Latest news with #GoldenCityFC
CBS News
26-06-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Businesses near San Francisco's Kezar Stadium hope Golden City FC pro soccer revitalizes area
San Francisco and businesses near Kezar Stadium couldn't be more thrilled that the city has officially inked a deal to bring a new soccer franchise to the historic venue. Golden City FC, a new MLS Next Pro franchise, will begin play in either 2026 or 2027 and call Kezar its home for the next 15 years. Kezar Pub, which is right across the street, will be one of the biggest fans of the team. "We're big football fans/soccer fans here," said owner Cyril Hackett. "This bar is synonymous with soccer, or football as we call it." The pub was here when the 49ers called Kezar home between 1946 and 1971, and is two years shy of celebrating its 90th birthday. Hackett wasn't here then, but has owned the bar for almost 30 years. "We needed a shot in the arm because I think we get a little forgotten out here," said Hackett. Like many other businesses in the city, Kezar Pub has been slow to recover from shutdowns implemented during the pandemic. "We've weathered the storm here," he said. "We're one of the lucky ones. People are starting to come back into the bars. People are starting to come back and watch sports, but a lot of people did change their habits. We can't cry forever. We have to get up and go at it." Kezar Pub has become the place to go to watch pretty much any live sporting event on TV. But a new professional team playing its home games just feet away is something Hackett is looking forward to. "You have to start thinking to the future," he said. "Probably a minimum of 20 games per year. It's great for our staff. We'll have to hire more people. More revenue for the city. I mean, what can be wrong with that?" Mayor Daniel Lurie says the team will invest $10 million in a new field, seating, and scoreboard at Kezar Stadium, among other upgrades. "Kezar is so ingrained in our city's history and the lives of everyday residents that Golden City FC's investment is truly an investment into the people of San Francisco," said Lurie. Some soccer fans are not quite ready to welcome a new team. Scott Brown is a huge fan of San Francisco City FC, a men's soccer team in the amateur USL League Two that currently plays its home games at Kezar. He worries the team will get the boot when Golden City FC comes into town. "It's a shame to have somebody overlook a grassroots, fan-owned organization like SF FC," said Brown. "We're really proud of ourselves. Really proud of the name and proud of the team." Kezar is also home to the San Francisco Nighthawks women's soccer team, which plays in the amateur Women's Premier Soccer League. Nighthawks general manager Jill Lounsbury said she welcomes the new tenants to Kezar. "The soccer community looks forward to partnerships that allow everyone to grow from the top down and from the bottom up," said Lounsbury in a prepared statement. "I personally look forward to a light being shined on our very diverse and vibrant community with Golden City Football Club's assist!" From a business perspective, Hackett can't wait to meet his new neighbors across the street. "You can have too much beer and too much tequila, but you could never have too much soccer," said Hackett.
Axios
25-06-2025
- Business
- Axios
San Francisco bets on new pro soccer team to boost Kezar Stadium
Mayor Daniel Lurie has struck a deal designating San Francisco's historic Kezar Stadium as the home field for a new men's professional soccer team: Golden City Football Club. State of play: As part of the agreement finalized Wednesday, Golden City FC— backed by private investors — will invest $10 million in stadium upgrades for pro and public use, the venue's largest cash infusion in decades. What they're saying:"This investment is truly an investment in the people of San Francisco," Lurie said in a statement. "San Francisco's vibrant culture, rich sports history and enthusiastic fan base make it an ideal home for an independent club," added Charles Altchek, president of MLS Next Pro and executive vice president of Major League Soccer. Zoom in: The renovations include new bleachers, a sound system, natural grass field, irrigation system and high-definition scoreboard. The venue will also undergo various ADA accessibility, press box and concessions upgrades. Friction point: The deal has sparked concern from supporters of the community-run San Francisco City FC — which has played at Kezar for decades — that it could sideline the team. The big picture: Golden City FC is the second pro team introduced under Lurie, following this year's debut of the Golden State Valkyries. His administration is betting on sports and entertainment to help revive local neighborhoods. Between the lines: Golden City FC will be permitted to use the stadium for home games and practices for 15 years — with three optional five-year extensions — and granted use of other city-owned fields for training.
CBS News
25-06-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Deal finalized to bring Golden City FC pro soccer to San Francisco's historic Kezar Stadium
San Francisco's newest sports franchise, Golden City Football Club, has been given the green light to launch another pro soccer team to play at historic Kezar Stadium. On Wednesday, Mayor Daniel Lurie announced he signed legislation to finalize an agreement with Golden City FC to begin play in the MLS Next Pro league beginning in 2026 or 2027. MLS Next Pro is the third tier of professional soccer in the U.S., a developmental league with most clubs affiliated with Major League Soccer clubs. As part of the deal, GCFC, which would join the league as an independent club, will commit $10 million for stadium upgrades and receive a 15-year permit to use the stadium, with the option for three additional five-year extensions. Last month, Lurie announced the plan to bring the team to San Francisco in a partnership with GCFC and the city's Recreation and Parks Department, in which the team would also use other Rec and Parks facilities for training. The city's Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the plan last week. "Today it's official: Golden City FC will become the newest professional team to call our city home," said Lurie in a prepared statement. "This investment is truly an investment in the people of San Francisco and represents a new era for San Francisco sports." "We are deeply grateful and incredibly excited to officially call Kezar Stadium GCFC's long-term home," said Geoff Oltmans and Marc Rohrer, co-founders of Golden City FC, in a prepared statement. "This is a tremendous milestone for our club, and it wouldn't have been possible without the broad support of the San Francisco community. As we continue to grow GCFC, we're committed to making our city and fans proud, and we can't wait to build something truly special together at Kezar." Kezar Stadium in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department GCFC will be the second Bay Area team to play in the MLS Next Pro league, joining The Town FC, an affiliate of the San Jose Earthquakes, which plays its home games at Saint Mary's College in Moraga. The planned upgrades to Kezar Stadium that GCFC will fund include a new natural grass field, new seating and bleachers, a high-definition LED scoreboard, improved ADA accessibility, and upgrades to press box and concession areas. Situated in the southeastern corner of Golden Gate Park, the stadium is also currently the home of the San Francisco Nighthawks of the amateur Women's Premier Soccer League and the San Francisco City FC of the amateur USL League Two. It also hosts other amateur and recreational sports leagues, along with high school football games. Originally opened in 1925, Kezar Stadium hosted track and field competitions, auto racing, rugby, and college football games before becoming the home of the San Francisco 49ers from 1946 until 1971, when the 49ers moved to Candlestick Park. The 60,000-seat stadium was demolished in 1989 and reconstructed as a much smaller venue, mostly for high school sports, with a seating capacity of 10,000. Additional upgrades were added beginning in 2014, which included the installation of thousands of seats from Candlestick Park, which was closed in 2014 and demolished the next year.
CBS News
12-05-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Fans excited for future of Bay Area soccer after announcement of new San Francisco team
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie announced Friday that the city will be getting a new Major League Soccer Next Pro Team called Golden City FC. They will play at Kezar Stadium and the city will be investing $10 million in private funding to improve the stadium. The Bay Area already has several soccer teams, including the San Jose Earthquakes, Oakland Roots and Bay FC. All of those play in different leagues. Golden FC will be playing in the same league as another team, The Town FC, which currently plays its home games in Moraga. "We're always trying to grow the game," said The Town FC fan Manny Salinpour. MLS Next Pro serves as a developmental bridge between youth soccer and MLS first teams. The Town FC is affiliated with the San Jose Earthquakes. Salinpour said he was excited to hear about a second Next Pro team in the area. "I believe it's kind of a healthy competition," explained Salinpour. Media representatives with The Town say that, on average, their home games bring in about 1,200 fans. Many of those fans say they believe there are plenty of soccer fans to support multiple teams. "I think if you look at the population, I think we all have pretty healthy populations in our cities," Salinpour said. "If you just look at Europe, for example, Holland, I think all the teams are within 5-10 miles radius. I mean, if they could do it, why can't we do it?" Co-founder of The Town, Tennyson Wilson, does believe there is a possibility of oversaturation, but not yet. "Not at this point," responded Wilson. "I think there's a lot of room for growth for soccer in the Bay Area. It's such a big place, whether you're North Bay, South Bay, East Bay, just having the ability to go see good high-level soccer, I think that's the important piece. I think we could probably get there, but I don't think we're there yet." He's excited and hopeful for the future of soccer in the Bay Area and beyond. "I think obviously, as Americans, we have baseball and soccer and football and some of these other things that will usually take some of the top talent," Wilson said. "But I think we're seeing a little bit of a shift, right? Hopefully, with some of the events that we have coming, the World Cup over the next few years, the Olympics, soccer is a really pivotal part of that, so I'm really hopeful that will build that momentum and build the fans." Salinpour believes it's particularly important to build the youth fan base. He's coached soccer clubs throughout his adult life. He's brought a lot of his kids to The Town games to show them what they can aspire to be a part of in the future. "Having a pro team out in this area is helpful," Salinpour said. "We have a lot of kids here, a lot of club youth kids, and I think it's really good for them to get their first look at the pro level."
CBS News
09-05-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Professional soccer could be coming to Kezar Stadium in San Francisco
On Friday San Francisco mayor Daniel Lurie announced a plan that would bring a professional soccer team to the city. Pro soccer is coming to San Francisco! Through a new partnership with Golden City FC and @sfrecpark, we will bring an MLS NEXT Pro team to Kezar Stadium. GCFC will also put in $10 million in privately funded improvements to the stadium. There will be no changes to public access,… — Daniel Lurie 丹尼爾·羅偉 (@DanielLurie) May 9, 2025 According to the mayor's office the Golden State Football Club will be part of the MLS NEXT Pro league through Major League Soccer. Geoff Oltmans and Marc Rohrer, Co-Founders of Golden City Football Club released a statement on the plan saying: "Launching Golden City Football Club isn't just about fielding a team; it's about creating new opportunities for our community, families, and athletes to experience together the world's most accessible and unifying sport. We're especially honored to partner with Mayor Lurie and the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department to help revitalize the iconic Kezar Stadium, ensuring it remains a vibrant hub for recreation, resilience, and all San Franciscans for decades to come." The plan includes a minimum of $10-million dollars in upgrades to Kezar Stadium. It still has be approved by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Lurie is expected to present an official resolution at the meeting on May 13. The legislation is co-sponsored by District 5 Supervisor Bilal Mahmood. "As we prepare to host the World Cup in the Bay, we're thrilled to become the new home for GCFC here in District 5 and look forward to the energy, joy, and community this will foster in our neighborhood," said Supervisor Mahmood. "The investment in Kezar is an investment in uplifting our communities—in our schools, local small businesses, and neighbors of all ages who will no doubt be the best fan base GCFC could hope for." The proposed partnership includes a 15-year agreement with two five year renewal options. After it is introduced at the Board of Supervisors meeting it will be considered by the city's Recreation and Park Commission before coming back to the supervisors in June. The inaugural season will either be in 2026 or 2027.
