The Aztexan

• Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Pairings announced — USOpenCup.com
  

  All 32 lower division teams will enter the tournament in the first round and have been grouped geographically into eight groups of four teams. The first-round match ups were drawn randomly within the four-team groups, although match ups between teams in the same division were avoided when possible.
  
  The two winners from each group will face off in the second round on June 16, with the winners then advancing to the third round to face the eight qualified Major League Soccer teams. The quarterfinals will be played July 7, the semifinals will be played July 21 or 22, and the final will be played on Sept. 2.

  The Aztex's first game is against PDL side Mississippi Brilla on June 9, here in Austin. According to the full bracket, the winner of that game will go on to player the winner of the El Paso Patriots (PDL) vs. Arizona Sahuaros (USASA).


• GRASS: Grassroots Austin Stadium Supporters — AustinStadium.org
  

  GRASS is a new grassroots organization dedicated to the idea of bringing a multipurpose music and sport stadium to the City of Austin. The group was founded by a group of soccer and music fans who believe that Austin needs a centrally located place to enjoy outdoor concerts and sports.

  Hopefully this is the beginning of something great for Austin!


• Call For Photos — Aztexan.net
  
  I'd really like to have a photo to use with each match report blog post, like on this one. But my camera is kind of crummy, and it's one more thing I'd rather not worry about at the game.
  
  So this is an open call to anyone and everyone: send me game pictures. The details:
  
  • I usually write the postgame post the next day, so the sooner I get a picture after the final whistle, the better.
  • just email your picture(s) to the email address in the sidebar over there
  • I am not going to start or maintain any kind of photo gallery. I just want one — and only one — picture to accompany each match report. (You're welcome to send as many pictures as you like, I'm just saying I'll only ever use one per game.)
  • I'll attribute and/or link your picture however you want
  
  Thanks!


• Minor League Sports Games — DadLabs.com
  
  Some interesting promotion of the Aztex from this video blogging site, DadLabs.com. This guy, "Daddy Clay", is pointing out the fun to be had on the cheap at minor league sports. His main example: the Austin Aztex. Though he tweaks the experience a little bit — calling the Aztex mascot Sgt. Pepper "an anorexic apple", for example — and he includes a caveat for the ESPN crowd ("I get it, being a soccer fan is kind of a tough sell for a lot of American guys"), it's still ultimately a good plug for the games. And it's pretty funny, too. Here's the video.
  
  

Labels: media, stadium, U.S. Open Cup

// posted by Chris @ 6:15 AM