Tennessee Soccer Club Reacts to New MLS Nashville Franchise

tennessee soccer club

After announcing a year ago that Major League Soccer would be expanding to 26 teams for the 2020 season, Commissioner Don Garber took the stage Wednesday at the Country Music Hall of Fame to name Nashville as the newest team in the MLS.tennessee soccer club

This announcement was the culmination of the rapid growth of soccer in the greater Nashville area. In recent years, a supporter-owned team, Nashville FC, was founded and competed in the National Premier Soccer League. Nashville FC, coached by Tennessee Soccer Club coach Kyle Roelke, found success in their three seasons before being purchased by DMD Soccer and transitioning to the United Soccer League. In the transition, Nashville FC became Nashville SC and spent the past season as an Under-23 squad in the USL’s developmental league. A majority share in the club was purchased by John Ingram, who made the proposal to the MLS owners earlier this month. Now, before playing their first game in the USL, Nashville has received an MLS franchise.

“Nashville is a rising city with a passionate soccer fan base, a dedicated ownership group and civic leaders that truly believe in this sport,” said Commissioner Garber in a statement. “Nashville continues its ascent as one of America’s most dynamic communities, with its incredible energy and creativity. For us, that makes it a perfect place for MLS expansion. John Ingram and his partners had a plan to bring MLS to Nashville during the last year and they executed it at every level. Thanks to their vision, the soccer fans of Tennessee will soon have their own MLS club and a state-of-the-art soccer stadium that undoubtedly will be a centerpiece of the community.”

Tennessee Soccer Club Executive Director Stuart Brown stated, “We could not be more excited for MLS to bring a team to Nashville. For all the youth players in Tennessee, this gives them access to professional soccer, and for that today will go down in history as the day that changed soccer in Tennessee.”

On February 10th , Nashville SC will begin their professional soccer life with a friendly match against MLS team and future rival Atlanta United at First Tennessee Park.