The NBA superstar returns to his collegiate roots, launching a massive, high-design entertainment destination that bridges the gap between gritty fan favorite and polished nightlife lounge.
Kevin Durant has plenty going on in Houston ahead of the 2026-27 season, but one of his biggest projects off the court is about to open a few hours down I-35.
Austin Sports Club is officially set to debut Sept. 10 in downtown Austin, bringing Durant back to the city where his path to NBA superstardom began. And based on everything released so far, I would absolutely make the trek.
Durant’s Boardroom Hospitality is partnering with Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia and Austin-based Lobos Hospitality on the project. The group is taking over a massive 4,723-square-foot space at 205 E. 3rd Street, with approximately $2.4 million going into the buildout.
The size alone caught my attention- almost 5,000 square feet is huge- Austin Sports Club definitely has the room to become a legitimate entertainment destination instead of somewhere people only think about when a game is on. The first looks at the interior certainly seem to be aiming in that direction.
The renderings show an incredibly polished space with darker finishes, comfortable seating areas and screens incorporated throughout. There is still plenty of sports memorabilia, but the overall design looks like somewhere I would happily stay after the fourth quarter ends.
Austin has plenty of places to watch sports. Creating somewhere people actually want to spend an entire night gives Durant and his partners a much more interesting lane, especially in a downtown market packed with restaurants and nightlife.
The location, of course, carries some actual significance for Durant. Before the 16-time All-Star became one of the greatest scorers in NBA history, he spent his lone college season at the University of Texas. Durant averaged 25.8 points and 11.1 rebounds for the Longhorns before the Seattle SuperSonics selected him No. 2 overall in the 2007 NBA Draft.
Nearly 20 years later, Durant is building another connection to a city where he already left a pretty significant basketball legacy. The Sept. 10 debut lands right at the beginning of football season, which should give Austin Sports Club an immediate test with Longhorns fans packing downtown throughout the fall.
Personally, I’m already sold on the idea- give me a Rockets game, a good cocktail and somewhere I can show up overdressed without looking completely ridiculous, and I’m probably staying until they kick me out.
So, when Austin Sports Club officially opens its doors Sept. 10, who else is making the trip down I-35 to check it out?
