The story of FC Nashville, believed to be the only supporters’ owned soccer club in the US, appears to be headed to a new chapter.
In an piece in Vice Sports detailing the success of the club that was founded merely three years ago, club president Chris Jones says they’ve “made our intentions known” that they’re looking to make a significant jump up the soccer pyramid.
"You could see us in the USL within the next 12, 24 months,” Jones said.
He said in the article that he’s also reached out to NASL about the club’s plans to move up from the fourth-tier National Premier Soccer League.
FC Nashville started play in the 2014 season and according to the article has since topped 800 members of their ownership group, which has a voting say in all the moves the team makes. They attract approximately 1,100 fans on average to their expansive home at Nissan Stadium, the home of the NFL’s Tennessee Titans.
Ron Deal, the head of Nashville FC’s supporters group NFC Roadies acknowledges in the article, however, that a move to the second-tier NASL or third-tier USL would likely mean an end to their supporters’ owned model.
“Eventually USL and higher league rules will dictate majority ownership and control by an individual with deep pockets,” he said.
