# @ussoccerplus on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DCVPZc3Se0r
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/24787569-ussoccerplus-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/thumbnails/0ce3a42630.jpg
- **Posted:** 2024-11-14T00:36:05.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** 𝐔𝐒 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐥𝐮𝐬 (@ussoccerplus) — https://gondola.cc/ussoccerplus

## Caption

Sad news for soccer fans in Memphis, Tennessee. Memphis 901 FC have officially transferred their USL Championship franchise rights to Santa Barbara, and will stop playing after this year.

Memphis 901 FC were co-founded in 2019 by USMNT legend Tim Howard, who not only was a part-owner but was also the sporting director of the club.

Just two years ago this time, in 2022, they announced exciting plans to build a beautiful 10,000-seater stadium within Liberty Park. 

Unfortunately, the stadium project was ultimately left out of a funding deal between the state and the city of Memphis. Howard then left the club this summer to invest in MLS side Houston Dynamo and NWSL side Houston Dash.

Not being able to find a viable stadium solution was the main issue for their downfall. They played in AutoZone Park, a 10,000-seater stadium home to Triple-A Baseball’s Memphis Redbirds.

This comes as a big blow for fans in Memphis, especially considering that soccer is booming in another city in the state, Nashville. Their MLS team averaged 28,500 fans per game this season.

Santa Barbara Sky were supposed to enter the USL League One. Now, because of the transferred franchise rights, they will play in the USL Championship starting from 2026.

They will use the University of California, Santa Barbara’s Harder Stadium— which seats 17,000 people.

[Via Anthony Kyaw] 

#memphis901 #usl #memphis #santabarbara #ussoccer

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 1,538
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 10

## Tags

ussoccer, santabarbara, memphis, memphis901, usl

---
Copyright (c) Gondola