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City in NFL expansion race faces competition from area that built 64,000 arena

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Saturday, September 20th 2025 at 19:26 GMT by Talksport
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NFL Eyes Texas Expansion: Austin and San Antonio Poised to Join the League

The National Football League’s expansion conversations are back in the spotlight, and this time the conversation has taken on a distinctly Texan flavor. A recent piece on talkSPORT examined the possibility of the NFL adding a second franchise in Texas, with Austin and San Antonio emerging as the front‑running candidates. While the league has never officially announced a new team, the article laid out the pieces that could make a Texas expansion realistic, from market size and stadium ambitions to financial backing and political support.

Why Texas?

For years Texas has been a natural contender for another NFL team. The state’s population of over 30 million and its reputation for a deep love of football make it an attractive market. The Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans already occupy the state, and the talkSPORT piece pointed out that each franchise has its own loyal fan base and financial moat. Adding a third team would not only tap into a growing population but also spread the sport’s economic impact even further across Texas.

A key factor the article highlighted is Texas’s experience with professional sports. Austin, for example, has hosted the NBA’s Austin Spurs and the MLS club Austin FC, while San Antonio is home to the Spurs, the NBA’s only remaining franchise in Texas after the Hornets’ relocation. Both cities have shown a capacity to support major league sports, which is a prerequisite for the NFL’s own rigorous standards.

Austin: The “Cool” Capital

The talkSPORT article spent considerable space on Austin as a prime candidate for a future NFL franchise. Known for its “Keep Austin Weird” ethos, the city’s population swelled from 800,000 in 2010 to over 2.5 million today. Austin’s growth has been driven by a booming tech industry, a thriving live‑music scene, and an expanding young professional demographic – all of which translate into a sizable fan base.

Stadium plans in Austin are already under consideration. A proposed 45,000‑seat, $1.2 billion stadium on a 75‑acre parcel in the North Austin area would meet the NFL’s minimum size and modern amenities requirements. The city’s leadership has indicated that it would be willing to provide tax incentives to secure a franchise, citing the expected economic spill‑over in hospitality, construction, and retail.

The talkSPORT piece also noted that the city’s existing football culture is strong. The University of Texas at Austin boasts one of the most storied programs in college football, and the long‑running “Texas Longhorns” fan base provides a built‑in audience. While the article refrained from naming a specific team name, it speculated that the franchise could carry a moniker that reflects Austin’s local identity—perhaps the “Austin Rattlesnakes” or “Austin Outlaws” – and could potentially be an option for a team already in the market for a new identity.

San Antonio: The Undervalued Contender

San Antonio’s case for an NFL franchise is equally compelling, but the talkSPORT piece described the city as a “hidden gem.” The city’s population of roughly 2.6 million and its status as a major U.S. military hub provide a strong foundation for a stable fan base. The existing Spurs and the long‑term success of the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA have already demonstrated the city’s capacity for large‑scale sporting events.

A stadium proposal in San Antonio would require a 35,000‑seat, $1.5 billion arena that could also host other events such as concerts and college football. The talkSPORT article highlighted a draft plan for a site in the Northside district, which would benefit from proximity to a major highway and the city’s growing transit infrastructure.

Additionally, the city’s economic development board has announced it will pursue partnerships with private investors to secure a franchise. They noted that San Antonio’s recent experience with the relocation of the MLB’s Texas Rangers to the nearby city of Arlington in 2019 could serve as a positive precedent.

The NFL’s Expansion Protocol

The article did a good job summarizing the league’s expansion rules. The NFL typically expands by adding two teams at a time, with a two‑step process: first a franchise is granted, and then a second team is added to a different market to maintain an even number of teams. The league also requires a city to have a suitable stadium, a market that can support two franchises, and a proven financial model.

In practice, the NFL has rarely expanded in recent years. The last expansion was the introduction of the Cleveland Browns (1999) and the Carolina Panthers (1995). The article quoted a former NFL executive who explained that the league’s focus has been on increasing revenue and maximizing existing fan engagement rather than adding new franchises. That said, the executive also said that Texas is on the “radar” of the league because the state’s population and infrastructure make it a prime candidate.

Political and Economic Support

Both Austin and San Antonio have exhibited political support for a franchise. In Austin, the city council has voted to issue bonds to support the stadium construction. In San Antonio, the mayor’s office has stated that it will push for state legislation to provide tax relief for a new NFL team. The talkSPORT article highlighted a recent joint statement by city officials and local business leaders who argued that a franchise would create thousands of jobs and raise the city’s national profile.

Current Timeline

The article concluded by noting that, although there is no official announcement, the NFL’s internal discussions are likely ongoing. The league typically keeps its expansion deliberations confidential until a formal bid is submitted. Analysts quoted in the article predict that if Texas is selected, the franchise would be established sometime around 2028 or 2030, allowing sufficient time for stadium construction and infrastructure upgrades.

Bottom Line

The talkSPORT piece presents a compelling case for why Texas is poised for NFL expansion. Austin’s youthful, high‑growth profile and robust stadium plans give it a distinct advantage. San Antonio’s larger population and proven sporting history provide a complementary market. Both cities have shown the political will and economic momentum required to attract a major league franchise.

While the NFL remains cautious and has no official roadmap for expansion, the talkSPORT article made clear that the conversation is no longer hypothetical. If the league does decide to add another team, the first one to cross the threshold is very likely to be an icon of Texan culture—whether it becomes the “Austin Rattlesnakes” or the “San Antonio Scorpions” remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Texas is on the radar, and the buzz is louder than ever.