
Austin Aztex Will Not Participate in 2016 USL Season
October 2, 2015 - United Soccer League Championship (USL) News Release
TAMPA, Fla. - The United Soccer League announced today that it had granted permission for the Austin Aztex to not participate in the 2016 season due to the unavailability of a stadium that meets league standards and the unforeseen delays in the development of a soccer-specific stadium in Austin. The Aztex will resume play in the 2017 season.
Austin was initially granted a one-year waiver by the USL to allow the club to secure a soccer-specific stadium by the end of its first season. The club suffered a setback in that process this season when its home stadium - House Park - was damaged in flooding on Memorial Day weekend, forcing the club to focus its energies on finding a replacement venue for the remainder of the 2015 season.
"The USL is committed to having its clubs play in quality facilities that meet or exceed U.S. Soccer Federation standards and understands the challenges the Austin Aztex have faced this year," USL President Jake Edwards said. "We are honoring Austin's request for the necessary time to construct a soccer-specific stadium of its own for the 2017 season that the club, its fans and the entire Austin community will be proud of. While we realize this isn't the desired short-term outcome for the club and its fans, it is necessary to ensure the club's success for years to come."
The USL features 24 clubs in 2015 and recently announced the additions of Lehigh Valley, FC Cincinnati and Rio Grande Valley FC for the 2016 season and Reno, Nevada for 2017.
United Soccer League Championship Stories from October 2, 2015
- Conference Semifinals on Tap for 2015 USL Playoffs - USL
- Austin Aztex Will Not Participate in 2016 USL Season - USL
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- OC Blues FC Begins Playoffs against LA Galaxy II - Orange County SC
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