Major League Soccer is officially headed to San Diego.
After much debate, Commissioner Don Garber awarded the league's 30th team to the city of San Diego. The new expansion franchise will begin play in 2025 at Snapdragon Stadium, a 35,000-seat venue that currently hosts NWSL side the San Diego Wave.
The club will be owned by Mohamed Mansour and the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation. Other minority investors include six-time Major League Baseball All-Star Manny Machado, Co-founder of Zephyr Partners Brad Termini, Right to Dream founder Tom Vernon and Right to Dream board member Dan Dickinson.
Tom Penn will serve as the club's CEO.
"We are thrilled to welcome San Diego to Major League Soccer as our 30th team," said Commissioner Garber.
"For many years we have believed San Diego would be a terrific MLS market due to its youthful energy, great diversity, and the fact that soccer is an essential part of everyday life for so many people. Mohamed Mansour and the Sycuan Tribe have an incredible vision for building a club that will inspire and unite soccer fans throughout the city and region."
Mansour serves as the founder and current chairman of the London-based investment management firm Man Capital that owns Right to Dream, an organization that works to promote the 'global soccer community with an innovative approach by identifying and nurturing talent'. RTD also operates an elite performance and development environment at top tier Danish club FC Nordsjaelland.
"We couldn’t be more excited to partner with the Sycuan Tribe to bring Major League Soccer to such a deserving community and legion of San Diego soccer fans. This is a real opportunity to create a powerful and lasting legacy for the city and region,” said Mansour.
"We look forward to introducing Right to Dream’s unique developmental approach and unparalleled soccer expertise to San Diego and MLS by delivering tangible benefits to the community as we look to open doors and identify and nurture talent from across the county and beyond.”
Sycuan Tribal Chairman Cody Martinez added, "What a proud moment this is for the city and the Sycuan Tribe to bring MLS to San Diego.
"Sycuan has deep roots in the San Diego community and found an incredible partner in Mohamed Mansour and the soccer expertise that he brings with Right to Dream. Sycuan continues to demonstrate its strong commitment to the San Diego region and our MLS team will provide us with a great opportunity to bring together many different segments of the community through their passion for the game."
The team’s name and crest is to be announced soon, in the buildup of their debut in 2025.
For now, fans can reserve a place on the list for season tickets by donating $18 at SanDiegoFC.com. All proceeds will go to the San Diego Foundation to fund 'non-profits investing in the development of youth soccer across San Diego County'.
This article was originally published on 90min as San Diego awarded new Major League Soccer expansion franchise .