Eighty Six Forever — The Injustice in Portsmouth, and the Indifference in Austin

Austin is a classic example of what detractors call “the franchise model”: the idea that sports clubs should be moved from community to community based on whichever community is willing to offer the largest incentive. Most soccer fans rail against it furiously, and back in England Milton Keynes‘s club has never been accepted after the city stole the old Wimbledon team to satisfy their ambitions [Wikipedia history lesson - ed.]. But Portsmouth‘s example, one of an owner who buys a club to be a billionaire celebrity rather than for love of the sport or the city, is no less dangerous. Whether the club is moved to Orlando or wound up, it is cut off from the fans who raised it up and cherished it.

Just two years ago, Austin owner Phil Rawlins rang in his new club by saying “My goal is to make the Aztex a community-based club that the Austin area can be proud of.” Pulling up stakes and taking his team to Florida after two years of decent, growing attendance and a competitive team is not exactly compatible with that aim. Rawlins was born in England and in fact sits on the board for Stoke City: presumably he’s heard a thing or two about the franchise debate in England. The idea that he’d try to emulate it is appalling.

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Note: There will be a 1:00 PM CT press conference in Orlando on Monday, Oct. 25, revealing details of the new USL PRO team there. Aztex fans will gather at Mister Tramps on 183 at 6:00 PM CT to, well, we’re 100% not sure yet. Sob inconsolably, probably.