News

The Chattanooga Professional Soccer organization is opening a team headquarters in the heart of the city that will provide executive office space, a retail store and gathering area for fans. 

“This unique space will be the hub for all things Chattanooga Pro Soccer,” said Sean McDaniel, team general manager and president. “It will be the headquarters not only for our operation but a dedicated place for fans to enjoy the sport that brings us together.”

The executive office will be at the former Harley Davidson apparel and gear store at 411 Broad Street. In addition to office space for franchise leadership, the building will also have a retail and indoor/outdoor seating with big-screen televisions. Fans will be able to purchase team merchandise including t-shirts, scarves, posters and more. The space will also serve as a place for fans to purchase tickets to upcoming games, meet coaches and players and a variety of special events.

“We want this to be soccer central in Chattanooga. Our goal for this multi-use space is to provide the ultimate experience for fans, families and visitors,” said McDaniel.

The organization plans to move into their new location in mid-September. 

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (Aug. 30, 2018) – The Chattanooga professional soccer organization is opening voting on the final five team names selected from community submissions through the “Name Your Team” contest. Chattanooga Pro Soccer received more than 350 submissions, which included stories tied to the region’s history, industry, native species and animals as well as its landmarks, music, art, values and spirit.

Beginning today, the following top five names will be open to the public for voting:

• Chattanooga Express
• Chattanooga Generals
• Chattanooga Ironhorses
• Chattanooga Red Wolves
• Sporting Chattanooga

“I am blown away at the range of names and creativity put into each submission,” said Bob Martino, owner of Chattanooga’s United Soccer League (USL) Division III professional team. “Chattanooga has a varied and interesting story, including its Civil War, Native American and locomotive history as well as its rise to protect its natural beauty and embrace its outdoor assets. The submissions wonderfully capture the heart and story of Chattanooga, and we’re excited to have this level of engagement in naming the city’s new professional sports team.”

Following review of hundreds of submissions, the professional soccer organization decided to increase final voting to five options for the team name. Voting will continue through the end of Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2018. The professional soccer team name will be announced on Thursday, Sept. 6, 2018. A public brand unveiling and community celebration will take place later this fall.

To vote on the top five, the community is encouraged to visit www.chattanoogaprosoccer.com or access the link through social media by following @ChattanoogaSocc on Twitter, @ChattanoogaProSoccer on Instagram, and Chattanooga Pro Soccer on Facebook. 

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (August 22, 2018) – Starting today, Chattanooga residents have the opportunity to help name the United Soccer League (USL) Division III professional team. Team owner Bob Martino and Sean McDaniel, president and general manager, are launching the contest to involve the community in the city’s newest franchise.

“We want our community to help us create a name that fully embodies and empowers our city,” said Martino. “We’re excited to add a professional team to Chattanooga’s sports scene and invite soccer fans, athletes, children, families and all citizens to submit names that reflect our community, its history and our future.”

Kicking off today, the “Name Your Team” contest invites community members to submit names and a coinciding story in support of their pick for the professional soccer team name. Names could include historical figures or events rooted in Chattanooga history, native species or animals with a unique origin in the region, local natural formations or landmarks, values that capture the spirit of Chattanooga’s people or any submission containing a supporting story.

“Chattanooga is a soccer city, and it’s also a creative community that’s accomplished many milestones because of coordinated efforts,” said McDaniel. “By helping name the professional soccer team, our community has a part in expressing who we are as a city and where we’re going together.”

The first round begins today and closes August 29. Everyone is invited to submit names for the professional team as well as a story through an online form. Each person who submits a team name and narrative will be entered into a drawing to win. Prizes include VIP experiences, season tickets, catered parties, team merchandise and more.

Following the crowdsourcing of the team names, voting for the top three submissions will open August 31. The name and logo will be unveiled at an upcoming public celebration this fall in Chattanooga.

To make submissions, the community is encouraged to visit www.chattanoogaprosoccer.com or access the link through social media by following @ChattanoogaSocc on Twitter,@ChattanoogaProSoccer on Instagram, and Chattanooga Pro Soccer on Facebook.

TAMPA, Fla. – Professional soccer is coming to Chattanooga as USL Division III today announced it has awarded a founding member franchise to an organization led by business executive Robert (Bob) Martino for the league’s 2019 debut season. In addition, the club has confirmed that it will host a public event in the coming months to unveil its overall vision for the future of professional soccer in Chattanooga.

USL Division III will deliver a longer season of top-tier professional soccer to Chattanooga soccer fans, along with generating heightened national media awareness for the community as part of a pro league. The club is expected generate up to 40 full-time jobs, plus event-related staff during home matches. Martino will lead a group of prominent and successful Chattanooga-based executives with extensive experience in growing the game.

“The professional USL Division III provides a great platform for Chattanooga to enter the highest ranks of soccer and further strengthens the Southeast region for the new league as we put the final touches on our exciting inaugural season,” said Steven Short, Senior Vice President of USL Division III. “Bob Martino and his team are seasoned executives with a strong vision for the future of soccer in Chattanooga. We share their vision for the city and look forward to working with Bob and his team as they bring the thrill and excitement of professional soccer to Chattanooga.”

“This is a fantastic opportunity and watershed moment for soccer fans in Chattanooga,” said Bob Martino. “This market has proven that it has the right ingredients to launch and sustain a professional franchise, and we are excited to take this next step into USL Division III for fans and the community. I applaud the existing grassroots support and passionate fan base already in place in the city, and I welcome the opportunity for us to work together to realize the great vision for professional soccer in Chattanooga. Our goal is to build upon the remarkable soccer history that has been created here, and establish a professional club of which both fans and our community can be proud – one that will make a lasting contribution to what makes this city great.”

Chattanooga has a long-standing and thriving soccer landscape, with the state of Tennessee boasting 50,000 youth players and 5,000 adult amateurs. It boasts a diverse population comprised of young families, with the median age of 37. Chattanooga is also home to Volkswagen Group of America’s North American manufacturing headquarters. The city and region are home to other major businesses such as BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, Unum, Moon Pie, Little Debbie, Wacker Chemie, a major Amazon.com distribution center and a large T-Mobile call center.

The professional level USL Division III will provide passionate fans in new markets with a proven soccer experience. The league recently met with 11 local ownership groups in Atlanta to discuss details of the new 2019 season. Those ownership groups represent Chattanooga Pro Soccer, Toronto FC II (Toronto, Ontario), South Georgia Tormenta FC (Statesboro, Georgia), FC Tucson (Tucson, Arizona), Greenville Pro Soccer (Greenville, South Carolina) and Madison Pro Soccer (Madison, Wisconsin). The additional clubs will be announced in the coming weeks and months, as well as further details on the league’s competition structure. The league remains focused on positioning teams for long-term success by creating regional rivalries that deliver on-field excitement and leveraging a national media platform to drive awareness for each market.

Details to come will include team name, schedule, playing location, partnerships and more. To stay up to date on the latest developments for the Chattanooga professional USL Division III team, please follow @ChattanoogaSocc on Twitter, @ChattanoogaProSoccer on Instagram, and Chattanooga Pro Soccer on Facebook.

TAMPA, Fla. – Professional soccer is coming to Chattanooga as USL Division III today announced it has awarded a founding member franchise to an organization led by business executive Robert (Bob) Martino for the league’s 2019 debut season. In addition, the club has confirmed that it will host a public event in the coming months to unveil its overall vision for the future of professional soccer in Chattanooga.

USL Division III will deliver a longer season of top-tier professional soccer to Chattanooga soccer fans, along with generating heightened national media awareness for the community as part of a pro league. The club is expected generate up to 40 full-time jobs, plus event-related staff during home matches. Martino will lead a group of prominent and successful Chattanooga-based executives with extensive experience in growing the game.

“The professional USL Division III provides a great platform for Chattanooga to enter the highest ranks of soccer and further strengthens the Southeast region for the new league as we put the final touches on our exciting inaugural season,” said Steven Short, Senior Vice President of USL Division III. “Bob Martino and his team are seasoned executives with a strong vision for the future of soccer in Chattanooga. We share their vision for the city and look forward to working with Bob and his team as they bring the thrill and excitement of professional soccer to Chattanooga.”

“This is a fantastic opportunity and watershed moment for soccer fans in Chattanooga,” said Bob Martino. “This market has proven that it has the right ingredients to launch and sustain a professional franchise, and we are excited to take this next step into USL Division III for fans and the community. I applaud the existing grassroots support and passionate fan base already in place in the city, and I welcome the opportunity for us to work together to realize the great vision for professional soccer in Chattanooga. Our goal is to build upon the remarkable soccer history that has been created here, and establish a professional club of which both fans and our community can be proud – one that will make a lasting contribution to what makes this city great.”

Chattanooga has a long-standing and thriving soccer landscape, with the state of Tennessee boasting 50,000 youth players and 5,000 adult amateurs. It boasts a diverse population comprised of young families, with the median age of 37. Chattanooga is also home to Volkswagen Group of America’s North American manufacturing headquarters. The city and region are home to other major businesses such as BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, Unum, Moon Pie, Little Debbie, Wacker Chemie, a major Amazon.com distribution center and a large T-Mobile call center.

The professional level USL Division III will provide passionate fans in new markets with a proven soccer experience. The league recently met with 11 local ownership groups in Atlanta to discuss details of the new 2019 season. Those ownership groups represent Chattanooga Pro Soccer, Toronto FC II (Toronto, Ontario), South Georgia Tormenta FC (Statesboro, Georgia), FC Tucson (Tucson, Arizona), Greenville Pro Soccer (Greenville, South Carolina) and Madison Pro Soccer (Madison, Wisconsin). The additional clubs will be announced in the coming weeks and months, as well as further details on the league’s competition structure. The league remains focused on positioning teams for long-term success by creating regional rivalries that deliver on-field excitement and leveraging a national media platform to drive awareness for each market.

Details to come will include team name, schedule, playing location, partnerships and more. To stay up to date on the latest developments for the Chattanooga professional USL Division III team, please follow @ChattanoogaSocc on Twitter, @ChattanoogaProSoccer on Instagram, and Chattanooga Pro Soccer on Facebook.