If You Build It…

Something big is happening in Collier County. The Paradise Coast Sports Complex (PCSC) is a massive, well-funded and comprehensive athletic and recreational facility located in City Gate near the intersection of Collier Blvd. and I-75. With county ownership and professional management, PCSC boasts over 160 acres, including eight soccer-sized professional-level synthetic turf fields, a stadium holding 5,000 spectators for soccer games, and up to 8,000 for concerts, fitness centers, food and drink operations, and much more. 

And starting in 2025, for the first time, a professional sports team will be based in Collier County, as the United Soccer League has awarded Naples a franchise for a USL-1 team. The sports complex and the league hosted a “kickoff” event on Saturday, January 27, drawing well over 1,000 fans to the stadium for soccer-related games, fun and swag, plus a chance to place a deposit for season tickets to the pro games. 

Roberto Moreno, CEO of the new team that at this point has no players, no coach and no name, said that once established, his squad will play games with teams from around the country. The contests will be televised, he said, mentioning CBS and ESPN, although no broadcast specifics are known. One year plus from the first game, there are many details yet to be filled in.

The Naples USL team is one of five expansion franchises, augmenting the dozen existing clubs in the league. Current locations range from Statesboro, Georgia, to Spokane, Washington, along with Charlotte, North Carolina, Fresno, California, and Greenville, South Carolina. In addition to Naples, expansion teams will be located in Portland, Maine, Brooklyn, Santa Barbara, California and Sherman, Texas. 

Much like the ECHL, in which the Estero-based Florida Everblades are the current reigning champions, USL-1 is what would be considered a minor or feeder league, with MLS, or Major League Soccer, the big league in the United States. South Florida has seen a surge of interest in soccer since the signing of Lionel Messi, the world’s top player, to the Inter Miami MLS team. 

Moreno said his ownership group will involve the local community in choosing a team name, colors, and crest and noted that, unlike other team sports, soccer franchises are referred to as “clubs” and have a connection to developing soccer at every level. He pointed to the strong turnout for Saturday’s event as evidence of the pent-up demand for soccer in this area. Marco Island City Council Chair and soccer dad Jared Grifoni, visiting with his daughter Tosca, who plays for an Orlando Health team, and holding future player Matteo, two, agreed. 

“This shows there is a very vibrant youth soccer community here in Collier County,” said Grifoni. “These kids here today – this is where the future is. This facility is going to be a massive long-term addition” to sports in the county. Having traveled all over Florida with youth soccer, he said the PCSC complex is “head and shoulders above” any similar facility he had seen elsewhere in the state. 

One week before the kickoff party, PCSC hosted a press conference at the site to announce the affiliation with USL. All five county commissioners were in attendance. 

“The old saying is ‘If you build it, they will come.’ Well, we threw 150 million in taxpayer money at this complex, and they are certainly coming,” said Commissioner Chair Chris Hall.

The Collier County government invested big in the PCSC before there were any commitments from a pro league. The facility has seen strong turnout for events including hosting youth soccer, amateur teams and three semi pro teams – Naples United, Naples City, and the Azzuri, said Jeff Walters, director of business development for PCSC through management company Sports Facilities Company. 

“We had over 300,000 guests in 2023, and once we’re built out, our visitor numbers will exceed one million each year,” said Walters. “When complete, there will be 10 Olympic (soccer) fields, six baseball diamonds, five softball fields, and more.” 

Upcoming events at PCSC include the Legends Concert Series featuring classic rock tribute bands, weekly poker nights, Movies in Paradise, and the Easter “Eggstravaganza.”

There will be much more at the complex, including the massive Great Wolf Lodge currently under construction. The location of PCSC straight up Collier Blvd. makes it convenient for Marco Islanders, much more so than many locations in Naples.