An artist’s rendering of the new soccer facility to be built at Circuit of the Americas for the FCB Escola training complex. CREDIT: Courtesy of FC Barcelona / FCBEscola
The new soccer complex to be built at Circuit of the Americas this year as part of an FC Barcelona training school will be the first purpose-built, soccer-specific stadium in the Austin area.
FC Barcelona officials posted a rendering of the facility, pictured above, on the club’s website.
COTA chairman Bobby Epstein told the American-Statesman he is constructing the complex within the race track for the FCB Escola project announced March 2.
FCB Escola, an arm of FC Barcelona, arguably the world’s most powerful soccer organization, is bringing an academy to Austin and Round Rock. Details will be revealed in early April.
What the facility is not intended to be is the new home of an Austin professional soccer team. The financially troubled Aztex of the United Soccer League have been sidelined for two years running because of the lack of a stadium.
“This field will be a significant investment for us, and we hope local clubs hold their big games there, as well as serving to help attract youth tournament games,” Epstein said. “It’s close to Southeast Metro Park and could prove to be synergistic.”
Epstein hinted at possible expansion of the soccer complex at the Formula One track.
“Initially there will be one spectacular, championship field. For training, the academy will break it into two training fields,” he said.
“The field has been part of the master plan since the Grand Plaza was designed before the venue opened. What’s interesting is that the plaza, the amphitheater, and the tower were designed by Austin architect Juan Miro, who is a native of Barcelona and grew up near their stadium (Camp Nou).”
The facility is expected to have a capacity in the 1,200 to 1,500 range. It will be located adjacent to the Austin 360 Amphitheater music venue.
The USL requires 5,000-seat stadiums. It is unclear whether COTA’s current stadium plan could be expanded, although Epstein acknowledged it’s a hot topic among Austin soccer fans.
“We’re well aware,” he said.
