McConaughey sees the partnership as a natural extension of his role as minister of culture at the University of Texas. He said that position’s focus should encompass youth, sports, tourism and music. The UT professor and regular presence on the burnt orange sidelines has already checked those first two boxes, and the Moody Center gives the bongo enthusiast and Austin cheerleader a chance to expand his role.
McConaughey said he and the team focused on how they could cultivate energy and engage music and basketball fans alike, with consideration given to sound design and lighting; the pitch of the seating that would allow fans to feel close to the action; and the location of the student section for games.
Austin 360
Austin s newest old school Italian restaurant is opening this week in the former home of one of the city s most iconic old school restaurants.
Sammie s, the red-sauce Italian restaurant from the McGuire Moorman Hospitality restaurant group, will open on Tuesday at 807 W. Sixth St., which for more than 40 years housed Hut s Hamburgers. Next door was Favorite Liquor Store, which has been transformed into Favorite Pizza, which will open in coming weeks, according to the restaurant group.
Sammie s is a restaurant inspired by the famed West Hollywood spot Dan Tana s, according to Austin360 restaurant writer Matthew Odam, who first reported when the concept was announced in 2019.
The Austin FC mascot s name and face may change over time, but that s all a part of the mission to give more furry friends a place to call home.
The MLS team partnered with Austin Pets Alive! to feature adoptable dogs as honorary mascots. Fans can expect to see the dogs at each 2021 regular season home game, where the mascots will join in on pre-match warm ups, as well as on the team s social channels.
Helping at-risk dogs in Austin
“Austin FC’s partnership with APA! is unique in sports yet incredibly authentic in Austin,” said Austin FC President, Andy Loughnane. “By featuring APA! dogs as honorary mascots at Austin FC home matches, our Club and supporters can help at-risk dogs in Austin by introducing them to our dog-loving community.”
Al Franken
An original performer on Saturday Night Live, Al Franken ran for a U.S. Senate seat in Minnesota in 2008 as a Democrat. The election was so close that it triggered a recount, with the final results concluding that Franken won by 312 votes.
Franken held the seat for nearly two full terms. He resigned in 2019 following allegations of sexual misconduct by multiple women.
Arnold Schwarzenegger
A native of Austria, Arnold Schwarzenegger became a U.S. citizen in the 1980s during his rise as an action movie star. He ran for governor of California as a Republican in 2003 following the recall of then Democrat Gray Davis.
Austin 360
When Matthew McConaughey realized the level of devastation wreaked by the deadly winter storm that hit his home state in February, he said he wanted to do whatever he could to aid people in recovering from what he called the largely “invisible disaster” inside so many people’s homes.
So he went to his formidable Rolodex and started making a bunch of calls. And McConaughey said he got a lot of quick yeses from top-tier musicians, actors and big businesses when he asked if they’d participate in a fundraiser that he and his wife, Camila Alves McConaughey, were quickly putting together.