The Aztexan

We learned last week that construction of the new fieldhouse/locker rooms at House Park would not be finished before the beginning of the season. The Aztex are restricted from playing at a stadium without adequate facilities for the teams and referees, so the first few games will be back at Nelson.

In the meantime, I'll keep snapping weekly pictures of progress at House Park. I'm a day late this week, and the weather didn't cooperate too well, either. But here's what it looks like today:

(Click to see the Flickr set.)

Labels: stadium

Ever wonder if you're getting all the Aztex info? I try to cover it all here, but I don't always get to everything, and I'm not always the fastest to get to breaking news, either. So, at the risk of putting myself out of business, I thought I'd share a quick list of the sources I use to keep on top of all things Aztex.

First: websites and blogs that cover the team. I'll include links to the site, as well as each site's RSS news feed¹ and Twitter account², where applicable.

• AustinAztex.com — The team's own site, obviously! (RSS; @austinaztex)


• The Aztex Blog — You knew about the team site, but did you know that the owners and coach also write a blog? Good behind-the-scenes stuff. (RSS)


• Chantico's Army — You don't have to be a member of this supporters' group to read the site's news, match reports and more. (RSS; @Chanticos_Army)


• The Native Aztexan Blog — a fellow Aztex & Texas soccer fan's blog. (RSS; @NativeAztexan)


• Austin Chronicle Sports — the Chronicle's Nick Barbaro is a true fan of the game. You'll find him among the noisiest supporters at home games, and you'll find his Aztex news among the roller derby and softball reports in the Chronicle. (RSS; @auschronsports)


• The Austin American-Statesman — Psych! Ha ha ha! Ha! Hoo... that was funny. Maybe someday, but so far: not so much. There is an Aztex page, god bless 'em, but it's literally completely blank.


• Google Alerts — This isn't Aztex-specific, of course, but it is the neatest, easiest thing. You can easily set it up so that Google sends you daily notices whenever it finds new mentions of whatever phrase you're interested in.


• The Aztexan — last but not least: me! (RSS; @Aztexan)

¹ An RSS reader (aka newsreader) makes following sites you're interested in much easier. Wikipedia has more info. I personally use NetNewsWire; a lot of people like Google Reader, too.

²All the Twitter accounts in this post, plus a few more, are included in my Aztex Twitter List.

Another good source of information is forums. The primary one for Aztex fans, since the inception of the club 2 years ago, has been the BigSoccer Aztex forum. While that is still the largest and most active, there are a couple of new kids on the block, too: Chantico's Army has their own forum, and the just-announced Aztex Alliance site will also have one. Those are both for members-only (though membership in Chantico's Army is free).

The last thing I'll mention is radio, where there are a couple of interesting sources for Aztex news and commentary. One is AM1300 "The Zone", which has interviewed Aztex personnel many times. In addition to announcements and interviews, head coach Adrian Heath and AM1300 host Ahmad Brooks co-hosted a regular weekly show last season. I haven't heard whether that show will return this year, but AM1300 will clearly continue to invite Aztex representatives on air, as Phil Rawlins and Djorn Buchholz were interviewed last week when season tickets went on sale.

The other spot to tune your radio to for Aztex info is KOOP, 91.7 FM (pronounced "co-op"). This community-access station has a new weekly show, Tuesdays from 1:00 - 2:00 PM, called Futbol En Vivo (@futbolaustin). The first half of the show is in Spanish, while the second half is in English. They discuss all levels of world soccer, from our own local Aztex to leagues around the world.

I personally have a heck of a time remembering to turn on the radio at the right time (or even finding one of those quaint devices, unless I'm in my car). Both stations stream their shows over the Internet, though neither makes it particularly easy to download particular shows and listen to later, podcast-style.

That's where Chantico's Army gaffer Matt has stepped in to save the day. He got permission to record and redistribute MP3s of KOOP's Futbol En Vivo show. Each episode is conveniently available in 3 versions: the full show, the Spanish half and the English half. You can get them free from either ChanticosArmy.com or the iTunes Store.

Well, once again a "quick" post grew a lot longer than I thought it would. I hope this gives you some new sources to get the scoop on the Aztex. And if you know of others not mentioned here, let me know!

Labels: media

Though we're still eagerly awaiting the 2010 schedule (due out next Tuesday, per the team blog), the Aztex put season tickets on sale this week:

Season tickets are priced at just $190 for adults and $150 for youth. The new open-ended season ticket allows fans the flexibility of using one ticket at each of the 15 regular season games or using multiple tickets for several games. Game day tickets are priced at $15 for adults 16 years of age and older and $12 for youth 15 years of age and younger, children 5 and under are free. Purchasing a season ticket saves fans 15% off the price of game-day tickets. 2010 Season Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by visiting www.austinaztex.com or by calling 512-335-8881. Fans who purchase season tickets by February 12 will receive a complimentary Aztex scarf. [Ed. note: the website's splash page says to use promotional code "GoAztex2010" at checkout to get the scarf; not sure if that's required.]

I like the "open-ended" (aka "flex") ticket; that really adds to the value. People who might hesitate to get a regular, one-per-game ticket — suppose they know they're going to be out of town for 2 weeks in June — will be more likely to get this flex ticket. Because now those June tickets won't be wasted; they can bring some friends with them to other games.

And I like the prices, which are a good bit lower than last season. I do wish, however, that season tickets would include a couple of the "extra", non-regular-season games the Aztex will play, such as exhibitions and Open Cup matches.

In addition to the season tickets, the team announced the Aztex Alliance. This membership-based fan group replaces the Founders Club we've seen the last two years. In addition to t-shirts and other swag, the new group is a step toward giving fans more of an official voice in how the club is run.

There are two levels of Alliance membership: basic and premium. A $25 basic membership will get you a t-shirt and window cling, plus access to the Aztex Alliance website. This site will include forums, input on club decisions via polls (merchandise designs, exhibition opponents, etc.) and early access to team news.

The $105 premium membership gets you the basic benefits, plus: a lapel pin, a membership card and lanyard, invitations to pre- and post-season team events, a chance to win a trip to an away game, and discounts on camps and merchandise. Premium members will also have a voice with the team, via an elected commissioner who will be able to address the Aztex board. And when the ranks of premium members exceed 1,500, an Alliance representative will be given a full seat on the board.

The Alliance memberships are separate from season ticket purchases, but you can buy both a season ticket and a premium Alliance membership for $285, a savings of $10.

And there's one last way you can save a few bucks: members of the Chantico's Army supporters group get 10% off the season ticket price (saving $19). Membership in that group — which is free, by the way — is a lot of fun and has its own benefits (discounts, online forum, etc.).

Labels: supporters

Just a quick happy anniversary to myself: today marks two full years that I've been doing this. Yay me; yay Aztex, top to bottom; yay USSF for ensuring we have a league to play in this year; and most of all: yay fans, current, past & future.

Labels: meself

A few other folks have taken pictures of the construction of the new fieldhouse (i.e., locker rooms) at House Park. But I work only a few blocks from there, and drive right past it every day. So I'm going to do my darnedest to get regular, weekly pictures to follow it's progress. Who knows, maybe they'll finish it next Tuesday, and this will be the shortest series of construction pictures ever; we'll see.

Here's a nice blueprint elevation view of the new structure, swiped from the Grassroots Austin Stadium Supporters (GRASS) site.



But as of today, this is what it looks like so far, in bricks and mortar:


Update, Jan. 28: According to Aztex owner Phil Rawlins on AM 1300 The Zone this morning, the fieldhouse won't be finished in time for the start of the season. So pre-season games, as well as the first few regular season games will be back at good ol' Nelson Field. And unfortunately, this won't be the shortest series of construction pictures ever, after all.

Labels: stadium

Just a quick note to help push a new project I'm hoping to get off the ground: StatesCup.net.

You can read the details on that site, but the basic idea is pretty simple: what if U.S. states had "national" teams, like countries do? What if there was a national cup competition for states, the same way there's a World Cup for nations? What players would be on your state's team? Which states would have a dominant roster year in and year out? It'll be like a fantasy soccer league, but with an added dose of regional pride, no actual scoring and more to argue about.

It's still pretty quiet there, as I line up some managers who are willing to step up and organize their states' teams, but come on over and check it out. That web address again: StatesCup.net. You can also subscribe to the blog and/or follow the site's new Twitter account, @StatesCup.

Note: I'm hoping that StatesCup.net doesn't take up too much of my soccer website time. In other words, The Aztexan will continue as always. Go Aztex!

Labels: meself

My fellow Americans, our long national nightmare is over.

After months of demonstrating their stubbornness and inability to compromise, the USL and the breakaway NASL were finally made to come to terms by the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF).

More than two long months since I threw in the towel on trying to keep up with the fracas (I followed it myself, but I didn't try to cover it here on the blog), and after plenty of unpleasant bumps along the road, we can now look forward with certainty to a 2010 season of second division pro soccer that will include our own Austin Aztex.

It is a temporary solution, currently slated to last only through the 2010 season. What form the league(s) take in 2011 and beyond will continue to be an issue for the foreseeable future.

But for now, here's what we know so far, according to the USSF press release.

The league will consist of two six-team conferences – the USL Conference and the NASL Conference. The USL Conference will include teams from Austin, Minnesota, Portland, Puerto Rico, Rochester and Tampa Bay. The NASL Conference will consist of teams from Baltimore, Carolina, Miami, Montreal, St. Louis and Vancouver.

In the near future, U.S. Soccer will announce details of the new league, including league rules, a match schedule, television rights and other important operational issues.

That gives us the following team/conference alignments:

USL Conference	NASL Conference

A few things are immediately apparent from this array of team logos. There are new teams: Crystal Palace Baltimore, AC St. Louis and the Tampa Bay Rowdies. There are teams missing from last season: the Cleveland City Stars (now defunct) and the Charleston Battery (moved to USL-2). The Minnesota Thunder are also missing, but replaced by a brand-new, not-yet-named team, owned by Minnesota's National Sports Center (the icon is just a placeholder). And note that although Minnesota, Rochester and Tampa Bay were put in the USL Conference, organizationally they are still members of the NASL itself.

(And I can't help noticing some visual themes: NASL is the conference for birds and fleurs-de-lis; USL is for stripes: red-and-white, yellow-and-green or just plain black-and-white.)

There are lots of details to come — the schedule, for instance — but it already sounds from USSF President Sunil Gulati's comments like things are going to be a bit different in the second division now.

We can’t have this constant issue that bedevils a number of sports, that the offseason is spent primarily to make sure that you can come back the following season. That you’re looking for expansion teams not because it makes long-term sense to build the game and the league, but because you need an expansion fee.

Hopefully with nearly a year to figure it out, the two "leagues" will finally be able to do just that, and we'll all look back at this episode as growing pains that we went through on the way to a stronger and more vibrant 2nd tier of U.S. soccer. For fans, for now, we can relax a bit and celebrate and start planning our season.

As Aztex owner Phil Rawlins put it: "I’m very delighted that we have a resolution for a second division soccer league. With 12 quality teams in our league, we are looking forward to a very competitive and very exciting season."

So are we, Phil! See you at House Park!

Labels: NASL, The League, USL-1

Amid the continuing troubles engulfing the USL's 1st and 2nd divisions, the league is busy organizing their extensive lower divisions' 2010 season. Last week they announced the 2010 "alignment" of the Premier Development League (PDL).

The PDL is made up of amateur teams (with a few pro exceptions), and college-age players (with a few older exceptions) who are, well, developing. At this lower end of the American soccer ladder, teams come and go and get shuffled around fairly regularly. Last season, for example, saw the addition of the West Texas United Sockers and the Rio Grande Valley Bravos, which moved former Austin rivals New Orleans and Mississippi from the Mid South to the Southeast division.

Looking at the 2010 alignment announcement, though, gave Austin Aztex U23 fans a surprise: the team isn't listed under the Southern Conference's Mid South Division. In fact, the team isn't listed at all!

Chantico's Army tracked down the explanation, getting the following statement from Aztex owner Phil Rawlins:

"We have not registered to play in the PDL in 2010, although we continue to reserve the rights to the franchise for coming years and will continue to review our decision of whether we play in the PDL in future years. Our hope had been to replace the U23 team with a U20 team in the Super 20 League. A Texas division was being formed and we felt it was a long term better fit for the Aztex. At the last minute a couple of teams dropped out of the Super 20 League and without a viable core the Texas division was put on the back-burner for another year. By the time the decision was taken, the PDL registration window was long closed."

(According to Wikipedia, the USL's Super-20 league is "an American-Canadian soccer league for players 17 to 20 years of age. Introduced in 2006 it took the place of the U-19 age bracket in the Super Y-League.")

I wondered what this turn of events meant for the U23 coaching staff (head coach Wolfgang Suhnholz, assistant coach Ron Dennie & goalkeeper coach Alex Parra), but found via followup with Phil that Suhnolz and Parra were only on staff part-time during the season (they're both still listed as staff with Lonestar Soccer Club), and that Dennie is now working with the Austin United Capital Soccer Club.

Speaking of area youth clubs, Phil also made the excellent point that if a Texas Super-20 division had gotten off the ground, that would have served as a better stepping stone than a PDL team for bringing youth players into the Aztex fold.

I'm sure I was not alone in wondering, lastly, whether the ongoing turmoil between USL-1 and its breakaway teams, and the uncertainty that situation has created, had anything to do with these plans falling through. Phil, however, assured me that the decisions of the last-minute dropout teams were purely financial.

So, although I remain hopeful that the top-tier Aztex team will find some way, somehow, to play somebody in some league (despite continued brinkmanship), this sad fact is certain: there will be no amateur Aztex team this season.

Labels: coaches, U-23

There's a new podcast on the American soccer scene that I'd like to recommend: Waiting for Gaetjens. You can get it from their website, WaitingForGaetjens.com, or subscribe to it in the iTunes Store here.

The hosts are Greg Lalas and Adam Spangler. Lalas is a columnist for SI.com, commentator for New England Revolution TV broadcasts, and Site Director for Goal.com, while Spangler is a freelance writer who runs ThisIsAmericanSoccer.com.

It's a weekly show, clocking in between 40 and 50 minutes per episode so far. Their format, dubbed "the starting 11", keeps things moving along well by cramming 11 topics into each show. I like the balance between news coverage, opinion, and Lalas and Spangler just basically chewing the fat about the American game. They cover it all: MLS, the U.S. national team, the World Cup, even the ongoing drama in our 2nd division.

They've brought some good guests on already, too: Real Salt Lake's GM, LA Galaxy's Dema Kovalenko, the Tampa Bay Rowdies' CEO, Grant Wahl and former NY Cosmos star Shep Messing (who dropped some serious hints about the future of that brand). They've even interviewed Austin's own star of the international soccer scene: Dan Wiersema of the Free Beer Movement (covered here previously).

So, what's a Gaetjens? Until they fix the broken "Who is Joe Gaetjens?" link on their website (you should fix that link, you guys), I'll just point you to his Wikipedia entry. With an upcoming World Cup group that pits the U.S. against England, here's hoping they picked an auspicious namesake.

Check it out, an entertaining and informative new soccer show: Waiting for Gaetjens.

Labels: media

The 2006 hit "Crazy" by Gnarls Barkley popped up in my iPod's shuffle today, and it struck me as a near-perfect fit for the mood of uncertainty facing 2nd division pro soccer in America this winter. A sort of theme song for the USL/TOA/NASL train-wreck, if you will.

You can listen along to the song in this YouTube video.

I remember when,
I remember, I remember when I lost my mind
But there was something so pleasant about that place
Even your emotions had an echo
In so much space

And when you're out there, without care
Yeah, I was out of touch
But it wasn't because I didn't know enough
I just knew too much

Does that make me crazy?
Does that make me crazy?
Does that make me crazy?
Possibly...

And I hope that you are having
The time of your life
But think twice
That's my only advice

Come on now, who do you,
Who do you, who do you, who do you think you are?
Ha ha ha, bless your soul
You really think you're in control?

Well, I think you're crazy
I think you're crazy
I think you're crazy
Just like me

My heroes had the heart
To lose their lives out on a limb
And all I remember
Is thinking, I want to be like them

Ever since I was little
Ever since I was little it looked like fun
And it's no coincidence I've come...
And I can die when I'm done

But maybe I'm crazy
Maybe you're crazy
Maybe we're crazy
Probably...

Labels: deep thoughts, The League

The Cleveland City Stars are no more. I'd heard rumors that they might move back down to USL-2, but for some reason the league decided to pull the plug:

After months of negotiation and meetings, and in the midst of the conclusion of our sale, the USL decided to terminate our franchise just prior to Thanksgiving. This news came as a significant surprise to us given the nature of the process we were involved with up until that point. After much consideration and counsel the leadership of Cleveland City Stars decided to accept the leagues termination of our franchise and all implications thereof.

Well, there's another batch of second division soccer players on the market, including Gordon Kljestan (Sasha's big brother).

When I dug up my City Stars expansion team preview from the beginning of the year, I was struck by the fact that their "promotion" to USL-1 was announced on Dec. 5, 2008. If you take a look at your calendar, you'll see that's almost exactly one year ago.

By all accounts, Cleveland had been building a decent team in USL-2 up to that point. They won that league's title in 2008, in fact. But it was clear that the league rushed Cleveland's move to USL-1, to help make up for the Atlanta Silverbacks' sudden departure last November. Perhaps if head coach Martin Rennie had known they were going to move up, he wouldn't have taken the Carolina Railhawks job.

Whether it was the gap left by Rennie's departure, or just expansion-team growing pains, there's no argument that they struggled this season. As did the other expansion team, our Austin Aztex. 2009 was the first USL-1 season for the Aztex, though with the 2008 PDL season under its belt, the organization wasn't completely new. But even with some experience from their USL-2 and PDL campaigns, the two USL-1 sides wound up slugging it out for last place, as expansion teams are often expected to. Cleveland eventually claimed the bottom spot by just 2 points.

They were our fellow expansion team — our freshman classmates in the class of '09, if you will — so I'm sad to see them go.

Meanwhile, we're watching the USL/TOA/NASL/WTF drama unfold. Who knows what tomorrow, let alone next Spring, will bring. But as of now, here are some of the new teams which may be launched onto the front stage of 2nd-division U.S. soccer next year:

1. Atlanta Silverbacks — yes, there used to be a USL-1 team with that name, but what does their roster look like right now?


2. Crystal Palace Baltimore — moving up from USL-2, like Cleveland did


3. Tampa Bay Rowdies — brand new organization, despite the retro name


4. St. Louis — brand new team, not even a name yet; same owner as WPS's Athletica


5. FC New York — brand new organization (and rumored to already be in trouble)


6. Ottawa Fury — existing PDL team

And not only brand-new teams, but depending on how it all plays out, possibly a brand-new league, too.

Meanwhile, the clock is ticking, and nothing is settled. (And you know no work gets done anywhere the last 2 weeks of the year.) My point is that this is all harder to pull off than it looks. Having meetings, making presentations, trademarking names and issuing press releases is the easy part.

Just ask the Cleveland City Stars.

Labels: deep thoughts, The League, USL-1