San Antonio is in the process of losing the Stars of the WNBA, and the city's dreams of attracting a Major League Soccer team may be in trouble, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
The Columbus Crew, which was the first team admitted to the fledgling Major League Soccer league back in 1996, says economics have shown it is no longer sustainable in terms of attendance and corporate support to remain in Ohio, and it has asked permission to move the team to Austin.
"Despite our investments and efforts, the current course is not sustainable,” Anthony Precourt, chief executive officer of Precourt Sports Ventures and chairman of Columbus Crew SC, said. “This Club has ambition to be a standard bearer in MLS, therefore we have no choice but to expand and explore all of our options. This includes a possible move to Austin, which is the largest metropolitan area in North America without a major league sports franchise. Soccer is the world’s game, and with Austin’s growing presence as an international city, combined with its strong multicultural foundation, MLS in Austin could be an ideal fit.”
But a move to Austin would clearly not be an 'ideal fit' for San Antonio. The existence of a team seventy miles away would clearly mean an end to any thought by the MLS of adding an expansion franchise in San Antonio.
But there is one roadblock to Precourt's plans. He says it is critical before the team can move to Austin that Austin taxpayers pony up for a brand new stadium, to be built 'in the downtown area or at a site that is a destination for the entire community.'
While the team says it would include private funding in any stadium solution, it clearly expects the taxpayers to participate.
San Antonio already has a stadium, Toyota Field, which would host a Major League Soccer Franchise, and plans would be to expand the field of San Antonio is selected.
IMAGE: PRECOURT SPORTS VENTURES