Austin Bold FC‘s home debut on Saturday was met with a big response from fans, with a sellout crowd on hand for the match.
Backed by Circuit of the Americas chairman Bobby Epstein, the Bold is beginning play in Division II USL Championship this season as an expansion club. The club plays its home matches at Bold Stadium, a new soccer-specific venue located at Circuit of the Americas, and hosted its first game there on Saturday against in-state rival San Antonio FC.
Not only did the match provide a successful outcome on the pitch for the Bold, which won by a final of 1-0, but it was met with a big turnout. A reported sellout crowd of 5,803 fans were on hand for the match, and the fan support did not go unnoticed by the Bold’s players. More from the Austin-American Statesman:
Playing in front of the home crowd for the first time, the Bold received standout performances from all over the pitch. Anchored by goalkeeper Diego Restrepo and center backs Jermaine Taylor and Amobi Okugo, Austin kept its second shutout in three matches.
Bold Stadium fits 5,036, and the stands were filled along with standing-room only sections before kickoff.
“When I first came through the gate for warmups I was like, ‘Wow, it’s going to be a special night,’” Restrepo said.
The Bold’s next home match is scheduled for Wednesday, April 17, when the club hosts Phoenix Rising FC.
Rendering courtesy Austin Bold FC.
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