Soccer Watch

News of the century! Well, okay, it's a young century so far, but truly, not since the Round Rock Express started operations back in '99 has Austin made such a splash on the national sports scene. The United Soccer Leagues announced Wednesday that the Austin Aztex have been awarded the newest USL First Division franchise. That puts Austin in the same league as the Seattle Sound­ers, Rochester Rhinos, Vancouver Whitecaps, and others in the top U.S. pro league below Major League Soccer, starting in 2009.

Unlike any soccer team Austin's had before, this one is fully professional. And they'll start out with proven top-level management and connections to the top levels of international football: Owner Phil Rawlins, an Austin resident, is also an owner and director of Stoke City Football Club, with whom the Aztex immediately announced affiliation. Stoke chief executive Tony Scholes called that "an easy decision for Stoke City. We feel certain that the Aztex will be a major success both in Austin and nationally and look forward to a long and mutually profitable relationship."

As part of the deal, the Aztex absorb the Premier Development League Austin Lightning as their U23 youth team. The Aztex U23 team will play in the PDL Mid South Division, where the Light­ning played last year. That season starts around May 1; reportedly the USL put off setting the final PDL schedule until this deal could be announced. More online.