The proposed 5,000-seat soccer stadium would be expandable to 15,000 seats and designed for multiple sports and concerts. (Courtesy GCS Development/LaBella Associates)
Professional men’s and women’s soccer is coming to Riverside as part of a United Soccer League expansion that would bring the city its first major professional sports franchise.
The USL announced Tuesday it has partnered with Riverside Pro Soccer to establish teams that would compete in the league’s championship divisions, with plans for a soccer-specific stadium and mixed-use development led by local entrepreneur Greg Scott.
Scott, an 11-year Riverside resident with business interests spanning logistics, electrical contracting and development, serves on the Greater Riverside Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee and holds a minority stake in Orange County Soccer Club. His leadership of the USL effort follows the Riverside City Council’s unanimous approval in August of exclusive negotiations for his separate $200 million sports complex on the former Ab Brown site.
“Riverside Pro Soccer will bring the community together through the world’s game, create a clear pathway for local players to rise to the professional ranks, and deliver a first-rate game day experience for soccer fans,” Scott said. “We are committed to developing a club that reflects the spirit of Riverside while building a destination for sports and entertainment.”
The announcement marks a significant evolution from previous attempts to establish professional soccer in Riverside. Former City Council member Andy Melendrez championed efforts in 2016 to bring Deportivo Coras USA to the city, securing endorsements from local officials including Rafael Guzman and Frank Corral. That National Premier Soccer League team, affiliated with Liga MX Ascenso’s Coras de Tepic, ultimately failed to establish lasting roots despite initial community support and Melendrez’s insistence the team embrace “Riverside” as part of its identity.
Scott’s USL partnership offers more institutional stability than the earlier NPSL effort. The USL operates four men’s leagues and two women’s divisions, with media partnerships spanning CBS Sports, ESPN and Peacock that provide broader exposure than lower-tier leagues.
The inclusion of both men’s and women’s teams reflects USL’s expanded structure, including the newly launched Gainbridge Super League for women’s Division I play alongside the established USL W League.
Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson welcomed the announcement, saying she looks forward “to seeing professional soccer played at a location where thousands of young Riversiders learned to play the game.” Mayor Pro Tem Chuck Conder called Riverside “a family-friendly sports town” that would “jump on an opportunity to support local professional sports.”
The Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan area, with 4.6 million residents, represents one of the largest U.S. markets without professional soccer. Located 50 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles, Riverside sits between established MLS franchises LA Galaxy and LAFC while serving a region with Hispanic and Latino populations exceeding 50 percent.
USL Deputy CEO Justin Papadakis said Riverside’s “passionate fan base and one of the strongest traditions of youth soccer in the country” made it attractive for expansion, noting the city as “the hub of activity in Inland Southern California.”
The region hosts multiple youth soccer organizations, while UC Riverside and California Baptist University operate NCAA Division I programs that demonstrate existing soccer infrastructure and fan support.
Scott’s path to professional soccer began during his participation in Leadership Riverside last October, when he heard a city presentation about interest in professional sports. His minority investment in Orange County Soccer Club provided what he called “a front-row seat to how sports can unite a community, strengthen local business, and provide a city with a shared identity.”
“This project did not begin as an economic exercise, it began with a desire to not leave Riverside for Orange County or Los Angeles to find entertainment, concerts, and sporting events,” Scott told the Raincross Gazette in August.
Riverside Pro Soccer plans an “extensive listening campaign” to gather community input on team branding, colors and identity. The organization is recruiting supporters, corporate partners and potential investors as it moves toward establishing the franchise.
Scott has emphasized community participation in the ownership structure, though specific details remain under development. The mixed-use development plans include restaurants, retail and housing alongside the soccer venue.
While no stadium location has been officially announced for the USL teams, Scott’s separate $200 million Ab Brown development includes a 5,000-seat expandable stadium designed for multiple sports including soccer. The August city council approval established a framework for negotiations on the 56-acre Northside site.
The timeline for beginning USL play remains unclear, with league expansion typically requiring 30-36 months from announcement to inaugural season. The project must navigate USL approval processes, city permits and stadium construction before launching operations.
Soccer’s multi-team fandom culture may benefit the Riverside effort, as fans commonly support clubs across different leagues and competition levels simultaneously. This allows potential supporters to maintain existing MLS or Liga MX loyalties while embracing a local professional option.
The USL announcement represents the most concrete progress toward professional soccer in Riverside since Melendrez’s earlier advocacy, backed by league infrastructure and community support that previous efforts lacked.
Riverside Pro Soccer is actively recruiting supporters and investors. Visit riversideprosoccer.com for updates on club developments and to sign up for news.
The undefeated Ramona Rams will put their perfect season on the line Friday when they face Riverside Poly in the Solar Bowl at 7 p.m. at Wheelock Field on the RCC campus.
CBU packs Thursday night with volleyball, water polo and the Crosstown Showdown, while high school and UCR games round out Riverside’s busy sports week.
