Austin Approves New Stadium to Lure Columbus' Soccer Team

"The Austin City Council voted to move ahead in negotiations with Major League Soccer and Precourt Sports Ventures to build a 20,000-seat stadium near the Domain," reports Jimmy Maas.

"Under the deal, Precourt, which owns the Columbus Crew, would build the stadium on the property and then rent it back from the city," adds Maas.

The deal has been in the works since Precourt Sports Ventures announced its intentions last fall to move the team out of Columbus.

A separate article by Philip Jankowski indicates that the vote assures that the team will move to Austin: "The stadium deal paves the way for Columbus Crew SC owner Anthony Precourt to begin financing an estimated $200 million stadium at the 24-acre tract of city-owned land near The Domain. Precourt aims to have the team playing in the Austin area next year."