On Thursday morning, word came down that Nashville has been awarded a new franchise in the United Soccer League (USL). DMD Soccer, a group consisting of David Dill, Christopher Redhage, and Marcus Whitney, are the group behind the new USL franchise.
After the growth of soccer in the Music City, with successes of clubs such as Tennessee Soccer Club and Nashville FC, as well as the large crowds for the United States National Teams over the past year, the USL agreed to put a new team in Nashville with the goal of their first match being in the 2017 season.
The USL has been rapidly-growing since its founding in 2011. After starting with 13 teams in 2011, the league has already reached 29 teams with a new team in Reno, Nevada beginning play next season. Currently, the USL is considered the third tier in professional soccer in the United States, behind the MLS and North American Soccer League (NASL). However, there are some hurdles to still be cleared.
The primary concern is where the team would play. The USL has a rule requiring a 5,000-seat, soccer-specific stadium, with the possibility of expanding to 10,000 seats. However, newer teams, such as nearby Louisville City and FC Cincinnati have not built new stadiums, with Louisville City playing at the Triple-A minor league ballpark in Louisville and FC Cincinnati playing at the football stadium for the University of Cincinnati. However, options exist, such as existing fields at Ted Rhodes Park or retrofitting the old Greer Stadium, which has sat empty since the opening of First Tennessee Park, another potential home for the team.
With the announcement, many wondered what would happen to Nashville’s current team, Nashville FC. The member-owned franchise released a statement regarding the announcement.
Three years ago, the idea of professional soccer in Nashville was purely a dream. Today, that dream is closer to reality. Our members’ support for the past three years has had a tremendous impact on the community, and on the semi-professional platform of soccer across the nation. We thank them for their support… Because our non-profit organization does not meet the financial requirements to be the majority owner of a professional franchise, our board intends to discuss an agreement that outlines the relationship between DMD and the current Nashville FC organization.
— Chris Jones, Nashville FC President
Click here to read the Nashville FC statement in full.
Despite this announcement of the USL bringing in a team, there is still a possibility of a NASL team coming to town. While the potential ownership group has yet to be announced, the NASL is still quite interested in Music City.
Over the next two years, it will be interesting to see the continued development of the sport of soccer in Nashville with the chance for more soccer fans to get to enjoy their favorite sport at a professional level.
