Oklahoma City is set to welcome a new professional soccer club, OKC United, in 2028. The team’s name was announced by Mayor David Holt during his State of the City address. The club will play in a brand new downtown stadium and is expected to have a significant impact on the city’s culture and economy.

Building a Soccer Community

Ashley Robinson, director of investor relations and community engagement with the ownership group, Echo Investment Capital, believes the team will bring the community together. ‘We’re firm believers in the idea that tides rise all ships, and that’s part of what this stadium, this multi-purpose stadium, and this team is going to do. It’s going to improve quality of life. It’s going to create jobs and create an opportunity for more people to connect and truly become united.’

Seed Kurillimovich, the team’s sporting director, is responsible for building the team and creating a winning culture. He believes the biggest obstacle is time, as the team has only two years to build a competitive squad. However, he is confident that the team will be able to attract top talent and create a loyal fan base.

Investing in the Community

The ownership group is committed to investing in the community, not just the team. They plan to work with local youth soccer organizations to develop young players and create a pipeline of talent for the team. They also plan to work with local businesses to create jobs and stimulate economic growth.

David Trunda, president of the Football Association of the Czech Republic and a member of the FIFA Development Committee, is excited about the potential of OKC United. He believes that the team can be a great example of how to develop soccer in a community and create a winning culture.

Original reporting: Oklahoma City News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.