Only two of Austin’s elected officials went to last night’s public meeting about what the city should get if they let Precourt Sports Ventures use city land at McKalla Place for an MLS Stadium.
Austin City Councilmember Leslie Pool sat in the back listening while AISD Trustee Ann Teich told city staff her concerns about Precourt not paying property taxes on the land. This low turnout from council did not go unnoticed.
Others were equally disappointed, saying, council should have been there since they will be making the decisions on the MLS McKalla deal.
Opponents of MLS in Austin say a stadium would take up too much valuable space that could be better used for mixed-use developments and housing.
Some believe the city council has already made its decision, but others continue to hold out hope, not only for a new team, but also for a stadium deal to be reached at McKalla Place, that plot of land in North Austin that’s been hotly debated this year.
Vice President of the MLS in Austin supporters group Andrew Urban says the city’s own report shows there could be an $800-million economic impact over the next two decades, something he says the area would not get with low-income housing alone.
You can make your own suggestion by going to www.speakupaustin.org/McKalla and filling out a survey.
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