Austin FC Stadium Reveals Its Development Team

Precourt Sports Ventures (PSV), the investor-operator of Major League Soccer’s most recently announced franchise—Austin FC—has chosen its construction manager and design partners for the 20,500-seat soccer park and stadium, scheduled to break ground in mid-September at McKalla Place. Austin Commercial, a subsidiary of employee-owned Austin Industries Inc., will serve as the construction manager for the club’s new $240 million stadium.

The development team also includes Gensler as the lead architect and CAA ICON as the project manager and representative for PSV. Local MWBE consultant Haynes-Eaglin-Waters was hired to ensure minority and women-owned business participation. The project is aiming to achieve at a minimum a USGBC LEED Silver certification or an Austin Energy Green Building commercial rating of at least two stars.

Seasoned professionals

Gensler visualized the McKalla Place project as a setting for entertainment, leisure and outdoor activities when not utilized as a world-class, professional soccer venue. Gensler’s Sports practice will oversee the project through construction.

CAA ICON will provide project management services throughout the development, design and construction phases. This includes venue programming and design coordination, budget and schedule controls implementation. Additionally, the firm will oversee construction and commissioning activities.

Austin Commercial will provide overall construction management and general contracting services for the new stadium. The firm has been active in Austin for more than 30 years and is known for some of the metro’s most iconic structures, including Austin-Bergstrom Airport, Baylor McLane Stadium, American Airlines Center and Austin City Limits.

“This project will create a significant number of local jobs for the community and we are committed to utilizing local, small, minority and women-owned businesses throughout all phases of the project,” Brad Brown, president of Austin Commercial, said in a prepared statement.

Economy boost

The 24-acre site at 10414 McKalla Place has been vacant for more than 25 years. With the groundbreaking ceremony slated for the beginning of fall, PSV estimates that the stadium will open in the spring of 2021, just in time for the Major League Soccer season. The natural grass, open-air stadium will be complemented by a training facility, which will bring PSV’s total investment in Austin, including the value of the team, to more than $475 million. Moreover, the group also plans to build and refurbish soccer fields and increase access to soccer programs, particularly for underserved communities, as well as get involved in hot local issues such as affordable housing, equity, youth health and wellness.

An independent report from Brailsford & Dunlavey estimates that 934 full-time equivalency jobs will be created in Austin due to construction. This also translates into a $103 million economic impact during construction, including an average salary of $52,000.