The possibility of professional soccer coming to Brownsville is moving closer to reality after the United Soccer League secured an interested partner and Brownsville advanced as one of the final cities being considered for an expansion team.
For the past year and a half, the City of Brownsville has been working with USL and local soccer representatives to explore what it would take to bring a professional team to the community.
During the latest USL meeting, city officials provided an update on where those discussions currently stand and what could come next.
“We're at the point now where ownership is between Brownsville and another city, and Brownsville has the largest return on investment as opposed to the other city, but we also have the best talent here,” said Nathan Burkhardt, director of the Brownsville Convention and Visitors Bureau and Office of Space Commerce.
While details about the interested partner have not been released, the development marks another significant step in the process.
If Brownsville is selected for a USL expansion team, the effort could also lead to improvements at the Brownsville Sports Park and create a new home for professional soccer in the city.
The City has also met with local leagues and teams throughout the process to discuss how potential development at the Sports Park could proceed without disrupting existing practices, games, and tournaments.
For local soccer leaders, the possibility of a professional team also represents an opportunity for young athletes to see a higher level of competition in their own community.
“They will have the opportunity to see a higher level of soccer here in Brownsville if the professional team comes to a reality. Not only will they have that, but they will have the platform to run next to and maybe one day be able to play at that level,” said Francisco Chavez, director of BTX Soccer Club.
Brownsville already has a strong soccer culture, with youth and high school programs continuing to develop players across the community.
Those local athletes could eventually have a pathway to compete professionally without having to leave the region.
A USL expansion team has not yet been officially awarded to Brownsville, but securing an interested partner and advancing as one of the final cities under consideration moves professional soccer in Brownsville another step closer to reality.
Source: City of Brownsville
