The Austin Bats, Austin's only professional basketball team, will return to the court on Oct. 25 for the American Basketball Association 2026-2027 season. Founded 12 years ago by Leticia Castillo, the team is making its debut as national champions after winning the league title on April 12, 2026.

The details: Following their championship win, the Bats are making several changes:

• Home games will move from Travis High School to St. Edward’s University.

• The team will launch a new mascot, with fans submitting name suggestions.

• The organization is seeking new sponsors and partnerships.

Key players: Head coach and general manager Rommel Corro leads the team. Core players to watch include JaMichael Brown, Ty Jordan, DK Eldridge, Mims O'Neal, Alue Alue and Solomon Mitchell.

What’s next: The Bats will host the 2028 National Championship in Austin. For the upcoming season, the team will play 20 games, including 11 home games, with tickets priced at $10.

Scenthound is slated to bring its dog grooming services to the North Austin area by the end of the year.

The details: The business offers three service packages—a basic hygiene package, a blow-out package and a barber package—with different grooming options including baths, ear cleanings, teeth cleanings, haircuts and paw pad trims.

Other add-on services include plaque reduction treatments, fur conditioning and shedding treatments, antifungal and antibacterial skin treatments, nail grinding and trimming, and facial scrubs.

• 2525 W. Anderson Lane, Ste. 125, Austin

South Austinites can now enjoy live music and craft cocktails at Still Austin Quarter, a 15,000-square-foot venue adjacent to the Still Austin Whiskey Co. distillery. The concept is inspired by "The Musician," Still Austin's Straight Bourbon Whiskey.

At a glance: The venue, which can accommodate up to 500 guests, features four distinct areas:

• The Atrium

• The Vinyl Room

• The Music Room

• Private event space

On the menu: Still Austin Quarter's menu includes a variety of cocktails crafted with the company's spirits, as well as appetizers and entrees.

• 4211 Willow Springs Road, Austin

Central Austin crossed a few transportation milestones this fall, with more work lined up for 2027.

The details: TxDOT’s rebuilt MLK Jr. Blvd. bridge over I-35 is fully open, and permanent striping is planned for December.

Near downtown, Austin Energy crews wrapped up about 785 feet of tunneling for the Waller Beach duct bank. Part of the Butler Trail will stay rerouted through summer 2027.

Beneath I-35, drop shafts for TxDOT’s 6.5-mile drainage tunnel are being built and boring is expected to start soon.

What’s next: Bids are in for the southern stretch of South Lamar Boulevard, where construction is planned for early 2027. Barton Springs Road bridge work is expected to follow that summer.

An advanced manufacturing facility in Austin, an elementary school in Leander and a LongHorn Steakhouse in Hutto are among the five most expensive projects filed with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation in the Austin metro this week.

1. Project Toaster ($100 million): This project involves civil site development and construction of a core-and-shell building for Project Toaster, an advanced manufacturing facility.

2. Project Phantom ($60 million): This project involves the construction of a 285,000-square-foot warehouse with associated site improvements and parking.

3. Elementary School No. 31 ($56 million): Leander ISD plans to open its new elementary school in August 2028.

4. LongHorn Steakhouse ($3.8 million): A new LongHorn Steakhouse location is coming to Hutto, with construction set to wrap up in August.

5. CARTS Bastrop Park & Ride Expansion ($1.5 million): This project involves a parking lot expansion, EV charging stations, a bike-share pod, landscaping and miscellaneous site improvements for the existing bus station.