Fort Wayne FC has revised its business plan, joining the Great Lakes Division of USL League Two for 2021 and 2022 seasons before advancing to USL League One in 2023.
As part of the move, Fort Wayne native, former U.S. men’s national team player and MLS veteran DaMarcus Beasley is joining the ownership group, providing a firsthand role in growing and promoting the club. Beasley retired from Houston Dynamo in 2019 and joins the likes of Tim Howard, Didier Drogba and Landon Donovan as players turned owners.
Fort Wayne FC had been a member of National Premier Soccer League before the 2020 season was scrapped because of coronavirus concerns.
The team is currently slated to play in 2021 and probably 2022 at Bishop Dwenger’s Shields Field, which seats 3,200, but team ownership will likely pursue a larger, soccer-only stadium, perhaps in the River North area of Fort Wayne.
“We are very excited to welcome DaMarcus to the ownership group and join the USL, starting with our inaugural season in 2021,” said Dr. Erik Magner, President of Fort Wayne FC. “We believe that both DaMarcus and the USL are great partners for us in supporting our plans to enter the professional ranks.”
“Being involved with a group to bring professional soccer to my hometown is truly a dream come true,” said Beasley. “I’m extremely excited to get started with this new challenge and to work side by side with the Fort Wayne community.”
Fort Wayne has a strong track record with professional sports. Baseball’s Fort Wayne TinCaps (Low A; Midwest League) have been a perennial success since moving to downtown’s Parkview Field in 2009, and the city has also supported hockey’s Fort Wayne Komets (ECHL) and basketball’s Fort Wayne Mad Ants (NBA Gatorade league).
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