Sports in Austin, Texas facts for kids
The city of Austin, Texas is a lively place with lots of sports! It's home to one major professional sports team, Austin FC, which plays soccer in Major League Soccer. Austin also has the famous University of Texas Longhorns teams and several other fun minor-league sports teams.
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Austin's Sports Teams
Austin has many different sports teams, from professional clubs to university teams. Here are some of the main ones:
- Austin FC plays soccer in Major League Soccer. They started playing in 2021 at Q2 Stadium.
- Austin Gilgronis play rugby in Major League Rugby.
- Austin Spurs play basketball in the NBA G League. They are connected to the famous San Antonio Spurs NBA team.
- Austin Weirdos play baseball in the Pecos League.
- Round Rock Express play baseball in the Pacific Coast League. They are a "Triple-A" team, which means they are just one step below Major League Baseball. They play at Dell Diamond.
- Texas Stars play ice hockey in the American Hockey League. They are connected to the Dallas Stars NHL team.
University of Texas Longhorns
Many people in Austin love to cheer for the Texas Longhorns from the University of Texas at Austin. These teams are a huge part of the city's sports scene!
The Longhorns football team won a national championship in 2005. They play their home games at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium, which is a massive stadium that can hold over 101,000 fans!
The Longhorns baseball team also won the College World Series in 2005. They play at UFCU Disch–Falk Field, a great stadium for baseball fans.
The Longhorns men's basketball team plays at the Frank Erwin Center.
Professional Sports in Austin
For a long time, Austin was the biggest city in the U.S. without a team in a major professional sports league. But that changed when Austin FC arrived in 2021!
Before Austin FC, the city had minor-league professional teams. For example, the Austin Ice Bats played hockey, and later the Texas Stars took their place. The Austin Spurs basketball team also came to Austin.
The story of Austin FC is interesting. A group wanted to move a soccer team from Ohio to Austin. After some discussions, it was decided that Austin would get a brand new team instead. This new team, Austin FC, started playing in 2021 and quickly became a big hit!
Biking, Swimming, and Running
Austin is a fantastic place for outdoor sports like biking, swimming, and running. The city has beautiful natural areas like the Texas Hill Country and a mild climate.
The Lady Bird Lake Hike and Bike Trail is a popular spot for people to run, walk, and bike. There are also cool local pools like Barton Springs where people can swim.
Austin hosts several big races:
- The Capitol 10,000 is a large 10K (about 6.2 miles) race.
- The Austin Marathon has been held every year since 1992.
Austin is also known for its cycling groups. Famous cyclist Lance Armstrong is from Austin. Many people also bike to work to help the environment.
Combining biking, swimming, and running, Austin also has many triathlons. One popular event is the Capital of Texas Triathlon, held every Memorial Day around Lady Bird Lake.
Auto Racing
Austin is home to a world-class auto racing track called the Circuit of the Americas.
In 2010, it was announced that Austin would host the Formula One, United States Grand Prix race from 2012 to 2021. This is a huge international racing event! The Circuit of the Americas was built for this race and cost a lot of money, paid for by private investors.
The Circuit of the Americas also hosts the MotoGP World Championships, which are major motorcycle races.
Other Sports
Austin has been home to other exciting sports events too:
- The X Games, a big event for extreme sports, moved from Los Angeles to Austin from 2014 to 2018. They were held at the Circuit of the Americas.
- Austin is known as the birthplace of modern flat track roller derby. In 2003, the Texas Rollergirls formed here. They helped create the rules for this fast-paced sport played on roller skates.
- In 2022, Austin was chosen to host a professional women's tennis event called the ATX Open, which started in 2023.
