Futsal Fun

New family-friendly futsal court kicks into San Antonio park

The opening featured a sports clinic and appearances from San Antonio FC players and Spurs mascot, The Coyote.

A new soccer-like sport, the growing international pastime of futsal, has kicked into San Antonio. Alamo City's first futsal court is now open for pick-up games at Bonnie Connor Park at 13345 Woller Rd., thanks to a collaboration between the San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department; San Antonio Parks Foundation; and Spurs Give, the charitable arm of Spurs Sports and Entertainment.

Widely popular in Latin America, futsal has only recently found its footing in the United States. Like pickleball, it has gained traction in the last several years as post-COVID Americans look for new group sports activities. However, it's far from a new sport. The Uruguayan variation of soccer was invented by a Montevideano YMCA coach, Juan Carlos Ceriani Gravier, in 1930.

The game was designed to be played on a hard indoor court, making it a perfect sport for hot climates. It is often faster and more dynamic than traditional soccer, played with a smaller, less-bouncy ball that favors fast passes and enhanced control.

The new outdoor court is part of the Play SA initiative, a $1 million project to renovate parks across San Antonio. In addition to bringing futsal to the city, the funds have revamped basketball courts, built a skate park, and upgraded playgrounds.

"We’re thrilled to bring fun and new recreational opportunities to San Antonio through our partnership with Spurs Give and the San Antonio Parks Foundation,” San Antonio Parks and Recreation Director Homer Garcia III said in a statement.

“Futsal is now a vibrant part of our city’s diverse and growing community, and this initiative reflects our ongoing commitment to reimagining public spaces while promoting health and wellness.”

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HIGH SIERRA

Sporty discount chain Sierra picks San Antonio for first Texas store

Sierra/ Facebook

Sierra comes from the same parent company as TJ Maxx and Marshalls.

San Antonio penny pinchers looking for the thrill of the deal will soon have a new place to score brand-name bargains. Discount chain Sierra, the sibling to retail giants Marshalls and HomeGoods, has picked The RIM Shopping Center for its first Texas location. Planners expect a debut in the third quarter of 2025.

Along with Sierra, the northwest San Antonio retail plaza will also nab a new Marshalls outpost. According to a release from Charlotte, North Carolina-based Big V Property Group, The RIM will be one of only two American shopping centers with all five TJX Company concepts. A combined TJ Maxx/HomeGoods and a Homesense location already serves discount shoppers.

"In some ways, the massive lease at The Rim is a throwback to retail real estate history, when major apparel specialty stores such as The Gap and The Limited would locate all of its various divisions into the same regional mall," the press release notes.

Maxxinistas should feel right at home at Sierra. The big-box store offers deep discounts on apparel, accessories, and home goods. The labels currently featured on the website run the gamut from denim companies like Lucky Brand and AG Jeans to heritage brands like Eddie Bauer to sneaker staples like K-Swiss.

Sierra In addition to offering apparel, Sierra serves a wide variety of sporting and outdoor gear.Sierra/ Facebook

Unlike its clothing-focused siblings, however, Sierra has a sportier side. It has departments devoted to fitness gear, cycling, camping, and even non-gun hunting equipment like binoculars and knives. Even the handbags are a little more rugged. The website contains a wealth of nylon backpacks and hip bags from Columbia and The North Face, perfect for putting together a gorpcore look.

The upcoming Sierra store will replace a former Market by Macy's location. Marshalls will move into a plot formerly occupied by defunct Hobby Lobby-owned furniture brand Hemispheres. Barring construction delays, both should welcome their first customers in the fall.

The new additions will make The RIM a bargain hunter's paradise. In addition to the TJX stores, the shopping center boasts discount retailers Nordstrom Rack, Saks Off Fifth, DSW, and Popshelf.

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