According to Hollywood A-lister Matthew McConaughey, there are three universal languages that truly matter. Austin has already got two of them nailed down. “We’ve got the music and we’ve got the food,” McConaughey said on a Tuesday morning conference call. “We were just missing the (soccer).” That shortfall is about to be rectified this weekend. On Saturday, Austin FC, the newest entrant into Major League Soccer and the first major professional sports franchise to call Texas’ capital home, will begin play when it takes on LAFC. McConaughey is best known for his growing list of successful acting roles, including an Oscar for Ron Woodruff in Dallas Buyers Club, plus, more recently, his apparent progression towards seeking political office. Yet soccer is firmly on his mind too, having bought into Austin FC as an investor when the club was launched three years ago. His involvement is not ceremonial, because he didn’t want it to be. McConaughey expressed his wish to be hands-on, resulting in him being awarded the grandiose title of “Minister of Culture” for the team. While he admits his knowledge of the technical aspects of soccer is a work in progress, he wants to help build a brand that fits in with the city it calls home. He’s committed to the project because he’s smitten with the sport, and, as Kate Hudson found in “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days,” when McConaughey falls in love with something, you can’t shake him off. “I’m all in,” McConaughey said. “We hear about culture with team building all the time in sports. This team needs to be a mirror image of the city. There is a culture in Austin, we are a ‘come as you are’ kind of place. We are highly creative. We like to win and win the right way. I’m making sure the DNA of who we are as a city is part of Austin FC. This club should feel, smell and taste like Austin, Texas.” Austin sports revolve around the Texas Longhorns football program, but the city has never had anything other than a minor league franchise in any of America’s most popular sports. That reality was attractive to the MLS hierarchy, which tries to gravitate toward markets where a young, energized, passionate following is most likely. The early signs are strong – with 15,000 season tickets already snapped up and a growing waiting list that has also reached 15,000. McConaughey’s personal affinity for soccer grew significantly after meeting his wife, Camila Alves, in 2006. Their three children all play the game and support the national team of Brazil, Alves’ home country. “In all my travels, (soccer) has been my definition of culture,” he added. “Take the World Cup – these teams represent their culture and it is the healthiest kind of tribalism. “Soccer is the greatest uniter of all. No matter where you are, you see people kicking around a soccer ball, it is like an open invitation – you don’t even need to speak the same language. Now, with an MLS team coming here, it is the first time Austin people have truly been able to root for the city. That’s why I’m in it. I’m not here to be a mascot.” MLS continues to expand, with no shortage of cities seeking to join the party. In 2006, the league had just 12 teams. With Austin’s admission, that number has now reached 27, with Charlotte and St. Louis scheduled to add to that number over the next two years and with a search for team No. 30 already at an advanced stage. FOX Bet has Austin FC listed at +6600 (joint 20th favorite) to lift the MLS Cup, a reflection on the challenges of newness and cohesion faced by expansion teams. The fresh campaign has no shortage of compelling plotlines. The arrival of 21-year-old Brazilian star Brenner – perhaps the most highly-touted young international signing in the league’s history, could ignite Cincinnati. Former Manchester United star Phil Neville has taken over as head coach of Inter Miami, owned by David Beckham, and will hope to spark the franchise. Reigning champion Columbus Crew is looking to carry the momentum from its dramatic surge through the postseason last year and establish itself as the team to beat for both now and the future. Yet in terms of pure enthusiasm and intrigue, it is hard to look past Austin and its unmistakable energy, led passionately and without reservation by McConaughey. “Soccer fever has hit here,” McConaughey said. “Austin FC has arrived and we are ready to make some noise.” Here’s what others have said … Michael Weinstein, The Ringer: “Austin FC will kick off almost a decade after the idea of an MLS franchise in Austin began to take shape. From releasing season tickets to breaking ground on the stadium to Austin FC acquiring its first player, excitement has grown steadily in preparation for the great Austin MLS experiment. … Even if fans are limited or absent on June 19, their presence will be felt. Fans have collaborated with the team on everything from match-day preparations to jersey design. … Many questions remain—will the club make the playoffs? How many fans will even be able to attend? How much of Austin will Austin FC reach, and how will professional sports impact the city? But those are questions for another time. Right now, the team and its supporters are counting down to launch.” Brian C. Parker, Texas Monthly: “How does a team ignite such unwavering adoration before ever playing a match? The answer is an amalgam of market potential, shrewd advertising, and fan enthusiasm. … Judging from the club’s sold-out season tickets, record-breaking jersey sales, and stickers that seem to decorate half the cars in Austin, these fans are just a few of many. … And while Austin’s sports scene is still a long way from measuring up to those of powerhouses like New York and Los Angeles, at least now it’s in the conversation. … The outcome of these future matches remains to be seen, but for now, anything is possible.” Bob Williams, SportBusiness: “The arrival of Austin FC has demonstrated that Austin is capable of developing a major league sports identity and it wouldn’t surprise me if the next addition to the Austin sports landscape was a women’s soccer team at the highest level.” |
