Spokane Velocity

Spokane Velocity FC is a planned American professional soccer team based in Spokane, Washington. First announced in 2021, the team plans to play in USL League One beginning in 2024.

Spokane Velocity FC
Founded2021
StadiumOne Spokane Stadium
Capacity5,000
OwnerAequus Sports, LLC
(Ryan and Katie Harnetiaux)
LeagueUSL League One
WebsiteClub website

History

In March 2021, United Soccer League announced a proposal to build a 5,000-seat stadium in downtown Spokane to serve as home to a new USL League One club.[1] In May 2021, the Spokane Public School Board voted to approve the $31 million stadium project.[2][3]

In December 2021, the Spokane Public Facilities District met with USL and MLS Next Pro officials over which league would place a team at the city-run stadium.[4]

On October 7, 2022, the club announced their new ownership group, Aequus Sports, LLC (led by Ryan and Katie Harnetiaux) as well as that their men's team would start play in USL League One in 2024.[5][6]

The club announced a partnership with Capelli Sport on June 21, 2023, making them their exclusive uniform, equipment, and training apparel provider.[7] The official team name, Spokane Velocity FC, and crest were announced at a launch event on July 21, 2023.[8]

Club identity

The team's name and crest were unveiled on July 21, 2023. Both reference the Spokane River, which runs through Downtown Spokane and passes near One Spokane Stadium. The crest features four vertical blue bars that represent the river's waterfalls, while the "Velocity" wordmark above is shaped similar to a simplified version of the Monroe Street Bridge.[8][9]

Affiliated women's teams

In June 2021, Spokane was named as one of the founding cities of the USL W League, a women's league that began play in 2022.[10] The team is set to join W League for the 2024 season, along with the completion of One Spokane Stadium.[11]

Spokane's ownership announced in October 2022 that they wanted to bring professional women's soccer to the city.[11] A women's team representing Spokane in the USL Super League was announced in May 2023. It will be owned by the USL Spokane ownership group and begin play in August 2024, sharing their home stadium with the men's team and W League team.[12]

References
  1. USLSoccer.com Staff (March 2, 2021). "USL, Downtown Spokane Partnership Announce New Proposal for Downtown Stadium". USLSoccer.com.
  2. "Spokane Public Schools board votes to build new stadium downtown". krem.com. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
  3. USLLeagueOne.com Staff (May 5, 2021). "New Downtown Spokane Stadium Development Approved by Public School Board". USL League One. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
  4. Allen, Jim (December 13, 2021). "MLS or USL? Decision on professional soccer is up to the Spokane Public Facilities District". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
  5. Robertson, Erin (October 7, 2022). "United Soccer League announces addition of men's team to Spokane club-club/". KXLY-TV. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  6. "New USL Spokane Ownership Introduced to Community". uslleagueone.com. October 7, 2022. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  7. "USL Spokane". capellisport.com. June 21, 2023. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
  8. Allen, Jim (July 21, 2023). "Spokane's United Soccer League team debuts 'Velocity FC' name, logo". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  9. Spokane Velocity (July 21, 2023). "Our Crest". Spokane Velocity. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  10. "United Soccer League Announces Addition of a W League Team in Spokane". USL Spokane. June 23, 2021. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
  11. "New USL Spokane Ownership Introduced to Community". www.uslwleague.com. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
  12. Allen, Jim (May 16, 2023). "Spokane gets top-tier USL women's soccer team". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved May 16, 2023.


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