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Austin FC, 4ATX Foundation and Major League Soccer Dedicate New Soccer Pitch at Huston-Tillotson University

Austin, TX – (July 21, 2025) –Austin FC, 4ATX Foundation, and Major League Soccer today hosted an event to officially dedicate a newly-refurbished soccer pitch at Huston-Tillotson University. The pitch refurbishment, which was funded by a joint effort between the organizations, means student-athletes will now be able to practice on the Huston-Tillotson University campus instead of traveling to an off-site location.

The grand re-opening of the pitch included soccer scrimmages featuring HT alumni, current student-athletes, and local young players. The project is the first completed by the recently formed Verde Pitch Alliance. 

Huston-Tillotson, an HBCU established in 1875, is the oldest institution of higher learning in Austin. Due to previous field deficiencies, the men’s & women’s soccer teams at HT were previously traveling to fields across Austin to practice. HT’s refurbished field will be a future host site for 4ATX Foundation programming, further strengthening the existing relationship between 4ATX and HT.

“Making sure that people all throughout Austin have a place nearby to play soccer has been a priority for Austin FC and 4ATX Foundation since the inception of our organization,” said Austin FC President Andy Loughnane. “We hope that this new pitch will be just that for student-athletes at HTU – a home for their soccer teams on their own campus – and we’re grateful to our partners for bringing it to life as we begin MLS All-Star Week.”

“This upgraded soccer field is a transformative step for our campus and community,” said Dr. Melva K. Wallace, President of Huston-Tillotson University. “Thanks to the partnership and generosity of Austin FC, 4ATX Foundation, and Major League Soccer, our student-athletes, as well as other student-athletes and soccer enthusiasts in an around our community, now have a dedicated and easily-accessible space to train and compete.”

“Major League Soccer is honored to partner with Austin FC and Huston-Tillotson University to ensure that all who love the beautiful game have an equally beautiful place to play,” said MLS Executive Vice President and Chief Engagement Officer Sola Winley. “Our collective goal is to ensure the impact of MLS All-Star 2025 lives on long beyond the match.”

In addition to the pitch dedications, the campus will now feature a mural on a building directly adjacent to the field by renowned artist and longtime Austin FC collaborator, Rex Hamilton.

“As a native Austinite, I’ve witnessed its growth and transformation firsthand,” said Hamilton. “My work responds to those changes by centering Black and Brown communities, whose contributions have long shaped the soul of Austin. Through large-scale portaits, hyper-saturated color, and floral symbolism in place of faces, I aim to celebrate people of color in a way that’s both personal and universal.”

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About Huston-Tillotson University

Huston-Tillotson University, the first institution of higher education in Austin, Texas, has roots dating back to 1875. Huston-Tillotson University is an independent, church-related, historically Black, four-year liberal arts institution located on a 23-acre tree-lined campus near downtown in East Austin. Huston-Tillotson University’s mission is to nurture a legacy of leadership and excellence in education, connecting knowledge, power, passion, and values. The University offers associate and master’s degrees in addition to Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees in more than 19 areas of study. Huston-Tillotson University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).