Source: ABC11
U.S. Soccer is looking to pack up its Chicago offices and move to the southeastern part of the United States. Two cities in the running are Cary, North Carolina, and Atlanta, Georgia. Although this is exciting news for both cities, the U.S. Soccer Federation is in the early stages of looking for a new home.
The soccer federation will raise $300 million in efforts to build its new home. The new infrastructure will consist of a new headquarters building, a training center, and a diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging innovation lab.
Cary Town Manager Sean Stegall said “they are thrilled to be a finalist” and added that Cary is “the ideal home for U.S. Soccer.”
Cary is no stranger to being the hub for national sports teams. USA Baseball chose Cary as its home and headquarters back in 2007. The training complex has four baseball fields with stadium dimensions with all fields being maintained by Major league Baseball. The complex has hosted numerous collegiate tournaments and USA Baseball matches and tournaments.
Cary is also the home of WakeMed Soccer Park where North Carolina FC and the North Carolina Courage play. This venue has hosted the NCAA Championships for men’s and women’s soccer, NCAA Women’s Lacrosse Championship, NCAA Cross-Country matches and even hosted English Premier League team West Ham United for a summer exhibition back in 2016.
Soccer is one of the fastest-growing sports in America. The success of the sport has contributed to television deals for top professional leagues in Europe broadcasting in the United States on television networks CBS and NBC.
Major League Soccer has also grown tremendously across the United States and Canada. The world’s most popular sports video game is FIFA soccer by far sales-wise. The growth and popularity of United States Soccer is the biggest factor with many cities having youth soccer development programs that are similar to other countries where soccer or fútbol is life.
