The best watch parties to get amped for Austin FC's home opener

Austin, Texas – After an eight-week run of games on the road, Austin FC is finally back in town and ready to make their debut at Q2 Stadium for their home opener on June 19.

Q2 Stadium will be filled to the brim with fans to watch Austin FC and players like Jared Stroud (r.) in the team's inaugural home game.
Q2 Stadium will be filled to the brim with fans to watch Austin FC and players like Jared Stroud (r.) in the team's inaugural home game.  © Collage: IMAGO / ZUMA Wire

Saturday will finally see fans fill Q2 Stadium and create that home-field advantage Austin FC has been in desperate need of after their two-month stint on the road.

While some season ticket holders attended a watch party at the stadium for the team's 1-1 draw with Sporting Kansas City last weekend, Saturday's game against the San Jose Earthquakes will be the first time Austin FC players step foot on the field in front of a sold out, die hard crowd at home.

Tickets to every Austin FC home game were sold out within two hours of being released, guaranteeing a stadium packed with 20,500 fans.

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But hope is not lost for those who lost the fight against the check-out timer or never got past the online waiting room for tickets.

Even if you can't get inside the stadium, there are multiple watch parties and other events happening around Austin to get amped up for the long-awaited home opener in the local team's inaugural season.

Watch parties galore

A supporters march to the stadium will take place at 5:15 PM on game day.
A supporters march to the stadium will take place at 5:15 PM on game day.  © Collage: IMAGO / ZUMA Wire / Twitter / Oak Army New Braunfels

Just like any other game, both Los Verdes and Austin Anthem are holding watch parties, but they're not the only ones. Austin FC is hosting its own watch party at Pluckers, a local wing bar founded by two home-grown graduates from the University of Texas.

The party starts at 7 PM on Saturday and will include a live DJ and prize giveaways for those in attendance.

If you're more of an all-day pre-game kind of person, Los Verdes watch party at Hopsquad Brewing Co. might be more of your style.

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The festivities start at 11 AM, with Culvers providing a limited amount of free burgers to early birds.

Hopsquad joined forces with all the breweries within Q2's 78758 zip code to create Verde Hasta La Muerte 78758 – the Los Verdes commemorative pale ale. But this watch party is not just about beer and burgers. It will be an all-day fiesta with live music, drum circles and chants led by La Murga, along with a police-escorted Supporters March to the stadium that starts at 5:15 PM, roughly three hours before kick-off.

Oskar Blues Brewery is also hosting quite the pre-game and watch party with live music from the bluegrass band Greenlawn Rangers from 3-5 PM, and the game will be broadcast on a giant indoor screen with the sound on – a very important part of picking the ideal watch party for you.

Most bars around the city, like Gibson Street Bar, Star Bar, and the local legend that is Mean Eyed Cat will be playing the game in-house.

Some bars are 21+ and others might require a reservation, so be sure to check their social media pages for any updates or requirements.

Need-to-know information for game attendance

If you were lucky enough to snag a ticket to the home opener before they sold out and went up on reseller sites for five times the original price, there is some basic game day information to know.

First, bags that are bigger than the size of your hand are not allowed in the stadium unless for medical purposes. This includes clear bags people have grown accustomed to bringing to sporting events and concerts. Unless it's smaller than your hand, it won't be getting into Q2 Stadium.

The stadium is also cashless, so make sure to pack some plastic with you when you head out for the day.

The three parking lots at the stadium are reserved for season ticket holders and suit holders, so making a plan and arriving early is probably in your best interest.

Those in attendance can also use Cap Metro to get to and from the games. The provider has crafted specialized services and routes to help fans get to Q2 Stadium and back with ease.

Austin FC are heading into their first home game 10th in the MLS Western Conference. With just two wins under their belt, the team is looking to rack up another victory in front of a bouncing and vibrant fan scene.

Cover photo: Collage: IMAGO / ZUMA Wire

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