Hey guys, just though you'd like to know if you don't already, but my good friend Uncle Ed of Football In Miami and Beyond is reporting(citing sources out of Austin) that one of the former minority owners of the Aztex was in attendance at the NASL AGM in Miami this past weekend, with interest in bringing a team back to Austin as early as 2012: http://football-miami-n-beyond.blogspot.com/2010/11/strikers-miami-fc-players-on-move-nasl.html No official info has come out of the AGM as of yet, but apparently representatives from every current NASL city(Miami, Puerto Rico, Carolina, Minnesota, Tampa, Baltimore, St. Louis, Montréal, Edmonton) plus San Antonio and Austin were there. It would be beneficial for the league and San Antonio to bring a new D2 team to Austin. My fingers are crossed for you guys(and everyone else for that matter, NASL needs some sanctioning otherwise pro soccer goes probably dark in a handful more cities this winter).
The only possible minority owners that I can think of leaves me back at "I'd rather they not do anything."
I rather agree with VC. In a sense, we've shown that Austin isn't quite ready to support D2 soccer. Sure, there might be a few things to change that would improve the D2-in-Austin model financially, but I can't see it being enough to suddenly make the business viable. I wish it was different, but short of an owner with very deep pockets who can withstand losses for a while, I don't see it working. As for the minority owner stepping up to start their own team, why not show Phil the money? If you weren't even willing to go halves (or less) on an existing team that had good momentum, why would you start from scratch?
Its on MLS Rumors now. http://www.mls-rumors.net/11790/2010/11/report-nasl-annual-general-meeting-in-miami-has-10-teams/ I hope it is true because it would mean Austin and San Antonio will be in NASL the same year.
Hey! It's on MLS Rumors, therefore it must be true. Either way all we can do is keep our fingers crossed, and or our hands clasped in prayer to Chantico and hope for the best!!
San Antonio fans will be having happy hour with team owners tonight at Lion and Rose (410/Blanco). I hope they elaborate on their trip to Miami and perhaps the Austin representation. http://www.crocketteers.com/2010/11/03/crocketteers-season-seat-kickoff-happy-hour/ http://www.soccerforacause.com
I would like to see Austin in the NASL for a few reasons. I would not be surprised if they try to field a team this year and not in 2012. After all I'm sure the minority owner got a lot of the old FO and other staff in his Crackberry. I guess time will tell.
I doubt that happens. That would be asking to build an entire organization from the ground up in 5 months. The smarter thing to do would be to take it slow, get everything in order, meanwhile maybe playing a few exhibition matches. Not unlike what Edmonton did this year.
I think it depends on how long an ownership group is willing to lose money. I saw a steady upward trajectory with (a) next to no marketing, (b) next to zero support from the Hispanic community, (c) a crappy narrow field with football lines, and (d) no beer sales. It can happen here, but has to be built (with losses) over a period of years. Which requires a rich owner who loves soccer and loves Austin. I don't think you get those losses back, but I'd bet that once those are sustained, you eventually can create a program in the black. So it's like an act of charity in a sense.
Yes, and their numbers this season were even worse than the Thunder's for last season. They're now "looking for investors" to provide the $ for next year, not to mention some marketing skills (a not-for profit is short of both). With Rawlins walking away overnight, the FO side of the operation is probably still available, so it wouldn't be a last-minute deal on the business side. Assembling a coaching staff and a team in 6 months will be tough though.
The other reason that NSC Minnesota was able to do what they did with short notice is they already had an organization put together in the National Sports Center; field, administration, offices, coaches, etc. Plus a number of the Thunder players (I believe) were still in the vicinity. Much different from Austin.
(c) and (d) are going to take massive capital investment to fix. I'm not sure (a) and (b) are enough to make up the windfall. Kay mentioned needing to fill House every game. Even at a 25% sustained growth rate (sounds tough), and starting from 3,000 fans your first season, you're into season 5 before you even fill House up. Sesaon, Attendance 1, 3000 2, 3750 3, 4687 4, 5859 5, 7324
Well, unless they got some minority owners that I am not aware of.....which is very likely....then the old minority owners have no where near the money nor the support to field a NASL team. They also don't have the Hispanic backing. I have heard that Lonestar is trying to bring in a team with all the extra money they bilk out of their club players. They definitely have positioned themselves to run soccer in central Texas. I am not sure that is a great idea, but they have a built in fan base. Especially when they force players to go to games. Well, not force, but yeah force. I would not support that team with any type of furvor. I would attend a game or two, but I did not like that they pulled their support of the Aztex because they couldn't basically run it or have more say in it. That is rumor, I do not know it from first hand. But, I have heard it from several sources. I hope Austin gets a NASL team, but I know it will be very difficult and costly with the majority of NASL so far away. Until then, I will through my support 100% behind a community owned team and heck I may even contribute and be an 'owner'.
In the back of my mind, I wondered where they went to this season. And why the Lonestars were no longer Lonestars Aztex Academy (or whatever it was the previous year). I really should be able to come up with this answer myself, but I wonder if there's one single youth club that has a thriving adult PDL team above it, let alone a pro one. ...actually, I can think of one. Richmond Kickers. However, time and time again, it has been shown that the knowledge and skills to run a youth club do not translate to running a pro club. It takes a very rare and special group to pull it off. If the Lonestars contributed in *any* way to the loss of the Aztex, I have very little confidence that they are such a rare and special group. However, they probably do have the ability to get a stadium built in the suburbs. [monty python holy grail cheer]Yay.[/mphgc]
Just listened to the interview. I know you guys said if Phil had warned you all about the need for investors, you would have done something (even small things) to help find investors to keep the Aztex in Austin. Well you have someone tied to the Austin market who is simply putting Austin on the radar with NASL. Consider that your "warning" to help find investors. Just my .02 from your friend in San Antonio.
Not sure anyone in Austin really cares about that name anymore. I know I don't. If we have a new team someday, I hope it's not named the Aztex.
I agree. Its time to turn over a new leaf. Its not like the Aztex name had a really large awareness associated with it, at least, not large enough for D2.
Well, it's one thing to solicit investment when you have a going concern and a solid management team (or, for that matter, to assemble a management team when you have start-up capital in hand). It's another to look for both when you don't have either one.
I wondering if anyone there would mind commenting on , or offering their opinions on why the Aztex did so well in the beginning of the last season and then seemed to collapse at the end. They seemed to be in a downward spiral for about the last 9 (?) games. Any comments?
