United Kingdom
United States
Asia Pacific
Major League Soccer coming to San Diego
Sports mad Southern California has another reason to cheer.
San Diego is getting a Major League Soccer team.
Last month MLS Commissioner Don Garber announced the league’s 30th team will debut in San Diego in 2025.
The team is expected to be named the San Diego Football Club or Football Club of San Diego.
It will play at Snapdragon Stadium, a 35,000-seat venue at San Diego State University’s Mission Valley campus.
The owners include Egyptian businessman Mohamed Mansour and San Diego Padres star Manny Machado.
Also backing the franchise is the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, which becomes the first tribe to co-own a professional soccer team.
“Major League Soccer will draw visitors who will stay in hotels, dine out, visit our attractions and support local businesses,” said Julie Coker, CEO of the San Diego Tourism Authority.
“Establishing a new MLS team leads to out-of-town visitors, which leads to jobs, tax revenue and overall visitor spend.”
The Snapdragon Stadium opened last year and has become a popular sports and entertainment center.
It hosts concerts and is home to SDSU Aztecs football, the San Diego Wave FC and the San Diego Legion.
This summer, the stadium will host a high-profile exhibition match between Manchester United and Wrexham AFC on July 25.
It will also host the 20th edition of MexTour on June 10, when the Mexican Men’s National Team takes on Cameroon.
The Concacaf Gold Cup will also take place at Snapdragon on July 12.
MLS joins an already impressive sporting lineup in San Diego.
It is home to the San Diego Padres (MLB), the San Diego Wave FC (National Women’s Soccer League), the San Diego Loyal (United Soccer League), the San Diego Legion (Major League Rugby) and the San Diego Gulls (American Hockey League).
The San Diego Tourism Authority helps drive visitor demand to the San Diego region. Tourism is the second largest segment of the economy and employs around 200,000 people.
Related News Stories:
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
Kittipong Prapattong’s Plan for Thailand’s Tourism Growth: Taxes, Visas, and Campaigns
James Jin: Didatravel’s Journey from China to Global Reach and the Impact of AI on Travel
Darien Schaefer on Pensacola’s Evolution: From Small Town to Global Destination
Florida Tourism’s Next Frontier: Dana Young on Expanding Beyond the Classics
Patrick Harrison on Tampa Bay Tourism’s Resilience and Marketing Strategy
Bubba O’Keefe on Clarksdale’s Vibrant Music Scene
Commemorating Elvis and Embracing Tupelo’s Culture with Jennie Bradford Curlee
Craig Ray and the Expansion of the Blues Trail
Presenting Mississippi’s Cultural Trails with Katie Coats
Robert Terrell: A Journey Through BB King’s Influence
Rochelle Hicks: Celebrating Mississippi’s Musical Legacy
Exploring Jacksonville with Katie Mitura: The Flip Side of Florida
Dozens fall ill in P&O Cruises ship outbreak
Turkish Airlines flight in emergency landing after pilot dies
Boy falls to death on cruise ship
Unexpected wave rocks cruise ship
Storm Lilian travel chaos as bank holiday flights cancelled