SPORT

Erie Sports Center Secures Pre Professional Soccer Licenses for men and women in USL

WORDS: Erie Sports Centre PHOTOGRAPHY Supplied

An exciting and proud day for the Erie Sports Center as we take another step towards securing a fully professional mens and women’s soccer license heading into World Cup 2026 in the USA. More national and international coverage of our facility and the city. We have big things coming that will continue to drive economic and social benefits to our city!

Erie, Pa. & Tampa, Fla. – The United Soccer League announced today that the Erie Sports Center will field teams in USL League Two and the USL W League beginning in the 2025 season.

The club names and crest will be unveiled in the coming weeks.

The teams will be owned and run by Erie Sports Center, a sporting facility that opened in 2021, adding to its international academies and youth club. Both teams will play their home matches at the venue that features a 16,000 square foot performance center and its own residential academy.

The club’s mission is to provide world-class facilities and development opportunities to athletes that are trying to reach the professional level, regardless of their background.

“We have invested in building from the ground up each year,” said Erie Sports Center owner Troy Bingham. “In year one, we launched our youth club focused on individual player development and teaching players how to play the game the right way. In year two, we launched our full-time Residential Academy to create a full-time training program for young players with potential. Now, in year three, we are introducing a pre-professional program to give our players the opportunity to develop at the next level.”

The Erie Sports Center clubs will compete in the Central Conference in both League Two and the W League in 2025.

“Troy and the Erie Sports Center’s dedication to their community and their players is evident in their investment in them, and in the state-of-the-art facility they have developed” Joel Nash, USL SVP of Youth and Pre-Professional Properties, said. “We’re really excited to welcome the Erie Sports Center to our pre-professional leagues. We know they’ll be a fantastic member of both.”

To learn more about the Erie Sports Center, visit the website and Instagram

Scan the QR code and we will connect you with Erie Sports Centre and the Villarreal Academy to start your professional soccer career.