General Timeline of Events

2013

March 12 – Sunday, March 17, 2013: According to a letter to Austin City Council, dated June 18, 2018, MLS Commissioner Garber reportedly met with Mr. Foley, Co-Managing Partner, Austin Sports & Entertainment about MLS coming to Austin, Texas prior to the Columbus Crew SC being sold to Mr. Precourt with the secret ‘Austin out clause’ Source AustinTexas.gov

July 30, 2013: Precourt purchases Columbus Crew and commits to keeping the team in Columbus to Mayor Michael Coleman Source Dispatch

July 31, 2013: Don Garber announces that MLS will expand to 24 teams by 2020 at halftime of the MLS All-Star Game. Source MLS Soccer.com

2014

November 26, 2014: Crew signs partnership with a new United Soccer Leagues soccer team, the Austin Aztex, ending its affiliation with the Dayton Dutch Lions. Source Dispatch

2015

November 2, 2015: Mark Abbott, deputy commissioner of MLS, meets with San Antonio officials and states that there would not be franchise located in both Austin and San Antonio Source Crew Not Done Yet

November 4, 2015: San Antonio approves purchase of Toyota Field based on information from MLS officials. Source Crew Not Done Yet

December 6, 2015: Major League Soccer announces future expansion to 28 teams at Board of Governors meeting in Columbus, Ohio, the day of the MLS Cup between Portland Timbers and Columbus Crew SC Source MLS Soccer

2016

February 10, 2016: Columbus Crew SC launch For Columbus kits (team uniforms) inspired by the Columbus city flag at a media event hosted by the City of Columbus and featuring Mayor Andrew Ginther. Source YouTube

August 23, 2016: Anthony Precourt emphasizes commitment to Columbus and the importance of civic pride and the community as well as the Top 4 selling kits in MLS. Source Massive Report

September 29, 2016: Charles Altcheck, special assistant to the commissioner, emails Mayor Adler about research in Austin. Emails between Mayor’s office, Altcheck & Mark Abbott, Deputy Commissioner, continue for the next 6 months. Source Dispatch

October 17-20, 2016: Columbus Crew SC announces the hiring of Barrett Sports Group (now CAA Icon) to perform surveys of fans and the business community in central Ohio. Source and https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2016/10/20/crew-sc-surveying-columbus-business-community-on.html Columbus Business First

October 25, 2016: Anthony Precourt tells Dispatch reporter Adam Jardy, “I’m tired of the insecurities. We’re playing for Columbus” Source Twitter

November 8, 2016: Anthony Precourt tweets from Major League Soccer’s NYC league offices. Source Twitter

November 2016: Dan Barrett of Barrett Sports Group emails Mayor Adler’s office about surveys being conducted to gauge business and community interest. Source Dispatch

2017

February 2017: Dan Barrett emails Mayor Adler’s office referencing San Antonio expansion bid after the official expansion submissions are published on January 31, 2017. Source and https://www.si.com/planet-futbol/2017/01/31/mls-expansion-deadline-12-teams-cities Dispatch

February 24, 2017: Columbus Crew SC signs historic 3 year sponsorship agreement with Acura, a company with over 10000 central Ohio employees. Source Columbus Crew SC

March 14, 2017: Anthony Precourt attends South by Southwest interview of Don Garber by Grant Wahl Source YouTube

March 15, 2017: Mayor Adler emails Don Garber to ask for ideas on what city can do since not on the expansion list. Garber responds, “You Got It” Source Dispatch

June 10, 2017: Dave Greeley of PSV interacts with Austin supporter groups on twitter Source Twitter

August 3, 2017: Columbus Crew SC 2018 season tickets are promoted. Source Columbus Business First

August 7, 2017: Don Garber produces letter authorizing lobbyist to solely represent MLS in Austin. Source Twitter

August 8, 2017: MLS registers Austin FC and Austin Athletic as trademarks Source USPTO and Source USPTO

August 10, 2017: Columbus Crew SC 2018 season tickets are available for purchase. Source Columbus Crew SC

August 15, 2017: Multiple lobbyists file with the City of Austin as clients of Major League Soccer Source AustinTexas.gov

August 18, 2017: PSV registers mls2atx.com for a future “community of supporters” website Source Whois

October 16, 2017: Grant Wahl tweets that Anthony Precourt is pursuing a relocation of the Columbus Crew Source Twitter

October 17, 2017: Columbus Crew SC conducts a media conference call with a remote Anthony Precourt about relocation. Source Columbus Crew SC

November 15, 2017: MLS and PSV meets with Columbus leaders in New York City Source USA Today

November 17, 2017: MLS responds to San Antonio’s Judge Wolff inquiries Source ScribD

December 7, 2017: San Antonio Judge Nelson Wolff publishes report documenting potentially fraudulent MLS expansion process. Source Austin Sports Law Blog

December 12, 2017: 8 Possible sites identified and submitted to Austin Parks Department. Source AustinTexas.gov

2018

January 24, 2018: MLS2ATX accuses Columbus fans of manipulating Austin politics Source Email sent by MLS2ATX

January 25, 2018: Don Garber acknowledges existence of Anthony Precourt’s Austin clause in an interview with Grant Wahl Source SI

March 22, 2018: Parkland is removed from consideration after City of Austin proposes a resolution to remove all public parkland from the potential site list. Source AustinTexas.gov

March 22, 2018: Austin City Manager is directed to produce a report about McKalla Place. Source AustinTexas.gov

April 20, 2018: Anthony Precourt changes his twitter bio to change the word “owner” to “investor:operator and chairman” less than one day after the MLS Motion to Dismiss argues that MLS, not PSV, owns the team. Source Twitter

June 1, 2018: City Report produced in compliance with Ordinance 20180322-099. This is also the date the PSV published an unsolicited proposal. Source AustinTexas.gov and Source MLS2ATX

June 13, 2018: Reports from Sacramento Bee that Sacramento may be Precourt’s second option. Source Sacramento Bee

June 15, 2018: PSV published ad claiming unsolicited proposal is in compliance with Ordinance 20180322-099. Source MLS2ATX

June 20, 2018: Richard Suttle, MLS and PSV lobbyist, states “If we have to wait for months to see if McKalla is going to work or not, then I think we have no other option but to look to other cities. The decision may not be made by Precourt. He wants to be in Austin. The decision may be made for him by the league.” Source Statesman