SOCCER TEAM WILL MAKE MAY DEBUT Redlands FC will join USL League 2, which features college-eligible players
Startup businesses at all levels face immense challenges: Financial management, unrealistic expectations and winning customer trust are just some of the threats to creating a profitable project.
Soccer team Redlands FC, a new expansion member of USL League 2, is working to create and build community connections to ensure longterm stability.
“I feel like we're a community-based team, and so we have people to work with to help us be successful, and we have the resources to be successful,” co-owner Ryan Whiley said.
Announced mid-january as a USL League 2 expansion club, Redlands FC will begin play this summer in the league's Southwest Division and host its home matches at Dodge Stadium in Redlands. The club will
play FC Tucson in the season opener at 7 p.m. May 13.
“This is something I've wanted to do for a long time, and just in speaking with the USL, it seemed like they really knew what they were doing, and they were ready
for us,” Whiley said.
USL League 2 is one of four men's high-level national amateur soccer leagues in the United States, but it caters specifically to college-eligible players with its spring/summer season
that does not conflict with NCAA competition guidelines.
Redlands FC has announced University of Redlands men's soccer assistant coach Cody Carlson as the club's first head coach, cementing the connection with the NCAA Division III program.
“The Redlands community is very special to me, and it holds a special place in my heart,” said Carlson, a former player at U of R. “There is a lot of talent in this area, and I know we can build a successful team.”
The club also has partnered with La Volata Pizzeria, an Italian bistro and bar in Redlands, which provided early financial investment and is communicating with several local youth soccer organizations for promotional support and potential volunteers.
“As a longtime resident of Redlands and someone
“I feel like we're a community-based team, and so we have people to work with to help us be successful, and we have the resources to be successful.”
— Ryan Whiley, Redlands FC co-founder
who has had children involved in the local soccer scene, I’m excited for Redlands FC to provide a safe space for the community to come together,” said Chris Driscoll, co-owner of La Volata.
Scheduled for five home dates at Dodge Stadium this season, costs can quickly skyrocket for amateur teams at this level when travel for away games, lodging, food, equipment and extras are tallied at season’s end.
“Obviously, the financial lift (in USL League 2) is a bit
heavier than other leagues, but we felt the infrastructure was really well organized,” Whiley said.
The team’s travel this season will include two trips to Arizona and one to Ventura, while the other away matches are in either Orange or Los Angeles counties.
“Tickets, sponsorship and merchandise, so we’re really hoping those will offset the travel expenses,” Whiley said. “It shouldn’t be too extreme for us.”
Matthew Dodson-hamilton has been brought on to be the everyday boots on the ground as the club’s operations director. He is a jackof-all-trades, employed by ESRI as a project manager.
A difference-maker for lower division clubs in the United States has proven to be the culture created by hosting vibrant atmospheres surrounding the match.
“They’ll need to bring in fans for every match to be viable for longer than one year, but Redlands is a great spot for a USL League 2 team,” said Miles Byass, a Redlands native who played professional soccer in Sweden.
Redlands FC recently announced a partnership with Redlands AYSO Region 50 and other businesses to host fan events. Ticket prices are expected to be $10 for adults and $5 for children under 12.
“We’re going to try to do a lot to get people to our matches, (and) we’re hoping to get 1,000 people to the game,” Whiley said. “That’s a little bit more than the USL League 2 average, but that’s our target right now.”
The club already has the support of Redlands’ most famous soccer player, Landon Donovan, who took to Instagram on Feb. 16 in a new ‘Redlands Football Club’ T-shirt.
“Big welcome on joining USL League 2 to Redlands FC, my hometown club,” Donovan said in a recorded message still pinned to the top of the team’s profile. “Congrats to everybody and I can’t wait to see you out there.”