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MLS expansion franchise Austin FC ‘exceeds’ sales expectations

Major League Soccer (MLS) expansion franchise Austin FC has seen ticket sales for its inaugural season in 2021 “exceed” expectations.

Austin FC, the 27th club in MLS and the Texas city’s only major league team, has shifted deposits for nearly 40,000 tickets, which is supporting its goal to sell-out its approximately 20,500-seat under-construction stadium.

Club president Andy Loughnane said that the sales numbers have “once again validated Austin’s love of major league sports”.

He added: “The last 12 months have produced so much positivity. We are incredibly fortunate that there has been so much support for the team. Perhaps our early success has exceeded the marketplace’s expectations and the national audience’s expectations.”

He explained that the franchise is being built at “an incredible pace, maybe even faster than one would have expected”.

In summer last year, Austin FC announced it had secured deposits in excess of 35,000 seats, including the successful deposit launch which produced 30,000 seats reserved in the first 24 hours of availability, an MLS record.

Austin’s chief revenue officer, Clark Beacom, said that they are currently rearranging the stadium and offering seat locations in the order where deposits were placed, noting “we are going to use the time we have to ensure that season ticket members find what’s right for them.”

In July, Austin FC launched a multi-year deal with SeatGeek as its ticketing partner, which will allow fans to see a 360-degree virtual stadium tour to help them decide where they want to sit at the $242m stadium, which broke ground in September.

Image: Austin FC