PSV names construction manager and design team for Austin FC stadium

Precourt Sports Ventures (PSV), the investor-operator of Major League Soccer’s most recently announced franchise, Austin FC, has selected its construction manager and design partners for the planned 100%-privately financed, 20,500-seat soccer park and stadium, set to break ground mid-September.

Anthony Precourt, Chairman and CEO, PSV and Austin FC, said:

Austin FC is pleased to name the construction and design team that will bring to reality our dream of building a world-class sports and entertainment facility for Austin. This exceptionally talented team will construct a stadium that our club and city will be proud of, and it will open in time for the 2021 Major League Soccer season. I am excited that this will create local jobs and facilities, for all of Austin to enjoy together.

Brad Brown, President of Austin Commercial, said:

Austin Commercial has been privileged to take part in a number of one-of-a-kind projects that have helped make Austin such a great city in which to live, work and play. Because Austin is home to so many of our employee-owners, many of whom we expect will be among Austin FC’s biggest fans, we are excited about the benefits this new world-class stadium will bring. This project will create a significant number of local jobs for the community, and we are committed to utilising local, small, minority, and women-owned businesses throughout all phases of the project.

The state-of-the-art, natural grass, open-air stadium is designed as an entertainment and multi-purpose cultural and civic event venue that will offer first-class performance and entertainment areas and related facilities. The landscape design plan for the grounds outside the stadium at McKalla Place will offer public access and amenities.

PSV has committed to privately funding the stadium, which is now estimated to cost US$240m, and also to building a training facility, bringing PSV’s total investment in Austin, including the value of the team, to over US$475m. In addition, PSV will fulfill numerous community benefit pledges designed to address the issues of affordable housing, equity, youth health and wellness. PSV will also build and refurbish soccer fields and increase access to soccer programs, particularly for underserved communities.

Austin Commercial, which is known for some of the State’s most iconic structures including, American Airlines Center, Austin-Bergstrom Airport, Baylor McLane Stadium, Long Center for the Performing Arts and Austin City Limits, has had an Austin office for more than 30 years. Austin Commercial will provide overall construction management and general contracting services for the new stadium. The firm, which recently celebrated its 100th anniversary, has been nationally recognised for its previous work in the sports market.

Gensler has led the McKalla Place project from site planning through the current design that elevates the game day experience for Major League Soccer (MLS) fans. The new stadium will be a setting for entertainment, leisure and outdoor activities for residents and visitors of Austin, when not being utilised as a world-class, professional soccer venue. Gensler’s Sports practice, with leadership in both LA and Austin, will oversee the project through construction.

CAA ICON will provide project management services throughout the development, design and construction of the stadium including venue programming and design coordination; budget and schedule controls implementation; and oversight of construction and commissioning activities. Having served in a similar capacity for the majority of MLS stadiums in North America, CAA ICON brings unique sports-specific expertise to the team.

PSV will work with the City of Austin’s Office of Sustainability to achieve, at a minimum, a U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification or an Austin Energy Green Building (AEGB) Commercial rating of at least two stars. Additionally, based upon an independent report from Brailsford & Dunlavey, the City conservatively estimates that 934 full-time equivalency (FTE) jobs will be created in Austin due to construction (1,528 in Travis County). This includes US$103m in economic impact during construction alone (US$162m in Travis County), including an average annual salary of US$52,000. PSV has also hired local MWBE consultant, Haynes-Eaglin-Waters, LLC, to help ensure minority and women owned business participation.

Austin Commercial

Austin Commercial is a subsidiary of employee-owned, Austin Industries. Founded in 1918 and employing more than 6,000 employee-owners, Austin Industries is one of the nation’s largest, most diversified construction companies. Austin Commercial serves customers in advanced technology, aviation, corporate build-to-suit, industrial and manufacturing, interiors, health care, hospitality, office and high-rise, public/institutional, retail, sports and university market segments.

Gensler

Gensler is a global architecture, design and planning firm with 48 locations and more than 5,000 professionals networked across Asia, Europe, Australia, the Middle East and the Americas. Founded in 1965, the firm serves more than 3,500 active clients in virtually every industry. The Gensler Sports + Convention Centers practice is committed to creating unparalleled game day experiences through collaborative venue design and placemaking. Notable projects include the new home of the Golden State Warriors, Chase Center, the MLS gamechanger, LAFC’s Banc of California Stadium, as well as the reinvention of Hohokam Field and the Lew Wolff Training Complex in Mesa, Arizona for the Oakland A’s.

CAA ICON

A division of leading entertainment and sports agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA), CAA ICON is the world’s-leading owners’ representative and strategic management consulting firm for public and private sports and entertainment facility owners/operators, professional franchises and leagues. With more than 50 sports, entertainment and public assembly projects and over 1,000 consulting engagements, CAA ICON has managed the development of many of the most successful venues around the world, including 11 professional sports leagues totaling nearly US$20bn. CAA ICON offers world-class service in the areas of project management, strategic advisory, feasibility and planning and beyond.