San Antonio is one of the largest cities in Texas and the United States, with a vibrant culture and economy. Like many major metropolitan areas, San Antonio is home to professional sports teams across the major leagues, including basketball, baseball, and football. However, when it comes to professional soccer, San Antonio’s status has been less clear cut over the years.
Pro soccer has become increasingly popular across the United States, with Major League Soccer (MLS) expanding to new markets and the lower-division leagues, like the USL Championship, thriving as well. With a large Hispanic population and youth soccer participation, many have seen San Antonio as a market ripe for pro soccer.
So does San Antonio have a current pro soccer team to call its own? Let’s take a closer look at San Antonio’s history with professional soccer and the current state of pro soccer in the Alamo City.
History of Pro Soccer in San Antonio
While San Antonio does not have a Major League Soccer team currently, it does have a long, if intermittent, history with professional soccer. Here are some key moments in the city’s pro soccer history:
1979-1981: The San Antonio Thunder
– In 1979, the San Antonio Thunder debuted as one of the founding members of the original North American Soccer League (NASL). They played for 3 seasons from 1979-1981.
– While the team saw some success, including playoff berths in 1979 and 1980, attendance was poor as soccer interest lagged.
– The original NASL collapsed in 1984 and the Thunder folded along with it in 1981.
1993-2000: The San Antonio Pumas
– Pro soccer returned to San Antonio in 1993 with the San Antonio Pumas of the USISL.
– The Pumas spent their first four seasons in the USISL before joining the A-League in 1997 after a merger.
– They played at multiple local venues like Saint Mary’s University.
– The team folded after the 2000 season as the A-League suffered from operational issues.
2005-2010: San Antonio FC
– In 2005, pro soccer came back to San Antonio with San Antonio FC which played in the Premier Development League.
– SAFC eventually moved up to the level below MLS, the USL First Division in 2007.
– The team played at various stadiums like the campus of Trinity University.
– In 2010, after several ownership changes, SAFC halted operations once more.
2016-Present: San Antonio FC (II)
– The latest iteration of San Antonio FC launched in 2016, restarting pro soccer in San Antonio after a six year hiatus.
– The team was awarded as part of USL’s plan to grow into a Division 2 pro league. Toyota Field was built and opened in 2013 to house a soccer team.
– SAFC play in the USL Championship which sits at the second division below Major League Soccer.
– They have seen success on the field, making the playoffs in their first four seasons and capturing two division titles along the way.
So while San Antonio has not had a sustained pro soccer presence, there have been attempts to establish higher level soccer in the city over the past four decades. The current SAFC team looks to be the most stable endeavor so far as they continue to play at the USL Championship level.
Current Professional Soccer in San Antonio
San Antonio FC is the city’s current professional soccer team. Some key facts about the team:
League and Division
– San Antonio FC plays in the USL Championship, which sits at the second division (below MLS) in the U.S. soccer pyramid.
– The USL Championship is the largest Division II league in the world with more than 30 teams across the United States.
Venue
– SAFC plays its home games at Toyota Field, a soccer-specific stadium located on the grounds of the STAR complex on the northeast side of San Antonio.
– Toyota Field has a capacity of 8,462 and opened along with the team in 2016.
Ownership and Management
– Spurs Sports & Entertainment own and operate San Antonio FC. SS&E also own the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs.
– Team Chairman Jason Williams and President Tim Holt lead the front office.
– Mexican soccer legend Alen Marcina has been the team’s head coach since 2020.
Attendance
– In the 2022 season, San Antonio FC averaged 4,738 fans per home match.
– The team has seen attendance rise each year since its debut in 2016 where they averaged 3,439 per game.
– While solid, the attendance numbers have significant room to grow as Toyota Field could hold over 8,000 fans.
On-Field Success
– Over their first six seasons, SAFC has proven to be one of the USL’s most consistently competitive teams.
– They have made the playoffs four times, with two appearances in the Conference Finals.
– San Antonio has won two USL Regular Season titles in 2016 and 2019, while also lifting the Copa Tejas Cup trophy twice.
So while San Antonio does not have an MLS team, the city has established professional soccer at the USL level with the success of San Antonio FC over the past half-decade and counting. There is also the possibility that SAFC could one day be elevated to MLS as the league continues to expand.
Efforts to Attract MLS to San Antonio
While San Antonio has not yet landed a Major League Soccer franchise, there have been serious efforts in recent years to attract an MLS team:
Previous MLS Expansion Bids
– San Antonio was one of the cities considered for a team as part of MLS’ last round of expansion in 2017-2019.
– However, their bids fell short with Cincinnati, Nashville, Miami, Austin eventually landing teams instead.
Toyota Field Meets MLS Requirements
– Toyota Field already meets many MLS stadium standards with its soccer-specific design.
– Upgrades like increased seating could potentially make it “MLS ready” when needed.
Ownership Interest
– SS&E has stated interest in bringing MLS to San Antonio by elevating SAFC potentially or attracting a new MLS franchise.
– The company has experience operating in MLS as owners of Houston Dynamo earlier last decade.
Supporters Groups Rallying
– Local supporters groups like the Crocketteers have rallied together to increase San Antonio’s chances of joining MLS.
– They have worked to demonstrate the potential fan support in the market to MLS.
So while San Antonio is not among the next wave of MLS expansion teams, there seems to be strong local interest and infrastructure in place if an opportunity were to open up down the road.
Comparison to Other Texas MLS Teams
Team | League | Stadium | Location | Began Play |
---|---|---|---|---|
Austin FC | MLS | Q2 Stadium | Austin | 2021 |
FC Dallas | MLS | Toyota Stadium | Frisco | 1996 |
Houston Dynamo | MLS | PNC Stadium | Houston | 2006 |
San Antonio FC | USL Championship | Toyota Field | San Antonio | 2016 |
While San Antonio does not have an MLS team currently, their cross-state rivals in Dallas, Houston, and Austin do. Both FC Dallas and the Houston Dynamo have long MLS histories, giving Texas a strong presence in the league. Austin FC is the newest team in Texas after launching in 2021.
With a sizable population and demonstrated history of soccer support, San Antonio seems like a logical place for future MLS expansion when the league looks to grow beyond its current 28 teams. The existing success of San Antonio FC already gives the city a head start.
Conclusion
In summary, while San Antonio has not yet broken through to attain a Major League Soccer franchise, the city does currently have professional soccer in the form of San Antonio FC of the USL Championship. SAFC has quickly become established as a popular club, regularly filling most of Toyota Field’s 8,000+ seats and competing for championships.
With its large population including a vibrant Hispanic community, existing soccer infrastructure, and ownership’s interest, San Antonio appears well-positioned if MLS decides to turn to Texas again for future expansion. Until then, fans can enjoy high-level pro soccer with San Antonio FC as the team aims to capture more titles at the USL level. If SAFC’s success continues, it could bolster San Antonio’s MLS bid and give the Alamo City its long awaited big-time professional soccer team.