AUSTIN, Texas — For years, the idea of bringing a major pro sports team to Austin was floated around. The Capital City will forever be the home of the Longhorns, but with the growth of the area, there was a need for something new. 


What You Need To Know

  • The Texas Longhorns was the first major pro sports team in Austin
  • Austin FC's innaugural season was 2021
  • The soccer team sold out every home game at Q2 Stadium
  • They're one of the top teams in the MLS Western Conference

“We had this working theory that Austin would be the best sports market in North America. At the time, it didn't have a major league property,” says Austin FC president Andy Loughnane. “There's this incredible amount of pent up demand and so, the pent up demand intersecting that growth, it's a really strong formula.”

There were plenty of hurdles to navigate bringing a pro sports team to Austin. Specifically with Austin FC, they were moving from Columbus and had to find a space and build a venue to call their home. They also had to create a connection with the fans to a team they did not know.

“When you first hear about, you're like, oh my gosh, this is awesome,” says Cindy Lunsford, fan and secretary of support group Austin Anthem. “It still kind of seemed like a dream, right? Because there's no stadium, there's no team, there's no coach.”

That dream became reality in 2021, the first season for Austin FC in MLS. Before the team ever played in their new stadium, it was pretty clear that people were interested.

“The most significant milestone where most heads started to turn, not just here in Austin, but on the national sports level, was when we launched our season ticket campaign, and we had record setting season ticket deposits,” says Loughnane. 

Austin FC has sold out every home match in the past two years, filling the 20,000 seats at the brand new Q2 Stadium in North Austin. They’ve been able to do this by not just selling soccer, but trying to engulf the club with the city and its unique culture.

“Austin is the brand. Literally inside of the badge, you see Austin atop the badge,” says Loughnane.  “But the rest of the club's identity was centered around this green concept. Verde was the perfect color for us.”

The chants of "Listos Verde" have become the soundtrack of Austin FC games. Something Gaby Navarro is right in the middle of as one of the teams biggest supporters.

“Being in the supporters section, being in the middle of everything is beautiful because as a group, as a community,” says Navarro, the president of the Los Verdes support group. “We've collectively created music and lyrics that represent us as well as Austin and our team.”

The demand to get into games remains at a premium. The club says there is a waitlist of 28,000 to get tickets. 

“The atmosphere just walking into the stadium, even when it's empty, just walking in there like there's just this energy that you can feel,” says Lunsford. “So when it's packed with, you know, 22,000 fans, it's just electric.”

The atmosphere has become enhanced as the team has enjoyed more success in year two. Last season was great off the pitch but a struggle for the team on it. However, in 2022, Austin FC has quickly become one of the top teams in the Western Conference of the MLS and in position to make the playoffs for the first time. So many things have come together in a short amount of time for this team to have this type of impact on Austin.

“In a very short period of time has become a brand and an identity that this city has embraced and has started to, quite frankly, fall in love with,” says Loughnane. “This has exceeded all of our wildest expectations.”