Feb 1, 2008
Possible Aztex Stadiums
Last week's Austin American-Statesman article covering the Aztex announcement had an interesting comment from the owner about possible stadiums where the team might play:
The team's own stadium, built just for them, will be a dream come true. But that's a long way off, of course. So, where will the Aztex -- the U-23s this year, and both teams next year -- play? There's been a good bit of discussion of this most important of decisions on the BigSoccer forums. I skimmed through those posts again, and came up with the following list of possible Austin-area stadiums the Aztex could play in:
Then I found and marked them all on a Google Map (if you click that View Larger Map link, you'll see the legend for which tag goes with which stadium; you can also click each tag to see it).
View Larger Map
I figure this is a work in progress, and I don't claim it's complete, or even completely accurate. One handy page pointed out in comments is this list of all the area stadiums on the TexasBob site. Feel free to comment or email me with further information, corrections, etc.
For my part, and with the benefit of more or less complete ignorance, I'm hoping for House Park. I gather that it's narrower than it should be for soccer, and that parking can be a problem. But there's something about it that just seems like it has good character, somehow. Oh, and it's less than a mile from my office. ;-)
Update 1: replaced link to Statesman page with TexasBob; added Hawk Stadium (Pflugerville) to map; added links to TexasBob for all high school stadiums
Rawlins said he's talking with five organizations about renting a stadium for games, but that the long-range plan is to build a facility, as other teams in the league have done.
The team's own stadium, built just for them, will be a dream come true. But that's a long way off, of course. So, where will the Aztex -- the U-23s this year, and both teams next year -- play? There's been a good bit of discussion of this most important of decisions on the BigSoccer forums. I skimmed through those posts again, and came up with the following list of possible Austin-area stadiums the Aztex could play in:
- House Park, Austin ISD
- Myers Stadium, UT
- RRISD Athletic Complex, Round Rock ISD
- Burger Stadium, Austin ISD
- Chaparral Stadium, Eanes ISD
- Connally Stadium, Pflugerville ISD
- Nelson Field, Austin ISD
- Veterans Stadium, Del Valle ISD
- Hawk Stadium, Pflugerville ISD
Then I found and marked them all on a Google Map (if you click that View Larger Map link, you'll see the legend for which tag goes with which stadium; you can also click each tag to see it).
View Larger Map
I figure this is a work in progress, and I don't claim it's complete, or even completely accurate. One handy page pointed out in comments is this list of all the area stadiums on the TexasBob site. Feel free to comment or email me with further information, corrections, etc.
For my part, and with the benefit of more or less complete ignorance, I'm hoping for House Park. I gather that it's narrower than it should be for soccer, and that parking can be a problem. But there's something about it that just seems like it has good character, somehow. Oh, and it's less than a mile from my office. ;-)
Update 1: replaced link to Statesman page with TexasBob; added Hawk Stadium (Pflugerville) to map; added links to TexasBob for all high school stadiums
Labels: stadium
// posted by Chris @ 8:10 PM 
Comments:
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Interesting. According to this page, Nelson Field is artificial. That's why I was discounting it. I guess I'm going to have to make a short drive over there and see. Last I knew, it was grass, so I was surprised to see it listed as artificial on the website I linked.
If it's grass, then even though it's not as attractive as House, I'd say that it jumps to the top of the list for the USL-1 team. The 4,000 I hope to see there would feel pretty good, and the parking won't be a problem.
As always, the question is getting AISD to relent.
I didn't realize Veterans in Del Valle only seated 4,000. That would work for the U-23 team, but I would like to think that it's too small for the USL-1 team.
If it's grass, then even though it's not as attractive as House, I'd say that it jumps to the top of the list for the USL-1 team. The 4,000 I hope to see there would feel pretty good, and the parking won't be a problem.
As always, the question is getting AISD to relent.
I didn't realize Veterans in Del Valle only seated 4,000. That would work for the U-23 team, but I would like to think that it's too small for the USL-1 team.
I think you're right, Nelson Field is artificial turf. That Statesman page must be out of date. The TexasBob link says specifically, "Completely overhauled for the 2007-2008 season which includes playing field resurfaced from natural to synthetic turf."
Also, googling around trying to find another source, I found this page on an artificial turf company's site, which lists AISD as a client. It says they're turfifying Nelson, Burger Stadium... and House Park, too!
Also, googling around trying to find another source, I found this page on an artificial turf company's site, which lists AISD as a client. It says they're turfifying Nelson, Burger Stadium... and House Park, too!
Sorry about the language, but that just sucks.
But I guess there's not much Austin can do without building another stadium. When I think about it rationally (as opposed to through my soccer glasses), Austin has grown dramatically in the past 30 years... and not added a single stadium. Yes, Round Rock and Pflugerville have added stadiums, but Austin hasn't. Austin has added schools, though, so those teams need to play somewhere. Obviously, without adding more stadiums, the answer is to use the stadiums they have even more.
Which means needing to switch to artificial.
Well, that pretty much kills the Aztex playing in the better situations. They'll either be playing in town on turf, or in the 'burbs.
*sigh*
That makes me just a little unhappy.
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But I guess there's not much Austin can do without building another stadium. When I think about it rationally (as opposed to through my soccer glasses), Austin has grown dramatically in the past 30 years... and not added a single stadium. Yes, Round Rock and Pflugerville have added stadiums, but Austin hasn't. Austin has added schools, though, so those teams need to play somewhere. Obviously, without adding more stadiums, the answer is to use the stadiums they have even more.
Which means needing to switch to artificial.
Well, that pretty much kills the Aztex playing in the better situations. They'll either be playing in town on turf, or in the 'burbs.
*sigh*
That makes me just a little unhappy.
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