The Arena Football League plays the game on a 50-yard field, rather than the NFL’s 100-yard standard. | Photo via Arena Football League media center
The pro sports teams just keep on coming.
Austin will be home to a pro football team as soon as this spring as the Arena Football League returns to 16 US cities.
What’s the Arena Football League?
The AFL is a pro football league that was founded in 1986. The league struggled with funding and canceled its 2009 season due to financial trouble. Nine years later, the league declared bankruptcy again in 2019 and has been defunct since.
That is, until now. F1 Sports and Entertainment — yes, the same company behind the favorite racing event at COTA — purchased the AFL last year. In February, the company announced it would bring the league back starting in April 2024 for a 10-game regular season, plus playoffs.
Arena football works a little differently from gridiron football (as seen in the NFL and NCAA), with changes including:
50-yard field vs. a 100-yard field
20-man active roster vs. an infinite roster
9ft goalpost with a 15ft overhead bar vs. 8.5ft goalpost with a 10ft overhead bar
The other cities chosen also include San Antonio and Odessa, Texas.
What does this mean for Austin?
Well, it’s one more pro sports team to add to our growing roster. (We added the Texas Smoke, Austin Gamblers, and Austin FC in the last five years alone).
That said, it’s not the first time Austin has had an AFL team. Austinites might remember that the Wranglers played at the Frank Erwin Center from 2004-2008. It’s not clear where this new team will play or what the team name or mascot will be — that’s expected to be one of the last announcements from the AFL.
Stay updated on the AFL — and be first to know how you can get tickets — by signing up for the league’s email list.
Events
Friday, July 21
“Beauty and The Beast” | Now-Sunday, Aug. 13 | 8 p.m. | Hill Country Galleria, 12700 Hill Country Blvd., Austin | Free | Enjoy the Magnolia Musical Theatre’s production for free.
Santa Fe Klan | Friday, July 21 | 7:30 p.m. | The Moody Center, 2001 Robert Dedman Dr., Austin | $33.50-$145 | Snow Tha Product and Tornillo will join on the “Toro Y Nada” tour.
Saturday, July 22
Lady Bird Day | Saturday, July 22 | 7 a.m.-2 p.m. | Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, 4801 La Crosse Ave., Austin | Free | Remember and celebrate the former first lady with free admission, screenings, story time, and a live podcast recording.
Drink Up deal: Wanderlust Wine Co. | Saturday, July 22 | Times vary | Wanderlust Wine Co., 1601 Barton Springs Rd., Austin | Free | Mention Drink Up Month at the Barton Springs location to upgrade your coffee from 12 oz to 16 oz (between 8 a.m. and 12 p.m.) or top off your wine from a 5-6 oz to 8-9 oz (between 1-5 p.m.).
Slightly Stoopid | Saturday, July 22 | 6 p.m. | Germania Insurance Amphitheater, 9201 Circuit of the Americas Blvd., Austin | $30-$250 | This star-studded lineup includes Sublime, Atmosphere, and The Movement.
Sunday, July 23
“Wizard of Oz” | Sunday, July 23-Sunday, Aug. 6 | Times vary | McCullough Theatre, 2375 Robert Dedman Dr., Austin | $35-$45 | Texas Performing Arts and Summer Stock Austin partner to perform the classic story with Dorothy, Toto, and the Wicked Witch of the West.
“You’re So Last Summer 2" — A Pop-Punk Pool Party | Sunday, July 23 | 5-10 p.m. | RIO, 601 Rio Grande St., Austin | $15-$ | Join My Chemical Mondays and PartyByBlake for a summer pool party complete with an inflatable coffin pool float and a photo booth.
Michael Kusterman will be the new CEO of Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas, replacing Shelli Taylor, who will retire but remain on the company’s board of directors. Kusterman will be promoted from his current role as president on Friday, Aug. 11. (Austin Business Journal)
Opening
Foxtrot Market — the Chicago-based chain that recently opened two Austin locations — announced it will open a third storefront inside Austin City Hall. The new space opens tomorrow, July 22, featuring an all-day café that sells local products.
Development
The $2.7 million Meadow Lakes Boulevard extension in southeast Austin is now complete, connecting Misty Slope Lane and Quicksilver Boulevard. The project includes sidewalks and bike lanes on both sides of the street, in addition to a new stormwater management biofiltration pond. (KXAN)
Announced
Sushi|Bar ATX head chef Ambrely Ouimette announced plans to open her own omakase restaurant in Austin. Ouimette, who has 15+ years of sushi-making experience, doesn’t yet have a location for the new project, but officially left Sushi|Bar last month. (Eater Austin)
Arts
The Contemporary Austin’s downtown Jones Center will soon be covered in a new mural by Austin artist Manik Raj Nakra. The project — which is sponsored by The Loren at Lady Bird Lake — will be unveiled in December.
History
A Rainey Street bungalow built in 1907 has a new life as a bookstore in Dripping Springs. The renovated space, called Sunday Bookshop, offers genres ranging from mystery to fantasy and opened this summer at 2801 Ranch Rd. 12. (KXAN)
Wellness
Hear this: The world’s first hearing aids featuring dual processing — and backed by cutting-edge German technology — were just unveiled by Hear.com. Transform your hearing with a 45-day, no-risk trial and join the 385,000+ customers hearing with double the power and double the clarity.*
Announced
Congratulations to Kristen K. and Stan M., the winners of our referral program giveaway. Did you know you can be rewarded for spreading the word about the newsletter? You can look forward to special items such as hats, mugs, and more. Find the referral section above The Wrap each day.
Travel
🚗 Road trip
A local’s guide to the perfect day in San Antonio
How can we not fall in love with a city that looks this stunning? | Photo by @vrushabh4
Hi y’all, London and Figi here. 👋 Today, we’re going to pass the mic to our friends Adriana and Nick in San Antonio (hey, SATXtoday) to tell us how they’d spend a perfect day in the Alamo City. Take it away, y’all.
Morning
Start your morning off with a unique local brunch spot, Coffee + Culture. Need a wake up call? Grab a mimosa and chow down on a plate of chilaquiles featuring refried beans, homemade corn tortillas, green tomatillo salsa, crema fresca, queso fresco, onions, and your choice of protein.
Oh, you still want a cup of coffee? No problem, head on over to What’s Brewing Coffee Company, San Antonio’s longest running coffee roaster. Once you get your coffee in hand, play a game of pinball (or two): the machines cost 25 cents.
Don’t stop there — click the button below to plan your afternoon and evening in SATX.
We have a fun little tradition at 6AM City — ATXtoday’s parent company — called Chaos Friday. Essentially, we offer up a question to the team that sparks some mild, fun-filled debating.
One of my favorite Chaos Friday questions is this one: Is a hot dog a sandwich? Share your thoughts.
Content marked with an * is paid advertising. Content marked with an ^ is created by our content studio. The company may also generate commission from affiliate links in the newsletter.