A new professional sports team is ready to call Ventura County home
A new professional sports team is coming to Ventura County.
The Los Angeles Galaxy have rebranded its MLS Next Pro team as Ventura County FC. The team, formerly known as Galaxy II, will play its home matches at Cal Lutheran University’s Rolland Stadium beginning next month.
The venture is a partnership between the Galaxy and Oak Sports Holding. Galaxy general manager Will Kuntz will continue to lead the team’s soccer operations.
“We are thrilled that players in the Galaxy’s professional development pathway will be performing in an exciting new environment thanks to our partnership with Oak Sports Holding,” Kuntz said in a news release. “VCFC will play an important role in furthering the Galaxy’s sporting vision and soccer operations goals, which will remain under our control.
“We look forward to this new partnership with Oak Sports Holding as we continue developing top-tier talent in their progression to our first team.”
Mark Noorzai of Oak Sports Holding will manage commercial operations. Oak Sports Holding, which was “founded in 2022 with the intent of bringing professional soccer to Ventura County,” according to its LinkedIn page.
"We are so excited to bring professional soccer to our community of Ventura County for the fans that celebrate the beautiful game and for young players dreaming to one day play professionally,” Noorzai said.
Cobi Jones, who starred for Westlake High before he developed into a National Soccer Hall of Famer with the Galaxy and U.S. men’s national team, is part of the Oak Sports Holding ownership group.
“Growing up in this community, I was captivated at the sheer number of soccer enthusiasts and talented players,” Jones said. “Despite the abundance of local skill, only a few ventured into professional soccer. Joining Ventura County FC, I'm thrilled to play a key role in bringing top-tier soccer and entertainment to my hometown.”
Galaxy II, the Major League Soccer team’s reserve team, had primarily played its home matches at Cal State Fullerton’s Titan Stadium and the track stadium at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson since its inception in 2014.
MLS Next Pro, launched in 2022, is a 29-team league in the third tier of the American soccer pyramid that includes 27 MLS reserve sides.
The Ventura County Fusion, based in Ventura, has fielded a team in the semiprofessional United Soccer League’s League Two — formerly the Premier Development League — since 2006.
The Fusion also field teams in MLS Next’s youth leagues.
Although it has yet to make the move to Ventura County, VCFC has opened the MLS Next Pro season. It is undefeated and sits atop the Western Conference at 4-0, outscoring its opposition 12-5.
VCFC was eliminated in the first round the U.S. Open Cup last week with a 3-0 loss to Irvine Zeta FC in Carson.
Sergio Villalpando, an 18-year-old from Oxnard, has scored three goals this season for VCFC, two in the league and one in the cup.
VCFC is scheduled to host 10 matches at Rolland Stadium this season, beginning with a visit from Real Monarchs on May 19
It will host LAFC2 on Saturday night at Titan Stadium.
Joe Curley covers soccer for The Star. He can be reached at joe.curley@vcstar.com. For more coverage, follow @vcsjoecurley on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Ventura County now the home of LA Galaxy's reserve pro team
