Fraud lawsuit over collapsed Austin Bold FC pits team founder against former Mavericks GM
The demise of Austin Bold FC, a United Soccer League Championship club that operated from 2019 until the league terminated its franchise in July 2024, has produced dueling fraud lawsuits between the team's original owner and the ownership group that purchased it. Circuit of the Americas co-founder Bobby Epstein, who built and ran the club, claims the new ownership group led by former Dallas Mavericks basketball operations chief Donnie Nelson mismanaged the franchise, personally owes him more than $2 million from the sale, and deliberately froze him out of other regional soccer opportunities. Nelson and his family corporation Amerock deny those allegations and have countersued, accusing Epstein of fraud, embezzlement, and improper asset transfers. The case, which a state district court has partially narrowed by dismissing some claims against Epstein, was moved last month to Texas Business Court in Austin, with both sides now seeking summary judgment.
I remember reading this letter and thinking that the league is forcing us to … put a gun to our head and sign this deal with (Jonah) or else
Why it matters
For service providers: The case illustrates how failed stadium negotiations and league enforcement actions can unravel a franchise sale and trigger prolonged litigation.
For brands: Sponsors and commercial partners of dissolved soccer franchises face uncertainty when ownership disputes leave liabilities unresolved.
For athletes: Former Bold FC players and staff may have context on unresolved financial obligations stemming from the franchise's collapse.
Read the full story at Yahoo Sports
Sources
- Yahoo Sports: What happened to Austin Bold FC? Texas sports titans battle in court