AUSTIN — Austin city leaders and Precourt Sports Ventures representatives held the first set of information sessions to discuss the possibility of building a Major League Stadium near The Domain.
Tuesday night's sessions were held at Northwest Recreational Center near Northland Drive. The gym was packed with soccer fans, concerned residents, and community leaders.
The city provided information about McKalla Place, the city-owned lot selected by city council as the favorable site for a Major League Soccer stadium.
Precourt Sports Ventures, which owns Columbus Crew Soccer Club in Ohio, has expressed interest in moving the team to Austin and building a stadium.
One of the more popular questions of the night: Who would pay to build the stadium?
"I think in Austin, Texas, ... I think that [Anthony] Precourt did right by saying he will fund the stadium and give it to the city so that the city takes ownership of it and the city's not on the hook for it. Taxpayers won't be on the hook for this stadium," Richard Suttle, who represents PSV, told KVUE.
People also asked questions about the benefits and amenities a Major League Soccer stadium would provide for the nearby communities and how the city and PSV plan to alleviate some of the traffic near McKalla Place.
The sessions are a part of the city manager's analysis of McKalla Place and whether it's truly fit to host a stadium.
The report must be submitted to city council no later than June 1.
A final information session will be held on May 10 from 7-8 p.m. at Montopolis Recreation Center.