Negotiations began in August between the city of Austin and Precourt Sports Ventures—the operating group behind future Major League Soccer club Austin FC—to bring a pro-soccer club to the city. On Wednesday PSV announced that agreement has been finalized. Groundbreaking on the stadium, which is expected to seat about 20,000 fans, is scheduled to happen in 2019, and the stadium is set to open in spring 2021. According to a media release from PSV, the league is still deciding whether the team would begin play in the 2020 or 2021 season. “Bringing major league sports to Austin will help bring all parts of our diverse city together, so today’s lease signing is very exciting for our community,” Mayor Steve Adler said in the media release. “The partnership between the team, the league and the city is a great deal for Austin. I can’t wait for us to celebrate our first MLS championship.” On Aug. 15 Austin City Council voted 7-4 to allow city staff to enter into negotiations with PSV for a stadium and lease agreement at 10414 McKalla Place, a 24-acre city-owned parcel in North Austin. Council had previously negotiated terms that served as the basis for city staff’s negotiations. PSV has agreed to fund construction of the stadium, which is estimated to cost $225 million, while the city will maintain ownership of both the land and the stadium, meaning PSV would not pay property taxes on the site. “We are thrilled to have taken this significant step toward bringing Major League Soccer to Austin and building a world-class soccer park,” Anthony Precourt, chairman of Precourt Sports Ventures, said in the release. PSV is the operating group behind Columbus Crew SC, a team that joined the league as one of its first 10 inaugural clubs in 1994. In October a group that includes Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam stepped forward with a plan to buy the team from Precourt, and on Dec. 6 the group released plans for a new stadium complex in Columbus, Ohio. In a memo to the mayor and city council, city deputy chief financial officer Greg Canally said the final agreement incorporates each item the council directed staff to prioritize. Canally wrote that the agreement minimizes risk "and maximizes community benefits, including 100% privately financed soccer stadium that will be built, operated and maintained to the highest quality standards." According to the agreement, PSV will pay the city $550,000 per year in rent beginning in the sixth year of its lease agreement. In addition, the club's operating group agreed to construct bus and transit facilities subject to approval from area transit agency Capital Metro. On top of that expense, PSV will contribute $3 million over 15 years. PSV also pledged to provide a list of community benefits, which range from free and discounted tickets, youth soccer programs, charitable donations and direct payments to Foundation Communities, a local nonprofit, to build affordable housing either at the McKalla Place site or at another agreed upon location. While fans knew before the agreement was released that the new stadium would seat about 20,000, the document provided further details about seating. Of the 20,000-21,000 total seats, there will be 2,000-3,000 club seats, 150-200 loge box seats and 20-25 suites. The agreement also lays out PSV's proposed timeline for the new $225 million facility. The construction phase of the project, according to the plan, will begin in August of 2019. PSV plans to have the stadium substantially completed by March of 2021, and ready for the first event on April 2, 2021. If Austin FC were to begin play before the 2021 season, there have been no details released about where the team would make its temporary home in 2020. Austin Anthem, the team's official supporters group, released a statement on Dec. 17 just after the agreement was released. "Austin Anthem is excited that we've reached another key step in turning the dream of an MLS team in Austin into a reality," the group wrote. "We are looking forward to filling the supporters section with chants, cheers, and songs for Austin FC no later than 2021."