What's at stake:
Did downtown Fresno just get its first big business win after Newsom's $250 million?
Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer announced Tuesday that the city has entered an exclusivity agreement with the United Soccer League, taking what officials called a major step toward bringing professional men’s and women’s soccer teams and a dedicated stadium to downtown Fresno.
The agreement, which began Nov. 1, gives both parties a year to conduct due diligence on site selection, funding models, and ownership groups. City officials said they hope to have a team playing by March 2028.
“Today we are announcing our engagement,” Dyer said. “It is our intent to get married, but there are a lot of the details of that wedding that we still haven’t done yet.”
The proposed stadium would seat approximately 5,000, Dyer said, with a minimum standing capacity of 7,000 including standing areas, and room to expand. Similar-sized USL stadiums have cost between$15 million and$80 million, depending on the level of amenities.
Justin Papadakis, USL’s chief operating officer, said the league was drawn to Fresno’s downtown investment.
“When we saw the amazing progress that’s been made in bringing infrastructure for a real vibrant district in downtown Fresno, we said, we want to be part of that story.”
The USL Championship is the second-tier men’s professional soccer league in the United States, with 24 teams at its highest levels and matches broadcast on ESPN and CBS platforms. The Tampa-based organization also operates the USL Super League for women. Papadakis said the next step in Fresno will involve community outreach to help determine the team’s name.
Adam Smith, who coached the Fresno FC Foxes before the team went on hiatus in 2019 after failing to secure a stadium, now represents Fresno Pro Soccer LLC, the umbrella group which is spearheading negotiations between the city and team investors.
“The main thing that we’ve missed in the past is not having a stadium; is not having a downtown core with everything around it to bring people there,” Smith said. “We now have this opportunity. The stars are aligned.”
Councilmember Miguel Arias said the infrastructure investments that made the deal possible started with high speed rail. California’s bullet train has approximately 80 miles of guideway complete across Madera, Fresno, Kings, and Tulare counties, with the state securing $1 billion annually through 2045 for the project. However, the Newsom administration has delayed $100 million in promised downtown Fresno revitalization funding.
“We just opened up the new underpass at Tulare Avenue. Another underpass opens up next month.”
Arias noted the city has invested in street rehabs, two new parking garages, and upgraded water and sewer lines in anticipation of redevelopment in downtown.
Councilmember Annalisa Perea said cities with USL teams generate between $1.5 million and $3 million in economic activity per match. Fresno Fuego, the city’s semi-pro team, has also struggled to find a stadium venue and announced plans last year to build a 4,000-seat stadium.
“As a new mom to not just a little boy, but to his twin sister, it just gives me great warmth knowing that we are creating equitable opportunities here in our city.”
