Pro soccer coming to Rogers, Arkansas
Men's and women's professional soccer is coming to Northwest Arkansas with the announcement about a new league.
The United Soccer League announced Wednesday that an exclusive partnership has been formed with USL Arkansas, a group that will bring a professional men’s and women’s soccer club to Northwest Arkansas, as the region’s first professional teams, a news release from USL states.
USL Arkansas is led by co-founders Chris Martinovic and Warren Smith.
Martinovic, a longtime business executive in Northwest Arkansas with a lifelong passion for soccer, and Smith, a seasoned professional in the sports industry with a proven track record in building teams and stadium solutions across the country, "bring a unique blend of expertise and enthusiasm to the venture," the news release states.
“As a former player, I am delighted to bring professional soccer to Northwest Arkansas, a region that so richly deserves it,” Martinovic said. “I have seen firsthand the power of soccer in bringing communities together, and I am excited about the positive impact this club will have on our region.”
Northwest Arkansas includes the cities of Bentonville, Fayetteville, Rogers and Springdale. The area is home to a rapidly growing population of more than 570,000.
“I have been visiting my family here for 33 years and have watched how this community punches above its weight class creating a dynamic place to live, work, and to play,” Smith said. “We look forward to the beautiful game adding to that while working with local authorities, community leaders, and most importantly, the fans, to create a soccer club that reflects the unique spirit of this community and that makes us all proud.”
Founded in 2010, the United Soccer League has rapidly grown into a globally respected organization that is shaping the future of soccer in America as the first to build complete youth-to-pro pathways for men and women in one ecosystem.
The USL Championship currently features 24 men’s professional teams each playing a 34-game regular season from March to October and receives Division II sanctioning from the U.S. Soccer Federation. USL teams average more than 5,000 fans per game with teams such as Louisville City SC, New Mexico United, Sacramento Republic, and Indy Eleven regularly drawing more than 10,000 fans per game.
Kicking off its inaugural season in August 2024, the USL Super League will bring world-class professional women’s soccer closer to home for more communities across the country and plans to receive Division I sanctioning from U.S. Soccer. The USL Super League will play on an international “fall-to-summer” calendar to align with global women’s soccer.
USL Deputy CEO and Chief Real Estate Officer Justin Papadakis said he's eager to get started.
“USL Arkansas represents a new chapter in the USL story.” Papadakis. “Northwest Arkansas is a rapidly growing region with a vibrant community, making it the perfect location for this expansion. We have successfully partnered with Warren in numerous markets and his experience coupled with Chris’ passion for his community are the perfect ingredients to create something special for this emerging region. We can't wait to see the positive impact this club and their teams will have on the local community and beyond.”
USL Arkansas is committed to developing a 5,000 seat, multi-purpose stadium nestled in the Pinnacle Hills entertainment district in Rogers, Papadakis said.
"This move forms part of the wider vision of both Martinovic and Smith to embed the world’s game within the community and deliver an exciting, unique match-day entertainment experience for fans.
USL Arkansas’s goal is to begin play in the USL Championship before the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off in the United States and in the fall that same year for the USL Super League, the USL news release states.
USL Arkansas has begun a listening session campaign where the club hopes to learn from the community what it wants to see from their club. The official team name, colors, and branding will be developed through this process and over the months to come.
“While we are building a club, our aim is to build a symbol of unity for Northwest Arkansas,” explained Martinovic. “That's only possible by listening and will be instrumental in shaping the identity of our team.”
This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Pro soccer is coming to Northwest Arkansas
