USL League One Awards Franchise to Naples

The United Soccer League has awarded a USL League One franchise to Naples, Florida, that will begin play in 2025 at the Paradise Coast Sports Complex.

“In creating a winning plan for USL Naples, we’ve consulted with advisors and investors to bring the highest quality of professional soccer with a family-friendly environment to the region,” said USL Naples Chief Executive Officer Roberto Moreno. “We are committed to growing with the local community, so that our players become a source of pride and inspiration for our friends and neighbors.”

USL Naples will develop its name, crest and colors after a series of listening sessions and community-focused events throughout 2024. Now entering its sixth year, the 12-team USL League One will kick off the 2024 season in March. Naples will be the first team based in Florida in League One and plans to enter at the same time as a previously announced expansion franchise in Portland, Maine.

“We are thrilled to welcome USL Naples and Southwest Florida to professional soccer,” said Justin Papadakis, USL deputy chief executive officer and chief real estate officer. “With a deeply committed, forward-thinking ownership group led by Roberto Moreno, a state-of-the-art facility in the Paradise Coast Sports Complex and a history of excellence in youth soccer, Naples is poised for immediate and long-term success as a soccer city. This new club will represent Naples and Collier County on a national and international stage and be a catalyst for both culture and business.”

The Paradise Coast Sports Complex will serve as home to the team. Opened in 2019, the 160-acre complex offers a capacity of 5,000 for soccer at its main stadium along with designated family areas, VIP suites and cabanas.

“We are honored to partner with a league of distinction and excited to showcase the Paradise Coast Sports Complex in national professional competition,” said Adrian Moses, general manager of Paradise Coast Sports Complex. “From first introduction, USL Naples has demonstrated that success for them is not only on the field, but also in the community at large. To have a partner who complements our mission was critical in selecting the perfect team ownership group for Collier County.”