Photo: Sean Logan
Last year more than 10,000 fans filled the stands of Hi Corbett Field, choosing sides between the Sporting Kansas City and the New York Red Bulls during the final game in Tucson’s first-ever Desert Cup. Besides the two Major League Soccer (MLS) teams participating, the schedule of Premier Development League team games saw the debut of local team FC Tucson.
It was that two-day sporting event that caught the eye of Texas-based sporting consultant Chris Keeney, who had recently wrapped working with the NFL’s Houston Texans. His mother, an Oro Valley resident, mentioned an article she’d seen in the paper here about Tucson’s first soccer cup. Keeney’s interest was piqued.
“I was enthralled with what they were doing, their potential, and liked everything about Tucson,” he recalls. After chasing down the journalist who wrote the article, Keeney was able to get in contact with the FC Tucson founders. Since they didn’t have the necessary funds to hire him for his consulting services, they made Keeney a managing partner.
“When it comes to the big picture, I believe this place is ripe for something Tucsonans can call their own. Something that isn’t going to move and Phoenix can’t gobble up,” Keeney says. He’s definitely not alone in this assessment. Another managing partner, local attorney Greg Foster, flew with Keeney to meet with the Vice President and Director of MLS to discuss the FC Tucson team.
“Before we could even finish, he interjected saying he believes Tucson has a ton of potential, and could even become a hub for Western soccer,” Keeney shares.
The team, coached by the other two managing partners Rick Schantz and Jonathan Pearlman, won’t be in the main schedule of the four-day, eight-game Desert Diamond Cup that starts February 22. But they will be on hand to not only promote soccer in Tucson, but also be available to play the reserves of the four participating MLS teams on off days: New York Red Bulls, Los Angeles Galaxy, Real Salt Lake and New England Revolution.
FC Tucson is part of the Premier Development League, and members include players from Nogales and Tucson to Kentucky and even Turkey. “We’re constantly receiving resumes from all over,” Pearlman remarks.
Excitement continues to build with area soccer fans for this upcoming event as it nears, and the owners of the team say that’s exactly the idea.
“The goal of the event is to build a following for the team and soccer in general in Tucson,” explains Pearlman. “Hopefully in years to come, more teams will want to come and play and our own FC Tucson team will have grown strong enough to play the Major League teams.”
So is the Old Pueblo ready for the impassioned soccer craze? Keeney, in his sports and MLS experience thinks so: “This is something the city is primed and ready for—something emotional and distinctly Tucson.”
The 2012 FC Tucson Desert Diamond Cup happens February 22, 25, 29, and March 3 at the Kino Sports Complex (2500 E. Ajo Way). For the full schedule, tickets, and more information check out FCTucson.com. The organization also hosts a “street” soccer exhibition during 2nd Saturdays on Feb 11, on 5th Avenue between Congress Street and Toole Avenue, from noon-10pm.
