Is Florida becoming 'Soccer State USA'?
Following quickly on the heels of last week's announcement of a project in Brevard County on the 'Space Coast', USL announced that their latest expansion club in the Sunshine State will be a little further down the coast in Port St. Lucie on the 'Treasure Coast'.
Port St. Lucie Sports Club (Port St. Lucie SC). has been awarded a USL franchise and plans to launch both professional men’s and women’s teams. The men’s side intends to kick off in the third tier USL League One in 2027, playing in a proposed 6,000-seat stadium. This venue is a central component of the 46-acre Walton & One mixed-use development, envisioned to revitalize eastern Port St. Lucie into a vibrant, walkable destination. The City has committed up to $27.5 million toward the stadium’s construction, sourced through Tax Increment Financing (TIF)—revenue generated from increased property taxes in the revitalization district.
Port St. Lucie SC's co-founders are Gustavo Suárez, Paulo Suárez, and Agostina Galimberti, along with a newly formed investment group that includes several strategic investors. McCullers Group have been working on the project for several years with the investors.
While city leaders and local business owners are optimistic about the economic benefits, the project has met significant pushback. Hundreds of residents have signed online petitions urging city commissioners to halt the project. One petition gathered more than 900 signatures as of Friday morning.The primary objections focus on heavy traffic concerns on Walton Road and U.S. Highway 1. Residents worry that the local infrastructure cannot handle the increased traffic volume.
Additionally, petitioners question the $27 million investment, arguing the funds should be prioritized for local infrastructure improvements and parks. City spokesperson Scott Samples addressed these concerns, noting the city has precedent for handling large crowds, citing arrangements with the New York Mets’ spring training facility. Samples explained that the new team’s operating agreement mandates collaboration with Port St. Lucie police for traffic mitigation, including using a police presence and drones for traffic control on game days. Furthermore, the team is required to complete a traffic study for the development. Samples also clarified that the $27.5 million TIF funding can only be used for revitalization efforts within the Walton & One CRA District and cannot be allocated to parks or roads elsewhere in the city.
The two new clubs on the East coast of the state will join established USL clubs in Naples, Sarasota, Tampa, South Miami and Fort Lauderdale. In addition teams are already in the pipeline in Central Florida (Winter Gardens) and Jacksonville. Exploratory work has been undertaken in Palm Beach County, (which in my opinion is one of the most promising markets) but as of yet, no concrete plans have emerged from Argentine former polo player Nacho Figueras and his wife Delfina, who have the USL territory rights and have looked at creating both men's and women's teams in the area.
You could make a strong case that Florida is now the heartland of American soccer. As well as that growing list of USL clubs there are of course two Major League Soccer clubs in Orlando City and the biggest club brand in American soccer in Inter Miami. On the women's side, as well as the NWSL's Orlando Pride, three of the nine teams in the D1 USL Super League women's competition (Gainbridge Super League) are Florida clubs - Tampa, Fort Lauderdale and Jacksonville.There are academies and youth soccer structures all across the state but when you look at the business and administration of the game it is even more impressive.
Miami is home to the headquarters of continental confedwration Concacaf and also the main FIFA presence in the U.S., meaning the city is not only home to many of the game's officials but also the destination for so many key meetings. The USL itself is based in Tampa and broadcast wise, Univision, Telemundo, BeinSports are based in South Florida while CBS Sports, producers of all that streaming soccer on Paramount+ also has a strong presence.
There are plenty of states that can argue that have stronger soccer cultures in terms of player development, clubs and competition but it is hard to think of any state in the country that is home to as many key elements in the soccer industry.
MLS Next Pro expands to Long Island
As we suggested in last week's newsletter, MLS Next Pro are also expanding and this week they announced their latest independent club venture - known for the time being as The Island FC, based in Uniondale, Long Island.
The third tier MLS Next Pro is the reserve league for MLS clubs but also features clubs which are affiliates of MLS teams and completely independent clubs such as Carolina Core and Chattanooga FC. The league has announced independent clubs to join the league in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Clevelend, Jacksonville, CT United in Connecticut. The Island FC would take the tally of clubs in progress to eight independent clubs with work also ongoing in San Francisco were Golden City FC also hope to join the league.
The Island F.C. Principal Owner and Chairman Mitchell Rechler and Team President Peter Zaratin plan to build a privately funded, stadium at Mitchel Athletic Complex in Uniondale. Designed to seat 2,500 at launch with the ability to increase to 5,000 seats, the multifunctional stadium and entertainment complex will also serve as a year-round academy training facility and host various competition sports and community events.
“Since 1960, my family has focused on building Long Island to create a better quality of life for its residents, and this is another exciting step in that mission,” said Rechler. “We have invested in the soccer space across Nassau and Suffolk for 20 years, and we are proud to bring professional soccer to our community with a club that will create lasting opportunities and give Long Islanders a team they can truly call their own.”
And Reno is back....
The third club announced this week was the widely-trailed news that Reno, Nevada, has been awarded a USL Championship franchise and intends to launch a team in 2027. The plan is for an $80 million, 6,000 seater in stadium to (yes, you've guessed it) anchor a new sports and entertainment district.
The lead investor in Reno Pro Soccer is entrepreneur Todd Davis who played professionally for Rochester Lancers while former MLS and USMNT player John Doyle also part of the ownership group. Reno had a pro tea, Reno 1868 FC which played in the USL Championship for four seasons but folded in 2020.
Tisch fund invests $10 million in youth sports
At the Aspen Institute's first ever State of Soccer Summit, philanthropist Laurie M. Tisch announced Play to Thrive, a new $10 million multi-year youth sports and health initiative by the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund. The initiative will support organizations that use sports to improve youth mental health, expand access for underserved communities, and promote equity across New York City and beyond. Ms. Tisch and her family are part of the ownership group of National Women's Soccer League's Gotham FC.
TJ Maxx sign Boston deal
Clothing retailer TJ Maxx will be the first 'front of shirt' sponsor for NWSL expansion club Boston Legacy, who join the league next season. The multi-year deal is TJ Maxx's first shirt sponsorship and the first major deal signed by the new club. Though this is a new endeavor for the brand, it has been investing in women’s sports since 2023. It has partnered with Alex Morgan's company TOGETHXR, which is responsible for the iconic “Everyone Watches Women’s Sports” shirts, and collaborated with several athletes such as rugby player and creator Ilona Maher.
Sale of NWSL's Houston club under scrutiny
Several media reports say Houston Dash owner Ted Segal is in advanced talks to sell the NWSL team to RHC Group for $120 million. This sale, if approved, would separate the Dash from Segal’s MLS team, the Houston Dynamo, though the new owners plan to build out infrastructure and keep the team in Houston.
The $120 million reported valuation is a notable price for one of the league’s lowest-revenue clubs, reflecting the rapid business growth of the NWSL.The buyer, RHC Group, was launched in 2024 by 24-year-old Richard Hsiao. Hsiao is the American-born son of Chinese billionaire Xiao Jianhua, who is currently imprisoned in China for financial crimes (including bribery and illegal use of funds) following a high-profile abduction in 2017. Xiao’s fortune was reportedly built partly through business dealings with Communist Party leaders.
The league’s thorough due diligence process regarding the proposed transfer of ownership is currently ongoing, as the NWSL is seeking additional information on the source of RHC’s money. Multiple sources familiar with the deal structure assert that RHC was funded via independent wealth derived from Hsiao’s mother’s (Zhou Hongwen’s) family. The deal is not yet finalized and requires approval from NWSL owners and the Board of Governors. RHC, founded as a sports and entertainment investment firm, has previously looked at women's soccer opportunities and has invested in other sports ventures, including TMRW Sports and Greek basketball club Aris B.C.. Hsiao is also known in Milwaukee basketball circles for his relationship with the Bucks team and star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Ferrero commit $100 million to sports marketing
Ferrero North America, the candy and chocolate company of Italian origin, have announced a landmark investment of more than $100 million in groundbreaking marketing campaigns centered on the 'Big Game' and 'Soccer’s Global Championship' (ie American football and the World Cup). This investment represents the company’s largest global marketing commitment to date and will aim to establish deeper connections between its diverse portfolio and American consumers.
“The investment marks a defining moment for Ferrero in North America,” said Michael Lindsey, President and Chief Business Officer of Ferrero North America. “We’re going ‘All In’ on these transformational campaigns because we recognize the incredible opportunity to showcase our brands amid the world’s biggest cultural moments.
777 Partners demise leads to fraud charges
It's not all good news in the soccer investment world. Failed investment company 777 Partners left a mess in several countries and now Joshua Wander, the American cofounder of the firm has been charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit securities fraud, and securities fraud. The charges in the indictment arise from an alleged scheme by Wander and others to defraud 777 Partners’ private lenders and investors out of more than $500 million. (Source: New York FBI statement)
College Soccer white paper calls for change
A committee working on behalf of US Soccer has recommended that men's college soccer switch to a season that stretches across the full academic year beginning fall 2026. The proposal features in a white paper which recommends a number of changes to the competition formats and other elements:
Expanded engagement with players to support on-field development through Talent ID camps and National Team programming, alongside off-field professional development for coaching, refereeing, and career pathways.
Enriched connections between college and professional pathways, providing players more opportunities to develop while furthering their education.
Modernized eligibility rules that reflect today’s environment and support college as a strong development pathway for those with professional soccer talent and ambition.
Expansion of commercial opportunities and broadcast visibility, including greater national exposure through improved media packaging and expanded TV and streaming coverage of tournaments and championships.
Enhanced calendars and competition structures, including a full academic-year, regional competition model for the men, a new U-23 spring competition pilot for the women.
The full White Paper is available here.
And finally a bit of 'on-field' talk...
If any readers are interested in my thoughts on 'on the field' matters, I will be posting them along with a few guest writers at The Daily Soccer newsletter. This week, for example, I wrote about USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino and his critics. If you enjoy the article please subscribe to The Daily Soccer. It's also completely free!.