USL Naples Expansion Team to Play at Paradise Coast Sports Complex in 2025
The United Soccer League (USL) expansion team, USL Naples, is excited to announce that Paradise Coast Sports Complex and The Sports Facilities Companies will serve as their new home. The USL awarded the franchise to Naples, Florida, on January 17, and this happy news was unveiled at a press conference.
A top-tier ownership group with extensive knowledge of the international sports industry will be in charge of managing USL Naples when it starts to compete in 2025. This group is ideal for the expanding soccer community in Naples because it has also made investments in North American and European sports leagues, according to a recent article by Paradise Sports Complex.
Adrian Moses, general manager of Paradise Coast Sports Complex, stated, “We are thrilled to showcase the Paradise Coast Sports Complex in national professional competition and honored to partner with a league of distinction. Our stunning PCSC Stadium and state-of-the-art facilities will be the ideal backdrop for this exciting new team. From the beginning, USL Naples has shown that success extends beyond the pitch to the larger society. The ideal team ownership group for Collier County was chosen based on how well they align with our vision.”
With eight professional-caliber synthetic turf fields spread across more than 160 acres, the Paradise Coast Sports Complex opened its doors in 2019. The PCSC Stadium is the complex’s centerpiece. It has excellent views from every seat, family-friendly zones, VIP suites and cabanas, a number of culinary options, and a 5,000-person capacity for soccer events.
“What’s really important is our relationship with the county and the stadium,” USL’s chief real estate officer and deputy CEO, Justin Papadakis said. “We are really certain that this is the right location for our USL club now that we know SFC is professional and ambitious. Successful completion of this project requires more than just a fantastic stadium; it requires a true partnership, which we believe SFC can provide. We’re honored to be working with SFC, who has tremendous ideas for this sports complex.”
In order to build a team that represents the variety of Collier County’s citizens and business community, USL Naples is dedicated to incorporating the community into the club’s development. By fostering soccer as a vital component of the area’s sports culture, they also hope to assist the upcoming generation of local athletes. Through listening sessions and community-focused activities, the club hopes to establish a connection with supporters of all ages and viewpoints in 2024. To truly capture the essence of the people and area that make the Paradise Coast special, USL Naples will create a name, crest, and colors that embody the team’s spirit.
“The addition of a professional soccer club to our community will place Southwest Florida in front of soccer fans around the country, diversifying our tourism base, supporting local businesses, and offering a healthy entertainment experience for our residents,” Chris Hall, commissioner of Collier County, said. “We look forward to working with USL Naples to make the most of this unique opportunity.”
The Paradise Coast Sports Complex is throwing a kick-off party on Saturday, January 27, from 3-5:30 pm, to commemorate the arrival of USL Naples. Games, prizes, food trucks, and goodie bags for the first 500 guests will all be available during the event. By enrolling in community engagement sessions, guests will also have the chance to interact with the operating and ownership group and help shape USL Naples’ brand identity.
According to USL Deputy CEO & Chief Real Estate Office Justin Papadakis, “We are thrilled to welcome USL Naples and Southwest Florida to professional soccer. Naples is positioned for both short-term and long-term success as a soccer city thanks to a highly dedicated, visionary ownership group, cutting-edge facilities in the Paradise Coast Sports Complex, and a tradition of brilliance in young soccer. This new club will serve as a cultural and commercial catalyst while representing Naples and Collier County on a national and worldwide level. We look forward to watching it all come to life on the Paradise Coast as we start the countdown to kick off in 2025. This is only the beginning of a long and fruitful association between the Paradise Coast Sports Complex and USL Naples.”
This article originally appeared on WFMZ
