SAN DIEGO — Major League Soccer newcomer San Diego FC showed Sunday it can hang with Austin FC in the Texas heat.

Though the 2-1 loss was deserved, the San Diego newbies won in possession by more than 50 percentage points. They didn’t let the 87-degree heat and Texas humidity crush them.

But there’s an area where SDFC doesn’t and likely won’t keep up with Austin FC.

In the crucial “ticket scarcity” game that sports franchises seek to create, Austin dominates its league. Sunday’s match marked the club’s 73rd consecutive sellout, the league’s longest active streak.

Austin FC’s extra-small venue, which seats just 20,738, drives the club’s hot-ticket reputation.

A stadium that shrimpy would be too small for San Diego, the country’s eighth-largest city. An Austin-sized venue in Mission Valley would’ve caused SDFC to lose out on several thousand customers to its two home matches to date.

But it does appear that, despite the advantages of San Diego’s temperate climate, San Diego’s two professional soccer teams and SDSU’s football program would be better off if Snapdragon Stadium had been built with thousands of seats fewer than its listed capacity of 32,500.

This disclaimer must be attached to that statement: regardless of team performances, attendance potential for soccer matches (and Aztec football games) in Mission Valley might improve if a canopy or overhang were added to the stadium like those at the two MLS venues in Greater Los Angeles. The fan experience, which is already good, would benefit. Importantly, the stadium’s scheduling options would grow.

San Diego FC, though off to a hot start at the gate, will face a difficult challenge to create much-desired ticket scarcity.

The club’s new home was built larger than MLS preferences due to planners’ sunny projections for San Diego State football attendance — projections that have proved overly ambitious.

Despite 81 home dates, the Padres often live in the enviable world of ticket scarcity caused by demand for tickets exceeding supply.

The Wave have outdrawn most of their rivals in the National Women’s Soccer League, but getting a ticket hasn’t been difficult. In their two full seasons in Mission Valley, the Wave’s average announced crowds — tickets distributed — have been 23,650 and 18,232. The club drew 18,465 fans for Saturday’s home opener, a win over the Utah Royals.

SDFC’s first home match drew a stadium-record announced total of 34,056 in a venue that allows for 2,500 standing-room-only spectators. Two weeks later, the total was 30,018 tickets distributed.

Soccer-specific venues skew small, enhancing intimacy and ticket values.

With a capacity of 30,000, the Nashville home to an MLS team is the largest soccer-specific venue in the United States and Canada, per FIFA.

In deciding how big its stadium would be, San Diego State’s leaders and their proxies were right not to heed the recommendation of 50,000 seats by former school president Stephen Weber.

Just look at the sobering average turnstile counts for Aztecs football crowds through three seasons beginning in 2022: 21,565, 17,023 and 16,579.

Filling up The Snap has been anything but a snap for the Aztecs.

Before you shout it out: Yes, Aztecs tickets were priced too high in many instances.

A better size for the stadium would’ve fallen within the higher ends of MLS preferences for its non-NFL venues.

That range is 25,000 to 30,000.

For all parties involved, The Snap is a good venue, just not an ideal one.

Now, let’s see who can make the most of it.

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