MADISON --- The City of Madison announced a new professional soccer team that will play at Breese Stevens Field.
They will join USL Division III as the fourth founding member, as well as the league's first Midwest-based club, according to the USL's release.
The club's ownership group, Big Top Events, and the City of Madison agreed to a 10-year deal that was approved Tuesday, May 15 by the Madison Common Council.
“We’re proud to welcome Madison to USL Division III and to have Wisconsin’s state capital leading Midwest expansion for USL Division III,” USL CEO Alec Papadakis said.
The other three founding members of the league include South Georgia Tormenta FC (Statesboro, Georgia), FC Tuscon (Tucson, Arizona) and Greenville Pro Soccer (Greenville, South Carolina).
Madison club owners will announce official branding and a coaching staff within the coming months.
Alongside the development of the team, club owners announced improvements and renovations to Breese Stevens field.
Per a Facebook live press conference, club owner Vern Stenman discusses a new concession stand in the end zone, rooftop stands and a stand-up drink rail.
In total, the plan is to add $1.3 million forth of improvements to the facility. It is scheduled to be done and ready to go by Spring 2019.
Jim Kacmarcik, another member of the ownership group who currently owns a minor stake in the Milwaukee Bucks said it's their goal to make this Madison's team.
“We’re confident this team will become a loved part of the Madison community, and we can’t wait to start working with the entire community to ensure we develop a team we can all be proud of,” A statement from the ownership group read.
Breese Stevens Field was constructed in 1926 and has featured exhibitions from Jesse Owens and a tryout camp hosted by the 1946 New York Yankees before being established as a city soccer venue in 1982.
