Copa Tejas Releases: Latest Updates and Announcements

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 2/07/2023

COPA TEJAS ANNOUNCES ADJUSTMENT TO TEXAS MLS HOME-AND-HOME SCHEDULE

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – In response to the unbalanced 2023 Texas MLS schedule affecting the three Texas teams, the first two rivalry games will not be counted toward the final Copa Tejas trophy standings. This decision ensures a balanced home-and-home schedule for the remaining six matches of the season to determine the champion, announced organizers.

According to the declared MLS schedule for this season, Austin FC faces the Houston Dynamo and FC Dallas three times, while Houston and Dallas only meet twice. After considering various options, the Copa Tejas Board decided not to include Austin’s initial two matches—one against Houston and one against Dallas—in the trophy’s final standings this season, thereby fostering competitive balance in this intense soccer rivalry.

The first two games of the season that will not contribute to the 2023 Copa Tejas trophy standings are:

- Austin FC at Houston Dynamo, March 18 (Shell Energy Stadium)

- FC Dallas at Austin FC, May 13 (Q2 Stadium)

The updated full schedule for the coveted Copa Tejas trophy will be as follows:

- Houston Dynamo at FC Dallas, May 20 (Toyota Stadium)

- Austin FC at Houston Dynamo, May 27 (Shell Energy Stadium)

- FC Dallas at Austin FC, June 21 (Q2 Stadium)

- Houston Dynamo at Austin FC, June 24 (Q2 Stadium)

- Austin FC at FC Dallas, August 26 (Toyota Stadium)

- FC Dallas at Houston Dynamo, September 30 (Shell Energy Stadium)

As a result of these adjustments, each club is set to play one home and one away match against its two Texas rivals, ultimately determining the champion of the 2023 Copa Tejas trophy. Points will accumulate using the standard 3-1-0 system—three points for a win, one point for a draw, and no points for a loss. The Copa Tejas winner will be the club that collects the most points during the specified regular-season head-to-head matches, excluding any U.S. Open matchups and playoffs. The team that wins the trophy, along with its supporters groups, will hold it and enjoy bragging rights for the entire year. If needed, a tiebreaker will be resolved based on goal differential and other criteria.

While the Board acknowledges the intricate challenges of constructing an equitable schedule given numerous factors, it also believes that MLS must recognize the significance of these rivalry matches in promoting soccer. As the league expands its international play with the upcoming Leagues Cup in June, it remains crucial for the league to prioritize the cultivation of authentic rivalries. The impact of MLS’s unbalanced scheduling this year extends beyond Copa Tejas, which is one of many supporter-driven trophies in the U.S.

Copa Tejas calls upon Major League Soccer and the USL Championship to acknowledge the importance of regional rivalries when crafting the Texas MLS schedule and to work towards a balanced future schedule that benefits supporters and fans across Texas.

About Copa Tejas

Copa Tejas was established in 2019 by the supporters groups of Texas’ four USL Championship clubs following the inclusion of teams in Austin and El Paso. This marked the inaugural year where a trophy was awarded to the top pro soccer team in the state. In 2021, with the addition of Austin FC to MLS, a Division-1 competition was instituted. Supporters groups from Austin (Austin Anthem, Los Verdes), Dallas (Dallas Beer Guardians, El Matador), and Houston (The Surge, Texian Army, and Bandera Negra) have independently funded and managed the competition to celebrate the Beautiful Game within the Lone Star State.

Copa Tejas D-1 Champions:

- 2021: FC Dallas - 2022: Austin FC

To learn more about the tournament and its significance in Texas soccer, please visit www.copatejas.com.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 4/14/2021

SUPPORTERS FORM COPA TEJAS TROPHY ACROSS D1 AND D2 MEN’S AND WOMEN’S SOCCER TEAMS

SAN ANTONIO, Texas - Supporters groups of MLS, USL Championship, and NWSL have formed the Copa Tejas trophy to be awarded at the end of the 2021 regular season to the Texas team with the best record among the Division 1 and Division 2 men’s and women’s soccer teams, organizers announced.

The various supporters groups back Austin Bold, Austin FC, FC Dallas, El Paso Locomotive, Houston Dynamo and Dash, RGV Toros FC, and San Antonio FC. Scoring for the Copa Tejas trophy will be based on regular season games, excluding possible U.S. Open matchups and playoffs in each league, similar to the MLS Supporters Shield created by the Independent Supporters Council (ISC).

The total points will then be averaged to accommodate variations in the number of matches played across leagues or extenuating circumstances. The trophy will be awarded to the winner at the end of the regular season before the playoffs.

This unique collaboration is a result of efforts across rival supporters groups in three different leagues, making it an exciting soccer rivalry. This competition is the first of its kind to bridge leagues and genders - MLS, USL Championship, and NWSL. It’s believed this award will take a step in a new direction for soccer in America and bring the leagues together to determine who’s really the best in Texas.

The supporters groups between the eight teams – La Cinco 12 (Austin Bold), Austin Anthem, Los Verdes (Austin FC), Bayou Brigade (Houston Dash), Bandera Negra, Texian Army, The Surge (Houston Dynamo), Dallas Beer Guardians, El Matador (FC Dallas), 8th Notch (El Paso Locomotive FC), Stampede (RGV Toros), 210 Alliance, The Crocketeers, and Mission City Firm 118 (San Antonio FC) – will be coordinating with other supporters of the Texas teams to make the first-year trophy run a memorable one.

Copa Tejas co-founders Steve Arters and Danielle Gawronski will coordinate between all the supporters groups and handle the trophy's management and administration.

“This award is a history-making moment that should be remembered throughout the soccer community, bridging leagues through supporters’ cooperation,” co-founder Danielle Gawronski said. “The shield creation was brought about in the absence of the Lamar Hunt Open Cup that allowed fans to engage in competition across multiple leagues.

“Copa Tejas wanted to ensure to include all Division 1 and Division 2 teams in the state embracing the NWSL, recognizing the achievements made in the league, particularly by the Houston Dash,” Gawronski said. “The Copa Tejas trophy generates anticipation as fans eagerly wait to see who will emerge victorious across leagues, celebrating the hope that the underdog can achieve triumph.”

Co-founder Steve Arters added that as Copa Tejas continues to grow across the state, “the trophy represents a natural progression of competition between the various professional leagues in Texas.

“What's exciting is the inclusion of the NWSL in the competition and, hopefully, it inspires other ownership groups to consider NWSL expansion in the state,” Arters said. “The Copa Tejas trophy stands as the peak of competition in Texas. To borrow a phrase, we always say, ‘if you can make it as the best of Copa Tejas, you can make it anywhere.’”

While Copa Tejas will encourage fierce competition on and off the pitch, it also fosters camaraderie among various supporters groups across Texas.

To learn more, please visit www.copatejas.com.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Steve Arters

cell: (210) 240-9823

Danielle Gawronski

email: toeswiggle@gmail.com

4/14/21

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 4.14.2021

SUPPORTERS FORM COPA TEJAS TO AWARD TEXAS MLS TEAM WITH BEST HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD

SAN ANTONIO, Texas - Supporters of Austin FC, Houston Dynamo, and FC Dallas have united to establish the Copa Tejas trophy, which will be awarded at the conclusion of the 2021 MLS regular season to the Texas team boasting the best head-to-head record among the three clubs, organizers announced.

These three teams will compete for the prestigious Copa Tejas during their head-to-head matchups, kicking off on May 8th when Houston Dynamo visits FC Dallas for the first-ever Division-1 game in this trophy’s history. The rivalry will continue in early August as Houston travels to Austin for the inaugural matchup between those two clubs.

The format for Copa Tejas will mirror that of the Cascadia Cup, highlighting the soccer rivalry among MLS teams Seattle, Portland, and Vancouver. Points will be accumulated during the regular Texas MLS schedule—three for a win, one for a draw, and no points for a loss. The team that garners the most points throughout the regular MLS season, excluding potential U.S. Open matchups and playoffs, will claim the Copa Tejas trophy in the fall, retaining it—and bragging rights—for one year. In the event of a tie, goal differential and other criteria will serve as tiebreakers.

The supporter groups representing the three clubs—The Austin Anthem and Los Verdes (Austin FC), Bandera Negra, Texian Army, and The Surge (Dynamo), as well as the Dallas Beer Guardians and El Matador (Dallas)—will collaborate to ensure that the inaugural Copa Tejas trophy competition is a memorable experience. Organizers Steve Arters and Danielle Gawronski will manage these partnerships among supporters and oversee the administration of the trophy.

“With Austin FC beginning its first season, the introduction of Copa Tejas in MLS is perfectly timed to heighten the soccer rivalry among Texas teams,” stated Copa Tejas co-founder Steve Arters. “Houston and Dallas already have a historic rivalry, but incorporating a third team intensifies the competition both on the field and among the fans.”

Co-founder Danielle Gawronski expressed enthusiasm for the anticipated growth of rivalries among the supporters in the three cities, noting that a network is already forming across Texas. “Supporter groups in Houston and Dallas have long histories, and with Austin's supporters groups expanding, we are witnessing the exchange of innovative ideas and best practices while planning for Copa Tejas,” she remarked.

While Copa Tejas will foster fierce competition on the field, it will also promote a sense of camaraderie among the various supporters groups throughout Texas.

To learn more, please visit www.copatejas.com.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Steve Arters

cell: (210) 240-9823

Danielle Gawronski

email: toeswiggle@gmail.com

4.14.2021

SUPPORTERS FORM COPA TEJAS TROPHY AWARDED TO USL Championship TEXAS TEAM WITH BEST HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD

SAN ANTONIO, Texas - Supporters of San Antonio FC have established the Copa Tejas trophy, which will be awarded at the conclusion of the 2019 USL Championship regular season to the Texas team with the best head-to-head record among the four clubs, organizers announced.

The four teams – SAFC, Austin Bold FC, Rio Grande Valley Toros, and El Paso Locomotive FC – will compete for the Copa Tejas trophy during their home-and-away matchups, starting March 23 when RGV visits El Paso for the inaugural game in this exciting soccer rivalry. The following Saturday, March 30, SAFC will travel to Austin for their first-ever meeting against Austin Bold FC.

Copa Tejas’ format will echo the Cascadia Cup and the competitive spirit seen in the head-to-head encounters among MLS teams Seattle, Portland, and Vancouver. Points will be awarded throughout the regular season – three for a win, one for a draw, and none for a loss. The team that amasses the most points during the regular USL season, excluding potential U.S. Open matchups and playoffs, will claim the trophy in October, along with the bragging rights for an entire year. In case of a tie, goal differential and other criteria will serve as tiebreakers.

SAFC’s supporters groups, including Mission City Firm, the Crocketteers, and 210 Alliance, will collaborate with fans from the other three Texas teams to ensure that the inaugural Copa Tejas trophy contest is a memorable event. Organizers Steve Arters and Danielle Gawronski will liaise between all supporter groups to manage the administration of this exciting new trophy.

“The timing for the Copa Tejas trophy couldn’t be better, as it will heighten the intensity of matches between the Texas teams, not just on the field but also in the stands among supporters and fans,” remarked organizer Steve Arters.

Danielle Gawronski expressed her anticipation for the enthusiasm and rivalries that will develop among the teams’ supporters. “Now the so-called state champion will have a trophy to signify a significant achievement, allowing that team’s supporters to relish bragging rights,” she stated.

While Copa Tejas aims to foster fierce competition on and off the pitch, it will simultaneously promote camaraderie among the various supporters groups across Texas. SAFC supporters, renowned for their vibrant and loud tailgates, will invite visiting fans to join them for pre-game celebrations prior to home matches in San Antonio and will look to participate in other supporters’ tailgates while traveling with SAFC.

For more details, please visit www.copatejas.com.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Steve Arters

cell: (210) 240-9823

Danielle Gawronski

email: toeswiggle@gmail.com

3.2019