San Francisco, CA – Mayor London N. Breed today joined San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department General Manager Phil Ginsburg, City leaders, and soccer fans to kick off the Bay Football Club’s (Bay FC) inaugural season and home opening match with a fun celebration at Civic Center Plaza.
Today's celebration in San Francisco comes ahead of the team’s first home game, which takes place on Saturday, March 30 at the Bay FC’s current home stadium, PayPal Park in San Jose. The team is set to face off against the Houston Dash.
"For a long time we have wanted to bring women’s professional soccer to our region, and we are thrilled to welcome Bay FC to San Francisco and the Bay Area. This team represents what a future can look like for so many of our youth,” said Mayor London Breed. “San Francisco has a long history as a sports City, and Bay FC brings a lot of excitement to soccer fans and sports enthusiasts here and across the region. I want to thank Brady Stewart and the entire Bay FC franchise for bringing the first women’s professional team to the Bay and look forward to partnering together to showcase the Bay Area to the world. We wish the team the best of luck on their opening season; San Francisco will be cheering for them!”
Mayor Breed welcomed the Bay FC team to San Francisco, including CEO, Brady Stewart, General Manager, Lucy Rushton, and Head Coach, Albertin Montoya. Midfielder, Deyna Castellanos, and Defender, Caprice Dydasco, presented the Mayor with an official Bay FC Letterman Jacket to commemorate the occasion and season.
“We want to thank the City of San Francisco, Mayor Breed, and the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department for the incredibly warm welcome to the Bay Area,” said Bay FC Chief Operating Officer Brady Stewart. “We are so excited to bring another top-tier sporting franchise to Bay Area sports fans and the support we have seen for both our players and women’s sports overall is unmatched.”
Following the rally, Bay FC players made time to sign autographs for soccer fans, including soccer players from youth leagues Bayview United, Saint Philip School, America SCORES, Margaret Hayward Afterschool Program, and Girls Got Goals (Jamestown Community Center). The young players joined the America SCORES team for soccer drills, scrimmages, and other activities at the mini soccer fields located in Civic Center.
“A national women’s soccer team is something that’s been missing in the Bay Area for a long time. That’s why today’s celebration is so special. This is history in the making,” said Rec and Park General Manager Phil Ginsburg. “The Bay FC’s launch will no doubt inspire a whole new generation of female athletes.”
During today’s event, Bay FC, Sixth Street, and the U.S. Soccer Foundation announced their partnership with SF Rec and Park to build a mini-pitch, which is a customized, hard-court surface made for soccer programming and pick-up games. The new play space will be built in a City park that is still being decided. Once installed, the mini-pitch will provide children and adults interested in playing soccer with a safe place to learn and play.
The U.S. Soccer Foundation aims to ensure that kids from all socioeconomic backgrounds have access to soccer and the developmental benefits the game provides. The foundation has installed nearly 700 mini-pitches nationwide.
Bay FC was established in April 2023. The team was co-founded by U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team legends Brandi Chastain, Leslie Osborne, Danielle Slaton, and Aly Wagner, through a partnership with global investment firm Sixth Street and an investor group consisting of technology, business, and sports executives.
Bay FC is the 14th team to join the NWSL, which is currently in its 12th season.
For more information about the team and to buy tickets, visit bayfc.com.
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