It’s official, the Austin Wranglers are no more. After five years here in town, and with attendance dive-bombing last season after a move to the af2, they have decided to call it quits. First the Ice Bats, and now the Wranglers. It’s been a tough year for Austin professional sports teams. Tom Hicks (whose holdings include the Texas Rangers, Dallas Stars, and Liverpool FC) is moving a minor-league affiliate of the Stars (the Texas Stars) to Cedar Park upon completion of $55 million, 6,800-seat multipurpose event center. Look for them to get started in the 2009-10 hockey season. With big money behind this enterprise and a brand-new facility, I’m certain the Texas Stars will be a part of the sports landscape in Central Texas for decades to come. So long Wranglers, it was fun while it lasted.

This article appears in September 26 • 2008.

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