Troy Bryant

Countdown to 2021: Austin FC news for August 2020

We bring you this month’s Austin FC happenings including important news, wild speculation, and the hottest links on the Interwebs.

August 2020

cd-afc-aug20

Austin FC ink Cecilio Domínguez, the club’s first DP signing. Previously Domínguez grinded at major clubs Independiente (Argentina’s Primera División) and Club América (Liga MX) since 2017. Frustrated with Independiente, and maybe wanting to shake off his struggles there, 26-year-old Domínguez is clearly hoping to put some distance from his past with a move abroad to the ATX. Check out highlights from the signing day. In the meantime, Cecigol is on loan to Paraguay’s Club Guarani through December 2020.

Matthew McConaughey Zooms with Austin FC supporters. You haven’t lived pandemic life to the fullest until you’ve Zoomed with a shirtless McConaughey to spit ball ideas for Austin FC. Organized by the club, McConaughey, Austin FC co-owner/Minister of Culture/professor/Oscar winner, held court on a surprise live video Q&A with VERDE super fans from local Supporters Groups.

Season ticket memberships have sold out. Deposit holders have snapped up all season tickets. Not every seat in the stadium was sold as a season ticket. Some 5,000 seats are reserved for match day sales, away supporters, giveaways, partners, and player families. During the seat selection process, we gave you the scoop on pricing, a breakdown of seat locations, and more.

August 25 Capital City Soccer Show pod includes special guest Juan Delgado, Austin FC Academy Technical Director, plus Cecilio Dominguez signing, and hanging with McConaughey. Hosts Landon Cotham and Jeremiah Bentley have a jam-packed episode covering our first ever DP signing, a Zoom call with Matthew McConaughey, and more. Please please please subscribe, rate, and review on your favorite podcast player.  

Coming Up

A Sponsor for Austin FC Stadium is expected to be named in 2020. Who will the sponsor be? That’s the multi-million dollar question. We made our guesses of local and regional companies that could buy the naming rights. (Before you ask, Dell isn’t in our list because they sponsor Dell Diamond down the street.) Looking at current MLS stadium deals, financial and automotive companies dominate, so there’s that… 

MLS stadium sponsors

DP Signing rumors abound for Austin FC as we’re in MLS player transfer window until October. With the first DP inked, there’s two more available slots open. Now the question is: can Austin FC land a headline-making DP with international experience and name recognition? Coach Wolff had been scouting heavily in South America, but with COVID-19 he’s scouting virtually.

MLS Expansion Draft is coming up for the club. If the expansion draft goes down like last year, then Austin FC can add a max of five players for their inaugural season. A few MLS clubs will be exempt from naming players for the expansion draft, but most others can only protect 12 players on their roster (leaving the others open to being snatched up in the draft). In 2019 the draft was held in mid-November.

Game Jersey Unveiling One of two official game jerseys will be released in late 2020—just in time for the holidays. We already know YETI will have its name on the front. Our biggest question rn—what color will the home jersey be? Given that the adidas training jersey is green it seems unlikely that this color will be an option. And a black home jersey would bake players in the searing ATX sun. Perhaps the jersey will be white with green accents…what do you think?

HOT 3firesLINKS

Welcome to ATX, Cecigol!