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Chattanooga is a growing soccer city. There are a growing number of complexes and teams being created around this city.

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The Chattanooga Football Club used to be the only pro team in Chattanooga. Now a new team, The Chattanooga Red Wolves, has been introduced to our professional soccer industry.

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League One will immediately benefit from several new USL initiatives, including USL Productions, the organization's $10 million broadcast and content arm that was established in 2015 which features a cutting-edge broadcast and production facility in South Florida.

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With the latest addition, The Chattanooga Red Wolves, CFC thinks that they are trying to invade into "Their City".

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With the arrival of the Chattanooga Red Wolves Soccer Club, two professional soccer clubs are faced with the question of whether both can survive in the Scenic City.

For the homegrown Chattanooga Football Club, which has had an average attendance of 3,600 fans in 94 home games since debuting in 2009, officials' belief is the market is not big enough for both to survive.

"Both clubs agree this is an extraordinary city," CFC chairman Tim Kelly said. "While it is possible rivalries can create an expanding market, when you divide numbers it is not a big enough market for us both by any normal calculation. The Red Wolves' intent is to put us out of business, but we have said from the start we are never going to leave Chattanooga."

Despite understanding the success story of the CFC and its established fan base, Red Wolves owner Bob Martino thought Chattanooga was a prime location to build his professional franchise that is considered on the soccer pyramid as Division 3 of U.S. Soccer.

The Red Wolves, part of the inaugural United Soccer League's League One 10-team division that launches this March, believe a metropolitan area with a population over 500,000 can find ways for both teams to co-exist.

"Chattanoogans have shown innovation and community," Red Wolves GM Sean McDaniel said. "I don't see the spirit changing just because we have more fun sporting events to go to. We are the beneficiaries of not just soccer growth, but the growth of population, economy and culture."

The Red Wolves also will have a feeder program, which will operate out of Dalton, Georgia in hopes of providing next-level talent to the soccer club, which plans to announce in February where its home stadium for 2020 will be located.

In terms of booming soccer communities, Atlanta and Salt Lake City have been set as outliers over the years. The recent MLS champions from Atlanta United have recently provided a significant jolt to soccer interest in the Southeast.

Both soccer-booming cities have averaged an attendance per capita of more than one percent. As one of the biggest success stories of a lower-level soccer program in the United States, the CFC averages "close to ".80 percent" in attendance per capita.

Those who helped found a local football club with 99 career wins realize the threat of another professional team coming into town.

"Could we realistically expect two Chattanooga Lookouts to exist?" questioned CFC cofounder Sheldon Grizzle. "Or even a second Chattanooga Aquarium in town? When we founded CFC we were invested in the community, not about profit. We have always tried to be real and authentic."

Over the last 10 years the city's Double-A baseball team has averaged 3,343 fans per home game. The Lookouts, too, will be competing for a share of the summer sports fan draw with three professional teams in town now.

Local soccer fans have expressed their feelings on where their allegiances stand.

"I have only watched soccer for a few years, so I never was grandfathered into CFC when they first started," Red Wolves supporter Eric Sisson said. "I think the Red Wolves will have the best overall talent and product. I think they give Chattanooga a better chance to be a national brand in the long run."

Meanwhile, the CFC looks to continue to fill Finley Stadium for the next three seasons at least.

"Chattanooga Football Club has built something special in this city," said Matt Van Duinen, who is a member of CFC's rowdy supporters knowns as the Chattahooligans. "Many people who are on the outside looking in think that makes Chattanooga a soccer city, but when you are at the matches and take it all in, you realize Chattanooga is a CFC city.

"Introducing another team that isn't CFC is fighting an uphill battle, one I don't think can be won. Ultimately a battle that will hurt all soccer teams in Chattanooga."

In a city with a well-developed knowledge of soccer, which has drawn crowds of more than 10,000 fans on four different occasions over the past 10 years, only time will tell if each team can survive or if one's future is ultimately doomed.

"I hope Bob Martino is committed to making it his life's work, because we are," the CFC's Kelly said. "We are not going anywhere. We live here. This is about franchise corporatism versus localism."
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6311. Follow him on Twitter @PMacCoon.

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Chattanooga Football Club believes Red Wolves trying to take over its territory

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With the arrival of the Chattanooga Red Wolves Soccer Club, two professional soccer clubs are faced with the question of whether both can survive in the Scenic City. For the homegrown Chattanooga Football Club, which has had an average attendance of 3,600 fans in 94 home games since debuting in 2009, officials' belief is the market is not big enough for both to survive.

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There are many kids soccer leagues in Chattanooga. The main ones are North River, Middle Valley, and CFC. Soon the Red Wolves will make a youth team of their own. This will probably attract kids and coaches alike from these leagues to join the new one. This is also a tension because many players and coaches will transfer over mainly form CFC. https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/sports/professional/story/2019/mar/18/chattanooga-red-wolves-sc-launch-youth-soccer-academy/490798/
The picture below Shows the 05 premier boys team. Ranked #84 best team in the country.

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What fully ties soccer is the fans. Many people have devoted their time and money to support their local teams. Fans are part of what makes these games an enjoyable experience. The chants and boos intensify the games. This picture is of the Chattahooligans.

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There once was an era in which Finley Stadium's finish to a fiscal year was highly uneventful.

This is not that era.

The vibrancy of the Chattanooga Football Club soccer team and the Chattanooga Market at the neighboring First Tennessee Pavilion is resulting in smiles and satisfaction from Finley Stadium executive director Chris Thomas and Stadium Corp. board members.

Through three quarters of the current fiscal year, Finley Stadium has amassed $1,336,320.68 in total revenue and $1,183,933.48 in expenses for a net income of $153,387.20, according to numbers provided Tuesday by Thomas.

"We're running at 100% efficiency right now," Thomas said. "The highest food and beverage events we've seen in my two years (as executive director) have been the last three CFC games."

The first of those three CFC matches occurred last July, and the past two - exhibitions against Comunicaciones FC on March 23 and Detroit City FC on April 6 - produced a combined crowd of nearly 11,500.

CFC has five home matches between now and June 1, with the most intriguing of those being a friendly with Real Betis of La Liga on May 25. Real Betis is located in Seville, Spain, and will be visiting the United States for the first time.

"La Liga is is arguably the best league in the world along with the English Premier," CFC president Sheldon Grizzle said Tuesday. "This is big for us. The profile is huge. They have more than a million followers on Facebook.

"This is also a significant investment for us."

Tickets for CFC's friendly against Real Betis are $30 until the day of the match, when they bump to $40, and Grizzle said the break-even attendance number will be between 6,000 and 7,000.

The Chattanooga Market, which was founded in 2001, is scheduled to open next weekend and will run through late December.

"I can't tell you how much we value these partnerships," Stadium Corp. chairman Gordon Davenport said. "They're part of the community."

Board member Ryan Crimmins said the objective for Finley Stadium at its 1997 inception was "full-utilization community engagement," and he is thrilled to see that taking place throughout the fiscal year. Crimmins also pointed out the potential for a very strong start to 2019-20, given an extended CFC season that includes the National Premier Soccer League's inaugural Founders Cup and a pair of Thursday night University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football games.

"The fact we've gone nine of the last 10 years operating in the black is amazing," Crimmins said.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.

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Chattanooga Football Club providing a strong fiscal finish for Finley Stadium

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There once was an era in which Finley Stadium's finish to a fiscal year was highly uneventful. This is not that era. The vibrancy of the Chattanooga Football Club soccer team and the Chattanooga Market at the neighboring First Tennessee Pavilion is resulting in smiles and satisfaction from Finley Stadium executive director Chris Thomas and Stadium Corp.

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On a busy night for sports in Chattanooga and going up against the Final Four, the Chattanooga Football Club and Detroit City FC proved to...

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"Today, I am laying out a vision for a community focused soccer and entertainment destination for our region," said Martino. "The Chattanooga Red Wolves Soccer Club was founded with the ultimate goal of strengthening our community through soccer, and this investment doubles down on my commitment to the region, our players and the soccer community. People will be able to live, dine and play here, and experiencing professional soccer in a unique setting is at the heart of this development."

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UPDATE: Chattanooga Red Wolves SC planning stadium in East Ridge as part of a larger development

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"Today, I am laying out a vision for a community focused soccer and entertainment destination for our region," said Martino. "The Chattanooga Red Wolves Soccer Club was founded with the ultimate goal of strengthening our community through soccer, and this investment doubles down on my commitment to the region, our players and the soccer community.

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A USL League One team will invest big money in building its own stadium and a mixed-use development around it.

Bob Martino - the owner of Chattanooga Red Wolves SC - announced Thursday the club will build a soccer-specific stadium with space for housing, retail, restaurants, hotels and greenspace around it in a proposed $125 million investment in East Ridge and Chattanooga, Tenn.

"I am laying out a vision for a community-focused soccer and entertainment destination for our region," Martino said in a statement. "The Chattanooga Red Wolves Soccer Club was founded with the ultimate goal of strengthening our community through soccer, and this investment doubles down on my commitment to the region, our players and the soccer community. People will be able to live, dine and play here and experiencing professional soccer in a unique setting is at the heart of this development."

The entire development will sit on 100 acres of land and is expected to generate between $6 million and $7 million in tax revenue annually, according to a club statement. Martino's plan includes space for 400 apartments, 375 hotel rooms, 475,000 square feet of commercial space and a network of walking trails.

Martino expects 1,200 jobs to be created from the project between the next three to five years.

"East Ridge has never experienced an investment on this level that benefits our community in so many ways," the city's mayor, Brian Williams, said in a statement. "Bob Martino could have put this stadium and development wherever he wanted, but he chose our community, and we are so appreciative."

The stadium - which will be able to seat about 5,500 fans - will host team offices, lockers, meeting spaces for film review and training areas. Not only will the Red Wolves of USL League One play there, but the Dalton Red Wolves of USL League Two and the Lady Red Wolves of the WPSL will play occasional games there, too. Concerts and other events will take place there as well, according to the release.

Construction is set to begin in the coming months.

USL League One has 10 clubs this season, but the league is expected to announce its 11 th - an expansion side set to begin play in 2020 - next week.

Things to know

Nashville SC is coming off a 3-1 loss to Charleston Battery, but the club has developed a reputation of bouncing back from big losses in its short history. Following multi-goal defeats, Nashville has two wins and two draws. On Saturday, they head to Pittsburgh for a battle with the defense-minded Riverhounds.

Speaking of Pittsburgh, here's a crazy stat: The Riverhounds have lost just six times in their last 40 matches. So far this season, they're 2-1-3.

Sure, they play in the same state, but is North Carolina FC vs. Charlotte Independence really a rivalry? The record says no. NCFC has owned the series against their neighbors to the South lately, winning their sixth straight meeting against Charlotte last Saturday behind goals from Austin da Luz, Marios Lomis and Ben Speas. With a win over Hartford this weekend, NCFC could move into second place in the Eastern Conference.

Also of note in the world of North Carolina FC, academy product Adam Armour has been called into the U.S. U-17 national team for the upcoming Concacaf U-17 Championships set to begin on May 1 in Bradenton, Florida.

Leo Fernandes tallied a pair of assists and scored a goal for the Tampa Bay Rowdies on Wednesday, as they topped ATL UTD 2 4-1 in Kennesaw, Georgia.

Transactions

On Thursday, Memphis 901 FC acquired forward Jochen Graf from the New York Cosmos of the NPSL. Graf, 29, is a native of Texas and has played professionally in the U.S., Germany and Sweden. In 2017, he scored 11 goals in 30 appearances for the Rochester Rhinos.

Another Memphis player, Heviel Cordoves, announced he is retiring from professional soccer. The 29-year-old Cuban has scored 35 goals in his USL career, dating to 2013 and including stints with the Charleston Battery and Richmond Kickers. He has nine caps and one goal scored for the Cuban national team. Cordoves said in a statement he is leaving the game due to a non-soccer related medical condition. Said Cordoves: "Today it's my body, which is saying 'stop, that's enough' and keeping me away from the soccer pitch. That is all that ever could keep me away from it."

The Montreal Impact of MLS have loaned Amar Sejdic - the 34th overall pick in the 2019 SuperDraft - to Ottawa Fury FC for a season-long term. Playing for the Maryland Terrapins, Sejdic was named the most valuable player of the 2018 College Cup.

Watch this

Let's turn back briefly to League One, to see the handles of Joe Gallardo.

.@RichmondKickers' @Jgallardo98_7 channeled his inner Kyrie with these handles and earned Goal of the Week for his efforts. #WeAreOne | https://t.co/F1DbN7ILnw pic.twitter.com/1UgqFRu69t

- USL League One (@USLLeagueOne) April 25, 2019

A throw-in assist here from the Las Vegas Lights.

.@lvlightsfc: where throw-ins are LETHAL.#RGVvLV | #BeChampions pic.twitter.com/uPAlASwD5f

- USL Championship (@USLChampionship) April 21, 2019

They said it

Nashville SC defender Taylor Washington on Pittsburgh's new playing surface: "I think it's good news for everyone. Playing a year on there was definitely challenging on the knees, all the joints. I need to talk to some of the boys out there and see how it's playing. I am excited to be back there on Friday and play on Saturday."

ATL UTD 2 defender Jon Gallagher on academy player George Campbell: "I'm seeing steady improvement all season long with him. With every game he's taking on a bigger role in the team. Defensively, you can see him even leading at times, being a bit more vocal which is something we are trying to get out of him."

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USL Review: Chattanooga planning for $125 million stadium | Pro Soccer USA

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A USL League One team will invest big money in building its own stadium and a mixed-use development around it. Bob Martino - the owner of Chattanooga Red Wolves SC - announced Thursday the club will build a soccer-specific stadium with space for housing, retail, restaurants, hotels and greenspace around it in a proposed $125 million investment in East Ridge and Chattanooga, Tenn.