Chattanooga FC to host FC Dallas
This year the Chattanooga Football Club hosted Major League Soccer newcomer Atlanta United at Finley Stadium.
On Feb. 3 the local amateur team will host one of the MLS originals, FC Dallas, in a “friendly” leading into Chattanooga FC’s 10th season.
Chattanooga FC general manager Sean McDaniel made the announcement Tuesday morning at Finley, where that match less than two months from now will be played at noon. Tickets will cost $12 in advance at www. chattanoogafc.com or $15 at the gate. The friendly will be included in the season-ticket packages available online.
“We are honored to welcome one of the marquee brands from Major League Soccer,” McDaniel said in a release. “FC Dallas brings a great history of professional soccer to our city, and we couldn’t be happier showcasing Chattanooga FC in another MLS exhibition match.”
FC Dallas, which began as the Dallas Burn when MLS made its debut in 1996, has won four Western Division titles and two U.S. Open Cups — most recently in 2016 — and was the MLS Cup runner-up in 2010, McDaniel pointed out.
Jimmy Weekley, a CFC assistant coach since the club’s inception in 2009, said he is “very excited” about the event for three reasons.
“Again we can expose our great fans to the highest level of soccer here in the States. Matches like this create more of a buzz for our team,” he said, specifically noting the Chattahooligans’ knack for creating a “great atmosphere” for the other spectators as well as the players. “And it provides a great opportunity for players to gauge themselves against MLS guys and for us to look at guys we may want to bring in for the summer.”
Chattanooga FC’s season probably will kick off in May, after current NCAA players become available.
Head coach Bill Elliott, who coaches during the school year in Pensacola, Fla., was not present for Tuesday’s announcement but provided a statement.
“This is the second season in a row where we can have a good look at new talent against the highest standard of soccer in the country,” Elliott said. “When we are able to evaluate players against quality opponents such as FC Dallas, it builds a strong foundation for the upcoming season.”
FC Dallas technical director Fernando Clavijo also sent a statement about the Feb. 3 match.
“Chattanooga FC provides us with an exciting atmosphere to test our 2018 squad, early in the preseason,” he said. “The club has an outstanding fan base that supports the club in record numbers. It will be a good start to our preseason before facing CONCACAF competition later in the month.”
Clavijo is a former player for CFC board member Bill Nuttall, a former national team general manager. That helped spur the negotiations, McDaniel said, but there were talks with other MLS teams as well.