AV Alta FC

Last updated
AV Alta FC
AV Alta FC logo.png
Full nameAV Alta Football Club
FoundedOctober 4, 2023;15 months ago (2023-10-04)
Stadium Lancaster Municipal Stadium
Capacity6,000
OwnerJohn Smelzer
J. David Harden
Bob Roback
PresidentJohn Smelzer
Head coachBrian Kleiban
League USL League One
2025Inaugural season
Website https://www.avaltafc.com/
Soccerball current event.svg Current season

AV Alta Football Club, commonly referred to as AV Alta FC or Alta, is an American professional soccer team based in Lancaster, California. First announced in 2023, the team plans to play in USL League One beginning in 2025. Their home field is Lancaster Municipal Stadium, also known as "The Hangar".

Contents

History

On October 4, 2023, the United Soccer League announced that the city of Lancaster, California, had been awarded a USL League One expansion team which would start play in the 2025 season. John Smelzer, an entrepreneur who worked with the United States Soccer Federation for the 1994 FIFA World Cup, was announced as founder and president. [1]

On May 16, 2024, Brian Kleiban was announced as the team's inaugural head coach. Kleiban had held coaching roles with FC Barcelona, Los Angeles FC and Chivas USA. [2]

The club's name — AV Alta FC — and logo were unveiled on May 17, 2024. [3] Former U.S. international and Major League Soccer player Miguel Ibarra, who hails from the area, was announced as the club's first player on December 9, 2024. [4]

Stadium

The team will play at Lancaster Municipal Stadium, also known as "The Hangar", a minor league ballpark that was home to the Lancaster JetHawks until 2020. [5] The stadium will be reconfigured for soccer use by adding seating in the former outfield at a cost of $17 million. It will have 5,300 seats, including a safe standing supporters' terrace on the north side. [4]

Current roster

As of January 29, 2025

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.Pos.NationPlayer
— DF Flag of Haiti.svg  HAI Ashkanov Apollon
— GK Flag of Mexico.svg  MEX Carlos Avilez
— MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Eduardo Blancas
— FW Flag of El Salvador.svg  SLV Alexis Cerritos
— MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Miguel Ibarra
— MF Flag of the Philippines.svg  PHI Javier Mariona
— DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Elijah Martin
No.Pos.NationPlayer
— DF Flag of Italy.svg  ITA Luca Mastrantonio
— DF Flag of Colombia.svg  COL Miguel Pajaro
— DF Flag of Bulgaria.svg  BUL Kaloyan Pehlivanov
— MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Harrison Robledo
— GK Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  TRI Denzil Smith
— MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Jimmie Villalobos

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References

  1. ↑ "USL Antelope Valley announces plans to bring professional soccer to Lancaster, Calif". USL League One. 2023-10-04. Retrieved 2024-05-20.
  2. ↑ "USL Antelope Valley Announces Brian Kleiban as the Club's First Head Coach". AV Alta FC. Retrieved 2024-05-20.
  3. ↑ Caiuch, Eduard (2024-05-18). "AV Alta FC, equipo de tercera división en USL, busca llenar un vacío en Antelope Valley". Los Angeles Times en Español (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-05-20.
  4. 1 2 Baxter, Kevin (December 9, 2024). "Showcasing a homegrown star will be part of AV Alta's ambitious launch plans". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  5. ↑ Baxter, Kevin (October 1, 2023). "How a pro soccer team hopes to create a new identity in the Antelope Valley". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
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