Austin FC: Return of El Tree 🌳

Your Austin FC 2023 season preview

There’s nothing like being at Q2 Stadium on game night. | Photo by @stevenstamps

Austin’s MLS Soccer Team is headed into its third season on Saturday, Feb. 25. Before you head to Q2, here’s a quick catch-up on where the team stands.

Last season

The season was filled with nail-biting matches that marked Los Verdes as the “comeback kids.” Austin FC became the only team in MLS history to make a comeback win from being two goals behind — four times in a season.

The Verde and Black ended its 2022 MLS Regular season with 16 wins, nine losses, and six draws. In the playoffs, the team drew with Salt Lake, then defeated Dallas before losing to LAFC in the conference final. Austin FC still ended its second-ever season as No. 2 in the Western Conference.

See the full 2022 season score record.

The field at Q2 Stadium lit in green, with a person waving a flag in the foreground. — Ready to cheer, Verde fans?

Changing faces

Although fans can expect to see many of the same players from last season — favorite Sebastián Driussi recently signed a three-year contract — there will be plenty of new players on the field this year.

New faces include:

Forward Will Bruin, ranked No. 8 in the MLS for career goals scored
Forward Gyasi Zardes, ranked No. 13 in the MLS for goals scored
Defender Leo Väisänen, who has 23 appearances on the Finland senior men’s national team
Defender Amro Tarek, who has played in the US, Egypt, Germany, and Spain
Defender Adam Lundkvist, coming from Houston Dynamo FC
Goalkeeper Matt Bersano, joining from the San Jose Earthquakes
Forward Alfonso Ocampo-Chávez, joining from the Tacoma Defiance

And then, there’s the biggest change of all: a brand new team. Austin FC II, Austin’s MLS NEXT Pro team, is already in the midst of its inaugural preseason. Get tickets here.

Get tickets

Austin FC’s first game is against St. Louis City at Q2 Stadium on Saturday, Feb. 25 — tickets start at $75. See the full schedule.

Click here to have your event featured.

Friday, Feb. 17

A New Moon Party | Friday, Feb. 17 | 4-6 p.m. | Blue Suede, 1600 S. 1st St., Ste. 120, Austin | $20 | Celebrate the February Super New Moon at this event featuring journaling, prosecco, and discounts.
Art Island ATX Presents: Running Hot EP Release | Friday, Feb. 17 | 7 p.m. | The Far Out Lounge & Stage, 8504 S. Congress Ave., Austin | $13-$17 | Expect live performances from 10 local musicians and check out “The Fire Visualizer,” a custom-made art piece
Tom Stoppard’s The Real Thing | Now-Sunday, March 5 | Times vary | The Long Center for the Performing Arts, 701 W. Riverside Dr., Austin | $37-$47 | Stoppard’s classic tale explores themes of infidelity, reality, and art.

Saturday, Feb. 18

OUTsider Fest | Friday, Feb. 17-Sunday, Feb. 19 | Times vary | The VORTEX, 2307 Manor Rd., Austin | $49-$109 | Take in out-of-the-box film, dance, theater, performance art, music, writing, and visual art at this annual LGBTQ+ festival.

Sunday, Feb. 19

Aladdin | Sunday, Feb. 19 | Times vary | Bass Concert Hall, 2350 Robert Dedman Dr., Austin | $45-$150 | It’s the last day to see this musical inspired by the Disney film.
Austin Marathon Watch Party | Sunday, Feb. 19 | 7 a.m.-12 p.m. | Jo’s Coffee, 1300 S. Congress Ave., Austin | Free | Support the runners at this race-side celebration.

We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

100+ MORE EVENTS

Weather

55º | Partly cloudy | 0% chance of rain

Development

A new private airport and business center may be coming to East Austin. The airport, which is still in early phases of development, could be accompanied by a resort city — also in early stages of development — at a combined cost of $19 billion. ✈️ (Austin Business Journal)

Transit

Instead of launching this summer, CapMetro’s new high-frequency MetroRapid bus lines won’t launch until 2025, the agency announced. The two all-electric bus lines were delayed due to issues with shipping and charging. (KUT)

Cause

Central Texas Food Bank opened a new food pantry at 6500 Metropolis Dr. this week, in an attempt to provide more food to South Austin residents in need. The spot is expected to serve ~100 people per week. (KUT)

Biz

Austin-based Tesla issued a recall on its driver assistance software for 362,000+ vehicles in the US. The error, related to the car’s ability to read speed limits and drive safety in intersections, impacts Models S, X, Y, and 3. (Austin American-Statesman)

Coming Soon

A food hall with at least five vendors will open in the former Gourdough’s Public House building on Tuesday, Feb. 21. Stop by the location at 2700 S. Lamar Blvd. to check out the new Tailor Shop Foodery. (Austin Business Journal)
For the first time since 2013, Progress Coffee will soon have a brick-and-mortar location. The new cafe is set to open at 3421 N. I-35 on Friday, Feb. 24, and offer coffee, cocktails, and onsite food trucks. ☕️ (Eater Austin)

Open

Ember Kitchen, a new Latin American restaurant in the Seaholm District, opened this week. The live-fire restaurant is paired with the already open Subterra Agave Bar, and an additional rooftop bar is set to open this spring. (Eater Austin)
A San Francisco-based barbershop, known as a safe space for LGBTQ+ clients, has left California for a new location in East Austin. Daddy’s Barbershop’s new location at 1151 E. 6th St. is now accepting appointments. 💈 (CultureMap Austin)

Traffic

Get ready, drivers — the Austin Marathon returns this Sunday, Feb. 19. Check out this list of street closures before you hit the roads. 🚧 (Community Impact Austin)

Today Is

Today is Random Acts of Kindness Day. To be kind, we suggest gifting a special person in your life with a candle from Wixology or a card from Joy Paper Co. 🎁

Community

The next outing is sure to be a tough axe to follow after this one. Enter: Celtic Axe Throwers, from date nights to coworker outings, make it a night of fun and competition. Bonus: Take 50% off your deposit with code axetoday at checkout.🪓 *

Sports

Super Bowl weekend may be over, but NBA All-Star Weekend kicks off today, Feb. 17. See the lineup of events — like this evening’s All-Star Celebrity Game and Sunday’s 72nd NBA All-Star Game — and get your hands on the limited edition All-Star merch before it sells out. 🏀 *

Home

So you can’t stop dreaming about fresh, new cabinets in your kitchen. If the question of financing is the only thing holding you back, we’ve got two words for you: home equity. Calculate your monthly payment.*

Content marked with an * is brought to you by our advertising partners and helps make this newsletter free.

It’s always cool to be kind

6 random acts of kindness to brighten up Austin’s community

Share some love with your fellow Austinites with an act of kindness today. | Photo by ATXtoday

February is the season of love, but we’re adding kindness to the mix. Today is National Random Acts of Kindness Day, but these acts can be performed any time of year.

From simple gestures to volunteering your time, here are six random acts of kindness that will make a neighbor’s day.

🍩 Bring treats to work

Next time you’re on the way to work, grab your coworkers some coffee or pastries. Pro tip: glazed donuts, bubble tea, and brews from Angel Donuts and Treats are a perfect pairing.

❤️ Pay for a student’s lunch

School lunches cost ~$3 a day, which for many students can be a burden. Call your local school district’s nutrition services and ask to pay a student’s backdue charges.

🛍 Show local businesses some love

It’s no secret that we love our local businesses. Next time you stop by your go-to spots, tip generously or write a positive review.

THREE MORE ACTS

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by London.

Editor’s pick: If you know me, you know I like to bring my dog with me everywhere I can. 🐾 Some of my favorite spots include Loro and Holdout Brewing — where do you like to take your pets in ATX?

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Here’s where to get the most important meal of the day in Austin.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Laura Figi, London Gibson, Britt Thorson, Emily Shea, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Dayten Rose, Sarah Leonhardt, Katie Smith | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Camille McLeod | Advertise with us.

Content marked with an * was created in partnership with 6AM City’s advertising partners. Paid content helps keep this newsletter free. 6AM City may also receive a commission on purchases made through affiliate links in this newsletter.

ADVERTISE | SHOP | CAREERS | ETHICS

Did a friend forward this free newsletter to you?