USL League One Pro Westchester Soccer Club To Call Memorial Field Home
WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY — Westchester sports fans will soon have a new sports franchise to cheer rather than relying on New York City teams — the new team will truly be a hometown club. The United Soccer League (USL) announced this week that Westchester County has been granted the rights to a USL League One franchise. The Westchester Soccer Club (Westchester SC) plans to kick off in 2025. The new club is in the final stage of negotiations to make their home Memorial Field in Mt. Vernon. The team expects to be a regional draw, uniting passionate soccer fans from across Westchester County, Rockland County, Connecticut and northern New Jersey. Westchester SC expects to become the cornerstone of the fan base. "We are excited to bring professional soccer to Westchester County and the broader northern New Jersey and Lower Connecticut region in order to create a lasting legacy for the community. Our inclusion in USL League One is the foundation of our effort to harness the incredible local talent base and give the region's passionate soccer fans a homegrown team to support," Westchester SC majority owner Mitch Baruchowitz said. "We are dedicated to developing top-tier talent right here in Westchester County, ensuring a bright future for soccer in our region and a direct pipeline for our young players to rise to the professional level."To back up that commitment to nurturing local talent, the Westchester SC will integrate the New York Premier FC academy into its operations. The academy will be rebranded to become part of the Westchester SC's brand. Simon Baines, owner of New York Premier FC, who played and coached at professional and semi-professional clubs in England and South Africa, will lead the academy and serve as the sporting director for Westchester SC.Along with Baruchowitz and Baines, the team's leadership includes Danny Dekker, majority owner of the New York Dutch Lions semi-professional club team. Westchester SC is also backed by Profluence, a sports, technology, and media fund co-founded by Baruchowitz.Westchester SC intends to celebrate the region's love for soccer with family-friendly events that emphasize fun and community engagement. The club plans to host community events, soccer clinics and fan meet-ups, all aimed at stoking the local passion for soccer while showcasing the exceptional talent in the area.Fans can anticipate the unveiling of the club's branding and kit in June. This will coincide with a major kickoff event, where season tickets will officially go on sale, marking a milestone moment for the club and its supporters."Westchester County represents a significant addition to our league," USL League One President Lee O'Neill said "Westchester SC's commitment to community and player development is exciting, and we're eager to see the impact the club will make both on and off the field."The United Soccer League (USL) announced in 2017 it would launch a new third division league, USL League One, in Spring 2019. After a successful launch and five seasons, League One is expected to more than double in size in the next five years.The USL has targeted U.S. communities ranging in population from 150,000 to one million —markets that represent more than 75 million people without access to a local professional soccer club. League One has focused on launching new clubs in markets that possess strong local ownership groups, and populations with broad-based diversity.The article USL League One Pro Westchester Soccer Club To Call Memorial Field Home appeared first on Mount Vernon, NY Patch.
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