Press Room

A range of Austin’s culinary creativity and diversity to be on display when Austin FC launches its first Major League Soccer season in 2021

AUSTIN, Texas. (December 16, 2019) – Austin FC, the first major league team in Austin and the 27th Club in Major League Soccer (MLS), has partnered with Levy to craft food, beverage, and hospitality experiences at Austin FC’s new, state-of-the-art soccer park and stadium, now under construction in Austin and scheduled to open in Spring 2021. Levy, the industry leader in sports and entertainment hospitality, will work with Austin FC to design every detail of match day dining and hospitality across concessions, bars, clubs, and suites.

Leading up to Austin FC’s debut MLS campaign in 2021, the Club and Levy will work with Austin’s world-renowned culinary community to identify opportunities for favorite restaurants, purveyors, and up-and-coming hospitality talent to influence the supporter experience.

“The selection of a hospitality partner to oversee food and beverage service within a highly-trafficked venue is a critical decision for any sports and entertainment property, and our expectation of delivering an exceptional guest experience alongside our requirement to work with an industry leader with a strong track-record of operational expertise led us to proudly partner with Levy,” said Andy Loughnane, President of Austin FC. “Levy will work closely with the Austin food and beverage community to identify a variety of stadium options which will reflect Austin FC’s desire to develop an Austin-inspired menu that will be customized for an outdoor MLS stadium.”

“People know Austin as a hotbed of culinary creativity and one of the best places to eat in the country,” said Andy Lansing, President and CEO of Levy. “That spirit will shine through when the first match kicks off in 2021. We share Austin FC’s ambition to create a new sports tradition in Austin, built around culinary imagination and experiences that unite the community.”

Austin FC and Levy are committed to bringing local, independently-owned restaurants, purveyors, culinary talent and hospitality professionals into the venue. The Austin community will play a major role in defining the experience. Culinary ambassadors for the new stadium will spend 2020 in the community identifying opportunities for restaurants to serve their signature flavors to Austin FC fans. The team will also work with E15 Group, Levy’s tech and analytics company, to develop menus based on Austin FC supporters’ favorite tastes. More information about culinary opportunities at the new stadium will come in 2020.

Levy will also contribute its hospitality perspective as the stadium design and construction process continues, tapping into experience at some of the top sports and soccer venues around the country. Levy has partnered on new stadium builds and renovations across MLS, including Audi Field in Washington, D.C., Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, and the newly renovated Providence Park in Portland. Levy also serves guests locally at Austin Convention Center and Palmer Events Center, and across Texas at Toyota Center, BBVA Compass Stadium, and AmericanAirlines Center, among many others.

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About Austin FC

Austin FC joined Major League Soccer (MLS) as the 27th club in January 2019 and is the City of Austin’s first major league team. Austin FC will officially begin play in 2021 in a new, state-of-the-art soccer stadium and public park now being constructed at McKalla Place, Austin.

Austin FC also runs Austin FC Academy, the fully funded boys United States Soccer Development Academy, which aims to represent the highest level of competition for elite players in Central Texas and serve as the pathway to MLS for the region’s most talented young players.

Austin FC’s parent company and ownership group is Two Oak Ventures, the entity which operates Austin FC and affiliated assets, including the 100% privately-financed MLS soccer park and stadium being constructed at 10414 McKalla Place in Austin, Texas, and St. David’s Performance Center, the $45 million training facility of the Club and Austin FC Academy, scheduled to open in Spring 2021 and located at Parmer Innovation Center in Northeast Austin. For more, follow Austin FC on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook and please go to Austin FC’s online image gallery for images available for editorial use.

About Levy

The disruptor in defining the sports and entertainment hospitality experience, Levy is recognized as the market leader and most critically acclaimed hospitality company in its industry. Twice named one of the 10 most innovative companies in sports by Fast Company magazine and one of the top three Best Employers for Diversity in America by Forbes, Levy’s diverse portfolio includes award-winning restaurants; iconic sports and entertainment venues, zoos and cultural institutions, theaters, and convention centers; as well as the Super Bowl, Grammy Awards, PGA Championship, US Open Tennis Tournament, Kentucky Derby, and NHL, MLB, NBA, NFL, and MLS All-Star Games. For more, visit www.levyrestaurants.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.