Austin FC has a state-of-the-art $45 million player training facility off Parmer Lane in Northeast Austin. The practice facility is just seven miles (a 10-minute drive) to the stadium.
With little fanfare due to COVID, the shovels hit the dirt on June 22, 2020 to kick off construction. A subdued ribbon cutting officially opened the privately-funded training on April 1, 2021.
Officially called the St. David’s Performance Center, it’s a home away from home for players when not facing an opponent in the stadium. Coach Wolff and his soccer operations crew also have permanent offices there. In addition it serves as HQ for the youth academy program under GM Tyson Wahl.
Highlights of the Training Facility
The 23-acre Austin FC complex anchors the new Parmer Pond development, a 300-acre business park with retail, public gathering places, and recreation areas. Of course, as the name implies, it features an 11-acre pond.
The Pitch, a sports, dining and entertainment district, is also located in Parmer Pond. Besides being next to a 1,200-seat stadium complete with a soccer pitch, Verde-themed multilevel shipping containers offer food and beverage fare, including Ranger Burger, Taco Flats, Corner Kick Bar, Sand Bar, and Ga Roti.
Austin-based firms STG Design and TBG Partners are leading the design of the complex, and Trammell Crow Company is the master developer of the Parmer Pond property, owned by Karlin Real Estate. Like the stadium, Gensler designed Austin FC’s training facility.
Besides four and a half soccer fields, including a super-pitch that has the same turf as Q2 Stadium, two main buildings sit on the Austin FC tract. These buildings have amenities such as cardio and physio equipment, recovery rooms, locker rooms, water therapy and cryogenics, as well as the aforementioned soccer ops offices.
In addition to top notch player training, other future/potential benefits of this facility include:
- Park & Ride to stadium on match days
- Away game viewing parties
- Recruiting tool for signing new players
- Shows commitment to MLS and ATXFC fans
- Connects youth academy players to first team
As a fan, the best news about the performance center is that some areas will actually be open to the community, including a 1,000-seat spectator stand and concessions perched along one of the soccer fields.
The center is closed indefinitely to the public due to COVID.
In 2021, two preseason friendlies for “La Copita” tournament were played at St. David’s Performance Center: Houston Dynamo (4/3) and San Antonio FC (4/10). In 2022 preseason play, ATX hosts Toronto FC (2/9) and Chicago Fire (2/19) at the facility.
