Spokane Velocity

Spokane Velocity FC

Founded	2021
Stadium	One Spokane Stadium Spokane, Washington
Capacity	5,000
Owner	Aequus Sports, LLC (Ryan and Katie Harnetiaux)
Head coach	Leigh Veidman
League	USL League One
Website	Club website
colors colors
Current season

Spokane Velocity FC is an American professional soccer team based in Spokane, Washington, competing in USL League One.

History

In March 2021, United Soccer League announced a proposal to build a 5,000-seat stadium in downtown Spokane to serve as home to a new USL League One club. ^[1] In May 2021, the Spokane Public School Board voted to approve the $31 million stadium project. ^{[2] [3]} In December 2021, the Spokane Public Facilities District met with USL and MLS Next Pro officials over which league would place a team at the city-run stadium. ^[4]

On October 7, 2022, the club announced their new ownership group, Aequus Sports, LLC (led by Ryan and Katie Harnetiaux) as well as that their men's team would start play in USL League One in 2024. ^{[5] [6]} The club announced a partnership with Capelli Sport on June 21, 2023, making them their exclusive uniform, equipment, and training apparel provider. ^[7] The official team name, Spokane Velocity FC, and crest were announced at a launch event on July 21, 2023. ^[8] On November 15, 2023, Charleston Battery assistant coach Leigh Veidman was named Spokane Velocity's first-ever head coach. ^[9]

The team's inaugural match was a 3–1 loss to Greenville Triumph SC played on March 9, 2024, at Paladin Stadium in South Carolina. Josh Dolling scored the first goal in Velocity FC history—a penalty kick taken in the 13th minute. ^[10] The Velocity's first-ever home match, at ONE Spokane Stadium on March 16, was a 2–1 victory against the Richmond Kickers in front of a sold-out crowd of 5,086. ^[11] The team entered the 2024 U.S. Open Cup and won their first cup match against Ballard FC, the defending USL League Two champions, on March 20 at Memorial Stadium in Seattle. ^[12]

Club identity

The team's name and crest were unveiled on July 21, 2023. Both reference the Spokane River, which runs through Downtown Spokane and passes near One Spokane Stadium. The crest features four vertical blue bars that represent the river's waterfalls, while the "Velocity" wordmark above is shaped similar to a simplified version of the Monroe Street Bridge. ^{[8] [13]} The Velocity's official colors are named basalt, impact blue, and river rapid white. ^[14]

Sponsorship

Seasons	Shirt manufacturer	Shirt sponsor
2024–present [15]	Capelli Sport	Front: QR Code rotating sponsor Back: Brick West Brewing Company Sleeve: Gallagher

Club culture

The team's largest supporters' group is the 509 Syndicate, which organizes a march to the match through Riverfront Park to One Spokane Stadium. ^{[16] [17]}

Affiliated women's teams

Main article: Spokane Zephyr FC

In June 2021, Spokane was named as one of the founding cities of the USL W League, a women's league that began play in 2022. ^[18] The team is set to join W League for the 2024 season, along with the completion of One Spokane Stadium. ^[19]

Spokane's ownership announced in October 2022 that they wanted to bring professional women's soccer to the city. ^[19] A women's team representing Spokane in the USL Super League was announced in May 2023. It will be owned by the USL Spokane ownership group and begin play in August 2024, sharing their home stadium with the men's team and W League team. ^[20]

The team name was announced in November 2023, as Spokane Zephyr FC. ^[21]

Players and staff

Staff

As of February 7, 2024

Front Office Staff [22]
President, USL Spokane	Katie Harnetiaux [23]
Vice President, Spokane Velocity FC	Phil Harrison
Director of Operations and Player Administration	Emma Hayes
Technical Staff [24]
Head coach	Leigh Veidman
Assistant coach	Renato Bustamante [25]
Goalkeeping coach	Vito Higgins
Director of Performance	Josh McAllister
VP of Soccer Operations	Dustin Clever
Sporting Department Consultant	Gareth Smith

Current roster

As of April 2, 2024 ^[26]

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

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK   MEX Carlos Merancio 2 DF   ESP Javier Martín Gil 3 DF   USA Elijah Amadin 5 DF   USA Marcelo Lage 6 MF   PER Collin Fernandez 7 MF   USA Michael Rojas 8 MF   USA Morgan Hackworth 9 FW   ENG Josh Dolling 10 MF   USA Luis Gil 11 MF   USA Pierre Reedy

No. Pos. Nation Player 12 DF   USA Camron Miller 13 GK   USA Peter Swinkels 14 MF   COD Ariel Mbumba 17 MF   ENG Kimarni Smith 18 DF   USA Derek Waldeck 19 MF   ENG Jack Denton 21 DF   USA Ahmed Longmire 22 DF   MAD Romain Métanire 23 MF   USA Grayson Dupont 77 MF   JAM Andre Lewis

Team records

Head coaches

• Includes USL Regular Season, USL Playoffs, U.S. Open Cup. Excludes friendlies.

Coach	Nationality	Start	End	Games	Wins	Losses	Draws	Win %
Leigh Veidman [27]	England	November 15, 2023	present	7	4	2	1	057.14

References

1. USLSoccer.com Staff (March 2, 2021). "USL, Downtown Spokane Partnership Announce New Proposal for Downtown Stadium". USLSoccer.com.
2. "Spokane Public Schools board votes to build new stadium downtown". KREM. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
3. USLLeagueOne.com Staff (May 5, 2021). "New Downtown Spokane Stadium Development Approved by Public School Board". USL League One. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
4. Allen, Jim (December 13, 2021). "MLS or USL? Decision on professional soccer is up to the Spokane Public Facilities District". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
5. Robertson, Erin (October 7, 2022). "United Soccer League announces addition of men's team to Spokane club". KXLY-TV . Retrieved October 7, 2022.
6. "New USL Spokane Ownership Introduced to Community". USL League One. October 7, 2022. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
7. "USL Spokane". Capelli Sport. June 21, 2023. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
8. Allen, Jim (July 21, 2023). "Spokane's United Soccer League team debuts 'Velocity FC' name, logo". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
9. Reed, Justin (November 15, 2023). "Leigh Veidman announced as first Spokane Velocity FC head coach". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
10. Myers, Ethan (March 9, 2024). "Spokane Velocity start fast, but lose inaugural match 3–1 to Greenville Triumph". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
11. Reed, Justin (March 16, 2024). "'The atmosphere was phenomenal': Spokane Velocity start party early during 2–1 home-opening win over Richmond". The Spokesman-Review.
12. Evans, Jayda (March 20, 2024). "Ballard FC falls to Spokane Velocity in U.S. Open Cup after late controversy". The Seattle Times. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
13. Spokane Velocity (July 21, 2023). "Our Crest". Spokane Velocity. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
14. Craven, Brock (December 19, 2023). "Spokane Velocity FC releases first look of inaugural jerseys!". SWX Right Now . Retrieved February 25, 2024.
15. "Spokane Velocity FC Announces Kit Sponsors" (Press release). Spokane Velocity FC. February 6, 2024. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
16. Hyun, Nathan (March 17, 2024). "Thousands of fans bring the energy to Spokane Velocity's first home game". KREM 2. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
17. "Know Before You Go". Spokane Velocity FC. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
18. "United Soccer League Announces Addition of a W League Team in Spokane". USL Spokane. June 23, 2021. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
19. "New USL Spokane Ownership Introduced to Community". USL W League. October 7, 2022. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
20. Allen, Jim (May 16, 2023). "Spokane gets top-tier USL women's soccer team". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
21. "New Women's Spokane Soccer team name revealed". KREM. November 5, 2023. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
22. "Meet the Staff: Front Office Team". January 10, 2024. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
23. "Katie Harnetiaux Joins USL Spokane as President". Spokane Velocity Football Club. October 18, 2023. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
24. "Meet the Technical Team". February 6, 2024. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
25. "Spokane Velocity FC Hires Assistant Coach, Renato Bustamante". February 9, 2024. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
26. "Spokane Velocity FC Signs Five Players". Spokane Velocity Football Club. January 5, 2024. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
27. "Spokane Velocity FC Hires Leigh Veidman as Club's First Head Coach". USL Spokane. November 15, 2023. Retrieved November 15, 2023.

External links

• Official website