A new website called USL Reno Pro Soccer is announcing the group’s plans to bring pro soccer back to northern Nevada “in a stadium that maximizes the fan experience, builds a loyal and passionate following, and creates pride for our region while enhancing economic impact.”
The group is reported to have closed on the former Jones West Ford site at Kietzke Lane to turn it into a sports and entertainment district with a soccer specific stadium.
The USL runs a Division 1 league, the second tier USL Championship and a third tier USL League One, all operating below the top-tier Major League Soccer (MLS). It also features a pre-professional developmental league called USL League Two.
“As the USL continues to expand in the Western U.S., we’re excited about the potential of bringing professional soccer to northern Nevada,” Justin Papadakis, USL Deputy CEO and Chief Real Estate Officer was quoted as saying. “Reno is one of the fastest-growing mid-size cities in the country with a passionate soccer fan base. Add in a dedicated local ownership group with plans for a soccer-specific stadium in a prime location, and you have the foundation needed to build a successful club and raise Reno’s profile across the region.”
Listed on the USL Reno Pro Soccer club leadership are Todd Davis, an entrepreneur whose dad played with the Rochester Lancers, former tv news anchor Wendy Damonte, lawyer Bob Enzenberger and former US international defender John Doyle.
Reno's previous professional soccer team Reno 1868 FC made its debut in the USL Championship in March 2017 and ceased operations after the 2020 season.