Nine years after its launch, San Antonio FC continues to build local interest in professional soccer with a winning team and enthusiastic fans.
To improve the club and expand its reach, San Antonio FC has developed partnerships with teams in Darmstadt, Germany and Las Palmas, Spain.
“They are trying to grow their brand in the states,” said Jose Lizardo, director of Toyota Field and Star Soccer Complex. “Like every other European club that comes over, they see that the U.S. is a huge market for them to expand their fan base. For us, it’s the same thing.”
On this week’s episode of the bigcitysmalltown podcast, host Robert Rivard discusses the expanding international reach of San Antonio FC with Lizardo and club sporting director Marco Ferruzzi.
San Antonio FC competes in the USL Championship, the second-highest level of the United States soccer league system, as a member of the Western Conference.
With distinguished backgrounds in the business of soccer, Ferruzzi and Lizardo provide insight into the origins and community-driven mission of San Antonio FC and the practical and cultural complexities of organizing international friendlies.
They also examine:
- What San Antonio and its European sister clubs can learn from each other.
- How the USL compares to other leagues
- The future of promotion and relegation in U.S. soccer
- The club’s commitment to youth development, accessibility, and community outreach
- Efforts to grow local attendance and build a sustainable soccer culture in San Antonio
The conversation delves into the business and civic aspects of professional soccer.
The guests offer insight into the SAFC Pro Academy, the way the club uses star players to engage with the community and build fan interest. And they discuss where the sport is headed and what it means for the city’s place on the international stage.
Click the link below to listen to the full conversation.
