The Definitive Austin FC Giveaway Index: Dell Technologies/Intel Bucket Hat

We here at The False Nine, in our attempt to cover all aspects of Austin FC fandom, have come up with a grading rubric to judge and rate giveaways at Q2 stadium. It’s a very simple system for very simple items, everything is graded 1-100 with 5 points possible for the Look, Usability, and Originality categories. An additional 85 points are available for the Throwability category.

Final Rankings:

1-24 – Not worth the effort of grabbing from the attendant

25-49 – No one will be heartbroken by not getting the item, nor will they be sad when they accidentally leave it at the stadium

50-74 – A perfectly cromulent giveaway item

75-99 – An item to cherish and display

100 – Reserved for a Rodney Redes bobblehead

Now, let’s get to the Giveaway:

Dell Technologies/Intel Bucket Hat (7/13/2024 vs Seattle Sounders)

Look: It’s the correct green on one side with white stitching that really pops.

But the white side?

When the Dillo kit is a cream and there hasn’t been a white kit in rotation since 2021, why not match those colors for this hat? It could be fipped around and changed just like the team does with the Green/Cream shorts.

Score: 4 out of 5

Usability: Hear me out, the hat is structured really well which means that those of us with larger hat sizes can’t effectively wear the hat, but it does sit up very well for a bowl. I’m currently using it this way to hold all the other Giveaways I’ve accumulated over the past three years

Score: 4 out of 5

Originality: Bucket hats are starting to become a regular merch item giveaway for teams, but typically they are only one sided or only for one sponsor logo. It’s a welcome change from the typical YETI hat that’s been in rotation.

Score: 3 out of 5

Throwability: As mentioned above, the bucket hat has great structure to it, the sides are sturdy like Brad Stuver in goal. Unlike Brad Stuver however, the hat can be flattened to form what is essentially a frisbee, which is one of the most throwable items in the world behind a phone when you’re angry and a ball when a dog is nearby. There wasn’t anything to celebrate on Sunday and yet again Jeremiah Bentley refuses to play catch with me behind the Supporter’s Section at halftime the hat will sit prominently on display as a way to hold all the other giveaways

Score: 80 out of 85

Final Score: 92 out of 100

Ranking of Giveaways (score in parenthesis):

Yeti 10 oz Tumbler (96)

LED Bracelet Giveaway (95)

Dell Technologies/Intel Bucket Hat (92)

Heineken Koozie (86)

4ATX Foundation/SeatGeek Fan (85)

YETI Hat 2023 (84)

Q2 Stadium Scarf (84)

HEB Re-Usable Grocery Bag (83)

St. David’s LED bracelet (82)