100 local youngsters got to take on Austin Bold FC players at the club's new stadium on Wednesday night ahead of Bold FC's home opener against San Antonio FC this Saturday. | Photo courtesy Horacio Coutinho / Austin Bold FC
AUSTIN, Texas – Austin Bold FC will officially take the field for the first time at Bold Stadium this Saturday night when it plays Texas rival San Antonio FC, but on Wednesday night the club welcomed 100 local youth players who got to be the first to play at the venue in a special Bold 100 Challenge game against some of the club’s players.
Bold FC owner Bobby Epstein played in goal for the youngsters, who also got autographs and the chance to spend time with the players over the evening’s festivities. The club also welcomed its season ticket members to the event, where they got to check out the newest soccer-specific venue in the USL Championship.
The newest home of @uslchampionship soccer makes its national (& local) TV debut Saturday. #AUSvSA #CopaTejas #CopaTacos #ABFC https://t.co/rh5YrGmRsY pic.twitter.com/zH0aVQJeXP
— Lincoln Rose (@LincolnRose) March 28, 2019
@AustinBoldFC the kids with their favorite player @Sonny_g52! #Bold100Challenge pic.twitter.com/NiJWSpzrp9
— Christian Olmos (@SHELOVEDITTT) March 28, 2019
Our season ticket member event is underway and the kids are getting ready for the #Bold100Challenge. #GoBold pic.twitter.com/Fc2RRBAsDn
— Austin Bold FC (@AustinBoldFC) March 27, 2019
The 5,036-seat venue has been completed over the past five months, with Epstein and guests having broken ground on the facility at Circuit of The Americas last October. The expansion side will be hoping it brings the club better fortune than in its first two games of the season, which have seen Bold FC still waiting for its first victory.
Its Copa Tejas rival San Antonio FC hasn’t fared too much better, however, picking up only one point from its first three games. With former SAFC players Diego Restrepo, Kris Tyrpak and Sonny Guadarrama potentially set to play for Austin on Saturday, the chance at a piece of history could be there for the taking by the hosts.
A sellout crowd is anticipated as professional soccer returns to Texas’ capital, which should make for a crackling atmosphere as the two rivals square off for the first time.