHL team some of the Spurs ownership may see an opportunity to partner with the future NHL team owner to build and share the arena with the Spurs and future NHL team. We have already seen private investment for music venues in Austin including OVG for the Moody Center so would not be surprised same for NBA/NHL.

Not happening.

[ATX2030]

Originally Posted by SproutingTowers

The Spurs are trying to get a new arena in San Antonio but think about this. Knowing now Austin is on the board for a possible NHL team some of the Spurs ownership may see an opportunity to partner with the future NHL team owner to build and share the arena with the Spurs and future NHL team. We have already seen private investment for music venues in Austin including OVG for the Moody Center so would not be surprised same for NBA/NHL.

delete

[Riverranchdrone]

I think small stadiums do well in the City cores. Soccer and NHL. Bigger stadiums for MLB or NFL would be best to have in the suburbs or outside the expensive core of the inner city. If we wanted to attract an MLB or NFL team, we would need to work as a huge metro with San Antonio. Maybe make San Marcos or New Braunfels our version of Arlington. The Suburbs do help us land some teams and help grow our market. Round Rock Express and the Texas Stars and Texas Spurs both do pretty good in the suburbs. I doubt that many people from much of Austin go to a game though.

[wwmiv]

Disagree—I think it’d be awesome if we could somehow land every single major league sports (not just the big four) within city limits and place them all at the Domain. It’s near the center of population for the metro area, accessible by transit, and further transitions the area toward urbanity.

We have MLS, now we need NHL, MLB, NBA, and NFL — and MLC (Cricket). Austin needs to get on the leading edge of major league cricket. If I were a betting man, I’d bet on MLC blowing up over the next decade given immigration from cultures (many of which have major pockets in Austin) where cricket is widespread.

All of the leagues need to go through major expansions.

[drummer]

No matter where they land, it it is nice to have them grouped for the sake of infrastructure, even if in a a couple different locations. I do like more regional anchors for minor leagues so people don't have to go all the way across the metro to get there, and we still need to deal with reality of Austin being more car-centric. But for pro sports, I don't see Austin getting all of the "big four" sports, so keeping the ones we do get in a central location could be helpful. Being near a rail line AND highways would be hugely beneficial.

I do think cricket will take off as well. It's absolutely massive in South Asia and has gotten quite a bit of traction the north Austin suburbs (I don't know what exists for cricket on the southern side of the metro). There's definitely some money to be made so I wouldn't be surprised if people tap into it.

I still support getting a USL team in Austin as well - but not at COTA. USL is unique in that it incorporates promotion and relegation, which follows the European pattern. It's not as big or wealthy as MLS, but it is still a lot of fun. I don't think we would risk losing the fanbase of Austin FC either, which is a lot greater than what can fit into Q2 stadium.

[wwmiv]

Agreed on all points.

• A Major League Sports arenas complex with as many as we can get;
• associated minor league teams spread throughout the metro (Round Rock, San Marcos, Cedar Park, etc.);
• continued and deepened presence of complementary school district, youth, and adult clubs throughout the metro.

Lacrosse (PLL), Rugby (USA Rugby’s MLR), and Volleyball (MLV) would also be cool hypothetical “gets.”

As I implied earlier, pro-sports obviously has not kept pace with recent decades’ population growth. Every single league needs to be expanded. And some of these other sports need to be commercialized better so there are more options.

[Croon]

Originally Posted by Riverranchdrone

I think small stadiums do well in the City cores. Soccer and NHL. Bigger stadiums for MLB or NFL would be best to have in the suburbs or outside the expensive core of the inner city. If we wanted to attract an MLB or NFL team, we would need to work as a huge metro with San Antonio. Maybe make San Marcos or New Braunfels our version of Arlington. The Suburbs do help us land some teams and help grow our market. Round Rock Express and the Texas Stars and Texas Spurs both do pretty good in the suburbs. I doubt that many people from much of Austin go to a game though.

Express average game attendance is been down in a big way since 2019. Down 50%.

Would be curious to see other teams attendance figures over time.

I loved when Express came online in 2000. Easy drive to the stadium was 20-25 minutes on Saturdays versus driving down to San Antonio to see the Missions which we did a lot in the 1990s.

I've only been to one Express game since pandemic. Ticket hikes left and right and now 35 construction, congestion and added concern about safety. Plus the huge growth in population and development on that drive makes it less fun now.

[jkill34]

Originally Posted by SproutingTowers

The Spurs are trying to get a new arena in San Antonio but think about this. Knowing now Austin is on the board for a possible NHL team some of the Spurs ownership may see an opportunity to partner with the future NHL team owner to build and share the arena with the Spurs and future NHL team. We have already seen private investment for music venues in Austin including OVG for the Moody Center so would not be surprised same for NBA/NHL.

Other than the Spurs not leaving San Antonio. It still takes a lot of manpower to man an arena with an NHL and NBA team. I look at examples like Phoenix and Dallas. The Stars and Mavs both argues over who had actual control over ACC and who called the shots. They departing for new stadiums.

In Phoenix, the Suns said hell no to allowing the Coyotes (which was my hockey team), let me use Mortgage Matchup Arena.

It's just too strenuous and hard to have two teams in one arena, especially if both are in the playoffs.

[drummer]

Spurs are working with San Antonio for a new arena downtown. The vision renders are pretty amazing, to be honest, and it would be awesome to have them right in the center of it all again. Frost never made sense to me with its location, but it was probably due to cost.

Austin may get MLB or NHL at some point, but I don't see them getting NBA due to proximity with the Spurs....but who knows. If I were a betting man, I'd see NFL going to San Antonio over Austin....but who knows. I hear that the little town of Hammond, Indiana, is getting the Bears, so...

It would be hard for me to cheer for anyone other than the Cowboys in the NFL, Rangers in MLB, and Stars in NHL....but NBA goes to the Spurs for me. I enjoyed FC Dallas (formerly Dallas Burn), but Austin FC was an easy switch for a local team. The other sports wouldn't be as easy to switch allegiances.

In a lot of ways, I prefer minor league games to majors most of the time if I'm going in person. Cost is the main factor there, especially so it can be a family outing. I'd have to take out a second mortgage to regularly go to pro games these days with the whole family. I thoroughly enjoy pro games and watch many from the comfort of my own couch or at a sports bar with friends.

[chinchaaa]

Originally Posted by Croon

Express average game attendance is been down in a big way since 2019. Down 50%.

Would be curious to see other teams attendance figures over time.

I loved when Express came online in 2000. Easy drive to the stadium was 20-25 minutes on Saturdays versus driving down to San Antonio to see the Missions which we did a lot in the 1990s.

I've only been to one Express game since pandemic. Ticket hikes left and right and now 35 construction, congestion and added concern about safety. Plus the huge growth in population and development on that drive makes it less fun now.

yea because no one wants to drive to round rock for a baseball game

[Nickelplate]

Originally Posted by Croon

Express average game attendance is been down in a big way since 2019. Down 50%.

Would be curious to see other teams attendance figures over time.

I loved when Express came online in 2000. Easy drive to the stadium was 20-25 minutes on Saturdays versus driving down to San Antonio to see the Missions which we did a lot in the 1990s.

I've only been to one Express game since pandemic. Ticket hikes left and right and now 35 construction, congestion and added concern about safety. Plus the huge growth in population and development on that drive makes it less fun now.

We have been going to 1 or 2 games per year the last 4 years. Always have a good time.
The Kennyfort Blvd extension down to 45N toll road has made it much easier to get directly to Dell Diamond and Kalahari. Mopac north to 45 is much easier than 35 north to 79 right now.

[Croon]

Originally Posted by chinchaaa

yea because no one wants to drive to round rock for a baseball game

I think Express lease at Dell Diamond runs until 2036, at $1/year rent.

It would be great to see them relocate closer into the city somehow. Whether that's Robinson Ranch/Howard Ln/Mopac area or Q2/Domain area both with Red Line rail stations. Sigh, though a minor league stadium would have been pretty nice at the Convention Center rebuild site. Memphis RedBirds (Triple A St. Louis Cardinals) have a very nice one downtown at AutoZone Park.

And I prefer Austin not getting an MLB team or NHL team etc one day. I like this city when it didn't aspire to have all the hallmarks and cornerstones of a major league city. Born and raised here but with family roots/tradition up in Pittsburgh, so I root for the Pirates and Penguins.

[N90]

The deputy commissioner of the NHL

https://thesickpodcast.com/daly-nhl-prim...hl-to-europe-inevitable/#google_vignette

[ATX2030]

Austin's pursuit of an NHL team is about to ramp up

The ownership group has inked a local office lease, sources told the Austin Business Journal

Justin Sayers – Senior Staff Writer, Austin Business Journal
Aug 8, 2026

https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/news/...hem&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter

Those involved said Austin is not just a throw-in to sweeten a deal with the future franchise owner's Houston hometown. The capital has a real shot, some say, so players are in motion. Office space has even been leased.

[SproutingTowers]

The Austin Ice Bats are still around and playing at The Crossover in Cedar Park. They are in the NA3HL. If serious about an NHL team then buy this one to use the name and logo.

https://www.austinicebatsna3.com/team-austin-ice-bats-hockey-na3hl/

[Riverranchdrone]

Originally Posted by SproutingTowers

The Austin Ice Bats are still around and playing at The Crossover in Cedar Park. They are in the NA3HL. If serious about an NHL team then buy this one to use the name and logo.

https://www.austinicebatsna3.com/team-austin-ice-bats-hockey-na3hl/

I thought the Austin Icebats became the Texas Stars and are playing at the HEB Center in Cedar Park? Didnt know we had another ice hockey team.