Perched above an ice rink less than a mile away from the potential site of a 20,000-seat Major League Soccer stadium, Precourt Sports Ventures made its pitch.
For many of the 50 or so community members who came to the Pond Hockey Club on Tuesday evening, it marked the first time they had heard directly from the investment group which operates Columbus Crew SC. In October 2017, the team started to explore the possible relocation of the Ohio-based team to Austin.
"Most of it is stuff that I feel like I knew, but I'd been getting it from third-party resources," said Landon Cotham, a soccer fan from Austin. "Hearing stuff coming from people who work for the city, it seems like the city is getting on board with it and trying to make it happen."
The event was one of a series of community outreach sessions the city of Austin is hosting with PSV as a presenting guest. City officials and representatives of PSV each gave presentations on the city-owned property at McKalla Place near the Domain.
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"These community meetings are important for us to get the facts out," said Richard Suttle, a lobbyist for PSV and MLS.
Those facts included the troubled history of the site, which has been remediated after multiple chemical explosions, and how PSV hopes to transform the location to include green space that would be usable year round.
Walkways, bike paths, open space and parks, music performance space and parking for a nearby rail stop are included in PSV's vision for the 24 acres — in addition to a near $200 million privately financed stadium, according to a slide show presented by Precourt representatives.
Greg Kiloh, the redevelopment project manager for the city overseeing much of the McKalla report due to City Council by June 1, said transportation issues are among the biggest concerns being explored. In March, the city council approved a resolution directing the city manager to provide a detailed analysis of McKalla Place as the potential site of a Major League Soccer stadium.
The city is looking into transportation upgrades that could be necessary for a stadium, including the viability of a rail station at the site.
"It will require significant transportation improvements no matter what happens to the site," Kiloh said during his presentation.
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The town hall-style meeting included time for questions and a four-part survey for attendees to fill out. The event was the third session on Tuesday, and it was organized for the North Austin Civic Association. The others that day were with representatives of the North Austin Soccer Alliance and SoccerZone indoor sports facility.
Three larger information sessions are planned next week, with back-to-back presentations at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. on May 8 at Northwest Recreation Center and a third session at 7 p.m. on May 10 at Montopolis Recreation Center.
More information can be found at austintexas.gov/mckalla.
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