News

United Soccer League Announces Two-Week Delay to Start of League One Season

CHATTANOOGA, Tn. – USL League One has decided today to temporarily suspend preseason activities and the start of the 2020 regular season for a minimum of two weeks.

“It was very clear from our Championship and League One owners that the health and safety of players, fans and staff was their top priority,” said USL CEO Alec Papadakis. “In consultation with local, state and national health authorities, as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Homeland Security, we made the decision to delay the start of the League One season by a minimum of two weeks.”

“The health and safety of our fans, guests, players and staff will always be paramount. In coordination with CDC, the Hamilton County Health Department and local health experts, along with the support of USL League One, we will continue to monitor developments and make decisions that are best for the well being of our community,” said Chattanooga Red Wolves SC President & General Manager Sean McDaniel. “We will continue to remain vigilant and follow the guidance of our local, state, and national health authorities.”

Chattanooga Red Wolves Soccer Club values the continued support of our fans and will continue to provide updates from the league as they become available.

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (March 5, 2020) – In a press conference this afternoon, CHI Memorial Hospital announced the naming of the first professional soccer stadium to open in the state of Tennessee. 

CHI Memorial Stadium will host the Chattanooga Red Wolves Soccer Club, the Chattanooga Lady Red Wolves, occasional various professional men’s and women’s exhibition games, USL League Two Dalton Red Wolves and college national championships. The stadium will also host year round non-sporting events such as festivals, concerts, family friendly activities and community gatherings.

“We are excited to be able to contribute not only to the appreciation and growth of soccer, but to the community as a whole,” said Janelle Reilly, CEO of CHI Memorial Hospital. “We’ve been fans of this project since its inception and are excited to take our dedication to health and wellness to the next level through this new partnership.”

The 5,500-seat CHI Memorial Stadium will be a state-of-the-art, soccer-specific facility including sky suites, concessions, merchandise, staff offices, locker rooms and space for the team to meet. The player area will include five locker rooms, film room, satellite gym, physical therapy and recovery room, coaching offices and a dining hall for players.

“CHI Memorial is a great fit for this partnership,” said stadium developer and Chattanooga Red Wolves owner Bob Martino. “They share our values and vision for the area and consistently demonstrate a philanthropic commitment to bringing people together and building community. We look forward to joining their mission of encouraging a stronger, more connected community.”

CHI Memorial Stadium will serve as the anchor of the $125 million surrounding development, spurring over one thousand new jobs and millions of dollars of investment into the development and Hamilton County as a whole. Since the original stadium announcement, Top Golf, Champy’s Chicken, and Jonathan’s Grill have announced investments in the surrounding areas. 

“This partnership continues to elevate the single largest private investment and economic boost in the history of East Ridge,” said East Ridge Mayor Brian Williams. “We very much appreciate their decision to invest not only in East Ridge, but Hamilton County and the state of Tennessee. Their decision has inspired other local and national companies to choose East Ridge for future investments. Today, we thank them for their shared vision and leadership.”

On top of economic growth, CHI Memorial Stadium will serve as a spark in turning the area into a sports tourism epicenter. 

“This innovative regional venue and Chattanooga Red Wolves professional soccer team have already provided the opportunity to pursue multiple new sporting events that will drive incremental community benefits through sports tourism,” said Tim Morgan, president of Chattanooga Sports Committee, a division of the Chattanooga Visitors Bureau. 

CHI Memorial Stadium is expected to host games for the Chattanooga Red Wolves’ upcoming second season in USL League One. The naming rights deal marks a massive step forward for the development which will ultimately include hotels, restaurants, bars, retail, condos, apartments, office space and a convention center.

About CHI Memorial Hospital
CHI Memorial is a not-for-profit, faith-based healthcare organization dedicated to the healing ministry of the Church. Founded by the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth and strengthened as part of Catholic Health Initiatives, it offers a continuum of care including preventative, primary and acute hospital care, as well as cancer and cardiac care, orthopedic and rehabilitation services. CHI Memorial is a regional referral center of choice with 3,500 associates and more than 600 affiliated physicians providing health care throughout Southeast Tennessee, North Georgia and Northwest Alabama. To learn more, visit www.memorial.org. 

About Chattanooga Red Wolves SC
Founded in 2018, Chattanooga Red Wolves SC is a professional soccer club in Chattanooga, Tenn. The USL League One founding member is led by business executive Robert Martino and President Sean McDaniel. The club is constructing a state-of-the-art 5,500-seat soccer-specific stadium in Chattanooga for the 2020 season. For more information, visit https://www.chattanoogaredwolves-sc.com/. 

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On Feb. 16, 2020, the Chattanooga Red Wolves began their preseason schedule against USL Championship team Atlanta United 2. On a brisk Sunday afternoon, the first whistle blows, and the team goes to work. During the weeks leading up to this match, Coach Obleda has been working on the team’s style of play. It is a high-energy, high press, aggressive style that proved to be effective in yesterday’s match. The Chattanooga Red Wolves went home the victors, and the score was 4-0 at the end of the match. 

The game consisted of three thirty-minute periods, and the boys from Chattanooga scored in all three periods. To break the ice, Ami Pineda scored a free-kick from outside of the box, approximately 24 yards from the goal. He bent the ball around the left side of the wall with pace, and finished it in the top left corner of the goal. Pineda then later when on to score the second goal of the match during the second period. At a similar distance but towards the right side, Pineda goes over the wall and places the ball in the near post side netting. 

In the third period, Ricardo Zacarias got a well-earned goal. While playing in the outside forward position he pressed the opposing outside back who was receiving a switching ball from the center back. Zacarias blocked the ball on a failed clearance and took it to goal on a 35 yard solo run. Once one on one with the keeper he buried it in the goal.

To finish off the match, Ami Pineda served a lofted through ball to Eamon Zayed running into the box. Zayed took one touch to bring it down, and performed a cross-body shot to slot it by the back post. 

The team displayed an exceptional amount of chemistry. This is a great feat as about half of the team is new this year. Everyone had a chance to play, and for some, it was an unofficial professional debut. All of the rookies and younger players played well. This a great point for the team to build from, and the club, fans, and city look forward to how they come together leading up to the first match on March 27th at Greenville.

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (Jan. 31, 2020) Pending league and federation approval, The Chattanooga Red Wolves Soccer Club announced the signing of Mark Hernandez.

The Chattanooga Red Wolves sign a winger from the USL Championship team Reno 1868. Additionally, Hernandez was a part of Coach Obleda’s historic youth team that was the only team in history to win back to back Dallas Cup and National Championships (2011/12). Mark Hernandez played alongside current Chattanooga Red Wolves players Ami Pineda, Ronaldo Pineda, and Ricky Ruiz. Aside from being an exceptional player, Hernandez will provide an additional level of cohesion for the team as they enter into the 2020 season.

Coach Obleda sat down with a few interviewers this past week and spoke on bringing Mark Hernandez to the Red Wolves. He said, “He is a special crafty player. He is great in 1 on 1 situation and is the type of player that can turn the game on by himself. There will be a lot of difficult and compact defenses in our league, and he’s the type of player that can break them down individually.”

Hernandez has played at a high level of competition and brings great energy to the developing squad. The players will begin their official preseason early Monday, February 3rd, and will start their baseline testing. This is a monumental week for the squad as they prepare for the historic season that is to come.

The Chattanooga Red Wolves begin their preseason on February 3, 2020, in the early hours of the morning. With the remaining players traveling back to Chattanooga the last week of January, all of the new players will begin to learn more of what it looks like to call Chattanooga home during the next several weeks of training. In the weeks and months ahead the team has various scrimmages and training goals to reach before the season starts. Recently announced was that the Chattanooga Red Wolves SC will be hosting the Birmingham Legion FC USL Championship team for the second round of the Lamar Hunt Open Cup on April 7, 2020, at 7:00pm. More details will be released closer to the date.

About Chattanooga Red Wolves SC

Founded in 2018, Chattanooga Red Wolves SC is a professional soccer club in Chattanooga, Tenn. The USL League One founding member is led by business executive Robert (Bob) Martino and President Sean McDaniel. The club is constructing a state-of-the-art 5,500-seat soccer-specific stadium in Chattanooga for the 2020 season. For more information, visit https://www.chattanoogaredwolves-sc.com/. 

About USL League One

USL League One is shaping the future of the game in the United States, uniting passionate fans in new markets with the thrill of proven professional soccer experience. League One is sanctioned by the U.S. Soccer Federation as a professional soccer league and completed its inaugural season in 2019. League One continues to expand, adding three new clubs ahead of the 2020 season while continuing to explore opportunities to bring professional soccer to new communities.  

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (Jan. 30, 2020) Pending league and federation approval, The Chattanooga Red Wolves Soccer Club announced the signing of Ricardo Zacarias.

The Chattanooga Red Wolves sign a center-forward by the name of Ricardo Zacarias. Zacarias is coming from C.F. La Piedad which plays in the Mexican Liga Premier de Ascenso de Mexico. Previously Zacarias played for Irapuato and Corsas de Nayarit, which is in the same division, as well as Club America U20 in Liga MX. 

In a recent interview with Head Coach Jimmy Obleda, he said, “Ricardo Zacarias is a great center-forward who has a great deal of experience from playing in Mexico. He has played for som exceptional clubs like Club America, and will bring a lot to the table here in Chattanooga. One notable aspect of Ricardo’s game is that he is a goal scorer. He does an excellent job at being a center-forward for that reason.”

The Chattanooga Red Wolves begin their preseason on February 3, 2020, in the early hours of the morning. With the remaining players traveling back to Chattanooga the last week of January, all of the new players will begin to learn more of what it looks like to call Chattanooga home during the next several weeks of training. In the weeks and months ahead the team has various scrimmages and training goals to reach before the season starts. Recently announced was that the Chattanooga Red Wolves SC will be hosting the Birmingham Legion FC USL Championship team for the second round of the Lamar Hunt Open Cup on April 7, 2020, at 7:00pm. More details will be released closer to the date.

About Chattanooga Red Wolves SC

Founded in 2018, Chattanooga Red Wolves SC is a professional soccer club in Chattanooga, Tenn. The USL League One founding member is led by business executive Robert (Bob) Martino and President Sean McDaniel. The club is constructing a state-of-the-art 5,500-seat soccer-specific stadium in Chattanooga for the 2020 season. For more information, visit https://www.chattanoogaredwolves-sc.com/. 

About USL League One

USL League One is shaping the future of the game in the United States, uniting passionate fans in new markets with the thrill of proven professional soccer experience. League One is sanctioned by the U.S. Soccer Federation as a professional soccer league and completed its inaugural season in 2019. League One continues to expand, adding three new clubs ahead of the 2020 season while continuing to explore opportunities to bring professional soccer to new communities.  

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (Jan. 29, 2020) Pending league and federation approval, The Chattanooga Red Wolves Soccer Club announced the signing of Jason Ramos.

Jason Ramos is a defender who was given an opportunity to advance to the next level, and undoubtedly seized the moment. Ramos was invited to a closed tryout in California which was to be hosted by Head Coach Jimmy Obleda. Prior to that date, Ramos went to Cal Poly Pomona and had two goals, one assist, and aided the team in eight clean sheets. He is an outstanding defender, and was a standout player where he was. Jason Ramos played well, and has since earned a spot on the roster for the Chattanooga Red Wolves’ 2020 season. 

Coach Jimmy Obleda sat down with the those interviewing him, and said, “Ramos is a special player that caught my eye at the invite-only combine we had in California. He is a player that will have a recognizable presence on the field. He caught our eye as being a well-rounded defender who was exceptional at completing passes. Additionally, his accuracy in his long-range passes was notable.”

The club has built up each third of the field during the offseason, and Jason Ramos joins the roster doing just that. The standard is set high by Coach Obleda for the preseason, and the team has committed to maintaining that for the entirety of the season, post-season, and offseason. The players have the initial check-in Monday, February 3rd, which will kick off the beginning of their preseason. 

About Chattanooga Red Wolves SC

Founded in 2018, Chattanooga Red Wolves SC is a professional soccer club in Chattanooga, Tenn. The USL League One founding member is led by business executive Robert (Bob) Martino and President Sean McDaniel. The club is constructing a state-of-the-art 5,500-seat soccer-specific stadium in Chattanooga for the 2020 season. For more information, visit https://www.chattanoogaredwolves-sc.com/. 

About USL League One

USL League One is shaping the future of the game in the United States, uniting passionate fans in new markets with the thrill of proven professional soccer experience. League One is sanctioned by the U.S. Soccer Federation as a professional soccer league and completed its inaugural season in 2019. League One continues to expand, adding three new clubs ahead of the 2020 season while continuing to explore opportunities to bring professional soccer to new communities.  

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CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (Jan. 28, 2020) Pending league and federation approval, The Chattanooga Red Wolves Soccer Club announced the signing of Nikolaos Pettas.

Nikolaos Pettas has played for clubs in both Greece and the United States. Joining the team as a defensive back Pettas’ presence will command respect. Pettas fits well into Coach Obleda’s style of play and should be integrated into the team well. Recently coming from APS Zakynthos and has played for teams such as Almeyda FC, Houston Dutch Lions, and Atlanta SC. Pettas has been playing professional soccer for seven years overseas before starting his next chapter in the United States. While in Greece Pettas also played for Atromitos FC, Panachaiki FC.

In a recent discussion with Coach Obleda, he said, “Nikos will be a dominant player, and the opposing team will know when he is on the field. He is coming to us with a great deal of experience and is a high caliber player. I am excited to see how he contributes to the team as a whole.”

The club has carefully selected players who will aid the team in becoming champions in the 2020 season. Preseason will start February 3, 2020, and the club has increased its operational workload with the anticipation of preseason around being around the corner. All of those in the office are extremely excited for this historic season to be underway. 

About Chattanooga Red Wolves SC

Founded in 2018, Chattanooga Red Wolves SC is a professional soccer club in Chattanooga, Tenn. The USL League One founding member is led by business executive Robert (Bob) Martino and President Sean McDaniel. The club is constructing a state-of-the-art 5,500-seat soccer-specific stadium in Chattanooga for the 2020 season. For more information, visit https://www.chattanoogaredwolves-sc.com/. 

About USL League One

USL League One is shaping the future of the game in the United States, uniting passionate fans in new markets with the thrill of proven professional soccer experience. League One is sanctioned by the U.S. Soccer Federation as a professional soccer league and completed its inaugural season in 2019. League One continues to expand, adding three new clubs ahead of the 2020 season while continuing to explore opportunities to bring professional soccer to new communities.  

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CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (Jan. 22, 2020) Pending league and federation approval, The Chattanooga Red Wolves Soccer Club announced the signing of Ricky Ruiz.

Ruiz played all four years of his collegiate career at the NCAA Division 1 school UC Riverside where he proved to be a dangerous offensive threat. Ruiz has an innate ability to expose opposing defenses causing multiple goal-scoring opportunities for his teammates. His speed, creativity, and vision produce the type of player that the Chattanooga Red Wolves look to sign for the upcoming 2020 season. 

The California native has past experience with the recently hired Head Coach Jimmy Obleda. In addition to Ronaldo and Ami Pineda. This group of talented individuals made up the core of Obleda’s youth squad that became the first and only team to win back to back National Championships and Dallas Cup Championships. The overall skillsets and preexisting chemistry between these players will aid the Chattanooga Red Wolves in achieving their organizational goal of winning the USL League One Championship. 

During an interview with Coach Obleda, he said, “Ricky is an exceptional soccer player. He can play anywhere whether it be on the right-wing or invertedly on the left. He’s great at getting in behind and bridging the gap between the number 9 position and the rest of the attack. He is a great goal scorer.

About Chattanooga Red Wolves SC

Founded in 2018, Chattanooga Red Wolves SC is a professional soccer club in Chattanooga, Tenn. The USL League One founding member is led by business executive Robert (Bob) Martino and President Sean McDaniel. The club is constructing a state-of-the-art 5,500-seat soccer-specific stadium in Chattanooga for the 2020 season. For more information, visit https://www.chattanoogaredwolves-sc.com/. 

About USL League One

USL League One is shaping the future of the game in the United States, uniting passionate fans in new markets with the thrill of proven professional soccer experience. League One is sanctioned by the U.S. Soccer Federation as a professional soccer league and completed its inaugural season in 2019. League One continues to expand, adding three new clubs ahead of the 2020 season while continuing to explore opportunities to bring professional soccer to new communities.  

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CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (Jan. 24, 2020), The Chattanooga Red Wolves Soccer Club announced Tim Trilk to join the squad.

Tim Trilk is a standout keeper who joins the professional ranks as a previous USL League 2 player. Trilk recently played for the Tri-City Otters and made historical marks with Western Illinois University.  While at WIU, Trilk climbed to the number six spot for most saves in the entire NCAA. He finished his time at WIU with accolades such as a top-ten statistic leader in career shutouts, career wins, career minutes, and career saves.

Coach Obleda participated in an interview earlier this week and said, “Tim is one of the best up and coming goalkeepers in the country. He has great control and commands respect in his area. He also is very good with his feet, which is a great skill for the modern goalkeeper. We are happy to have him, and our goalkeeping position is in great hands.”

The club is excited about Trilk’s arrival, and how this is a special opportunity for him. His attitude and talent create an ethos that meshes well with the culture the new coaches are building. He was such a well-recognized player at the previous level, the city is excited to see what kind of contribution he will make for the club in 2020. 

About Chattanooga Red Wolves SC

Founded in 2018, Chattanooga Red Wolves SC is a professional soccer club in Chattanooga, Tenn. The USL League One founding member is led by business executive Robert (Bob) Martino and President Sean McDaniel. The club is constructing a state-of-the-art 5,500-seat soccer-specific stadium in Chattanooga for the 2020 season. For more information, visit https://www.chattanoogaredwolves-sc.com/. 

About USL League One

USL League One is shaping the future of the game in the United States, uniting passionate fans in new markets with the thrill of proven professional soccer experience. League One is sanctioned by the U.S. Soccer Federation as a professional soccer league and completed its inaugural season in 2019. League One continues to expand, adding three new clubs ahead of the 2020 season while continuing to explore opportunities to bring professional soccer to new communities.  

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