The United Soccer League and the City of Garland today announced that USL Dallas, North Texas’s newest professional soccer team, will join the USL Championship for the 2027 season.

“We are thrilled to bring men’s professional soccer to the City of Garland and welcome USL Dallas to the USL Championship,” said Justin Papadakis, USL Deputy Chief Executive Officer & Chief Real Estate Officer. “Dallas has an incredibly passionate soccer culture, and adding a men’s professional club is a natural extension of the USL’s vision to grow the sport at all levels. We’re confident that the partnership with USL Dallas and the City of Garland will provide significant economic benefits and contribute to a stronger, more vibrant North Texas community.” 

USL Dallas is led by co-founders Matt Valentine and Sam Morton, who met on a local soccer field as children. Matt Valentine – a Dallas-based entrepreneur with over 25 years in corporate finance, capital markets, and investment strategy – will be leading the club’s strategic direction across business and sporting operations. Co-founder and long-time radio executive, Sam Morton, will serve as the Chief Commercial Officer to lead the development of the club’s business operations, including marketing, communications, sponsorship, merchandising, and ticketing. 

They are joined by fellow founders and friends Luther Ott and Dan McAlone. Together, they aim to create not only a competitive sports franchise, but a community-driven team dedicated to empowering young athletes, fostering youth development, and bringing the North Texas community together through the power of soccer. 

Yes, you read that correctly, the USL Dallas team is going to be based in Garland, TX.

For years, MLS has gone into USL markets and poached teams away from that division. This time around, the USL is going into an established MLS market to see if they can grow a team from scratch.

It is a bold move when you consider Fort Worth or Arlington would likely be a much better host. As large as the Metroplex is these days, I don't see this team taking fans away from FC Dallas anytime soon. Not to mention, a lot can happen between now and 2027.

The press release from the USL does not speak to where in Garland the team will be playing come 2027. I was not at the press conference in Garland today for this announcement, so there is a chance it was discussed there.

What do you all make of this venture by the USL-C? Excited? Amused? Let's discuss it all below.

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