AUSTIN (AP) -- The Austin City Council has voted to move ahead with a plan for a new, privately funded stadium on city land sought by the owner of Major League Soccer's Columbus Crew for a move to Texas.
Crew owner Anthony Precourt has been courting Austin for a potential move since late 2017 and has sought a deal to build a 20,000-seat stadium on 24 acres of city property in time for the 2021 MLS season. Austin is the largest metropolitan area in the country without a major league sports franchise.
Precourt bought the Crew in 2013, and a move would uproot a bedrock MLS franchise.