The face of professional sports in Monterey County will change next year.
For years, California State University Monterey Bay’s (CSUMB) track was left unused, save for a few residents who use it to work out. Eventually, it was paved over and left for dead.
This year it will undergo a massive renovation for a new purpose — the United Soccer League’s Monterey Bay Football Club. The team was set to play in 2021 but the pandemic set plans back a year.
The Monterey Bay Football Club is set to debut in 2022 in the United Soccer League (USL).
“We are currently getting very close to 100% design of the stadium,” Club President Mike DiGiulio said.
Fans can expect a 6,000 seat (roughly) stadium with a standing room and excellent sightlines. With the first kick of the season in the new stadium over a year away, there is much to be done.
Community input
One of the main concerns is developing a team crest, something DiGiulio is hoping the community will help with. They have enlisted the help of local artist Chris Payne to design the crest and set up eight community listening sessions to involve the fans. These community listening sessions are halfway through with four more scheduled for the month of March.
They hope to debut the crest by May, DiGiulio said.
Community engagement seems to be a theme that runs throughout the organization. Digiulio is insistent that the club will work closely with CSUMB to be an example and an asset to the students.
“We are going to be looking for every opportunity to partner with the university, whether it be interns or student workers,” he said. “We're going to look for those opportunities because the university's been such a great partner.”
Concessions are another opportunity for the club to highlight the local community. DiGiulio said he is open to local food trucks or vendors who want to set up shop in the concession area.
On the lookout
There is also a team to recruit and coaches to hire.
This is where Frank Yallop comes in as the Sporting Director. Yallop played for 13 years in England with Ipswich in the Premier League and also spent time on the Canadian men’s national team.
His coaching record is impressive.
He won two MLS titles as the coach of the San Jose earthquakes, coached the Canadian national team for two years, and coached soccer star David Beckham at the Los Angeles Galaxy.
With ample time to recruit players and coaches, Yallop is tight-lipped on who will fill the spots.
Though he has made it clear that he will be doing the vast majority of the scouting and initial player signings. When asked if he could potentially come back as a coach, Yallop said, “I want to make sure that we get the right candidate, and if it ends up being me that it's the right move.”
One thing Yallop is vocal about is the style of play that fans can expect.
“I try to have the team be an attacking-style team,” Yallop said, “I would rather win 3-2 than 1-0.”
Yallop wants to entertain the crowd.
“Winning in style is better than not,” he said.
The timeline to sign players is later this year. Players coming out of a contract can’t be signed until Nov. 31, so Yallop says to expect minimal signings until that time.
“I definitely want to do a lot of scouting locally,” he said. "We've got Oakland close, Sacramento, San Diego, and LA down there.”
On the administrative side, DiGiulio is handling the hires.
“We have filled the (vice president) of ticketing and we filled our (vice president) of corporate partnership roles just a few days ago,” DiGiulio said. “Both gentlemen will be joining us in the upcoming weeks.”
For DiGiulio diversity is also a priority in his organization.
“We have an opportunity to really be diverse from different areas of the county and represent different languages and integrate students," he said. “We want to take from all the pockets so to speak.”
With over a year to go before fans get to fill the stadium, it’s clear that DiGiulio and Yallop are excited.
“It's going to be a fantastic product and good players that are going to be on a show,” Yallop said, “and it’s fully professional. It's not a half amateur team.”
Digiulio echoed Yallop's sentiments.
“Us having that opportunity to unify the community… under one crest, under one flag, in one beautiful stadium. I think that's special.”
The face of professional sports in Monterey County will change next year.
For years, California State University Monterey Bay’s (CSUMB) track was left unused, save for a few residents who use it to work out. Eventually, it was paved over and left for dead.
This year it will undergo a massive renovation for a new purpose — the United Soccer League’s Monterey Bay Football Club. The team was set to play in 2021 but the pandemic set plans back a year.
The Monterey Bay Football Club is set to debut in 2022 in the United Soccer League (USL).
“We are currently getting very close to 100% design of the stadium,” Club President Mike DiGiulio said.
Fans can expect a 6,000 seat (roughly) stadium with a standing room and excellent sightlines. With the first kick of the season in the new stadium over a year away, there is much to be done.
Community input
One of the main concerns is developing a team crest, something DiGiulio is hoping the community will help with. They have enlisted the help of local artist Chris Payne to design the crest and set up eight community listening sessions to involve the fans. These community listening sessions are halfway through with four more scheduled for the month of March.
They hope to debut the crest by May, DiGiulio said.
Community engagement seems to be a theme that runs throughout the organization. Digiulio is insistent that the club will work closely with CSUMB to be an example and an asset to the students.
“We are going to be looking for every opportunity to partner with the university, whether it be interns or student workers,” he said. “We’re going to look for those opportunities because the university’s been such a great partner.”
Concessions are another opportunity for the club to highlight the local community. DiGiulio said he is open to local food trucks or vendors who want to set up shop in the concession area.
On the lookout
There is also a team to recruit and coaches to hire.
This is where Frank Yallop comes in as the Sporting Director. Yallop played for 13 years in England with Ipswich in the Premier League and also spent time on the Canadian men’s national team.
His coaching record is impressive.
He won two MLS titles as the coach of the San Jose earthquakes, coached the Canadian national team for two years, and coached soccer star David Beckham at the Los Angeles Galaxy.
With ample time to recruit players and coaches, Yallop is tight-lipped on who will fill the spots.
Though he has made it clear that he will be doing the vast majority of the scouting and initial player signings. When asked if he could potentially come back as a coach, Yallop said, “I want to make sure that we get the right candidate, and if it ends up being me that it’s the right move.”
One thing Yallop is vocal about is the style of play that fans can expect.
“I try to have the team be an attacking-style team,” Yallop said, “I would rather win 3-2 than 1-0.”
Yallop wants to entertain the crowd.
“Winning in style is better than not,” he said.
The timeline to sign players is later this year. Players coming out of a contract can’t be signed until Nov. 31, so Yallop says to expect minimal signings until that time.
“I definitely want to do a lot of scouting locally,” he said. “We’ve got Oakland close, Sacramento, San Diego, and LA down there.”
On the administrative side, DiGiulio is handling the hires.
“We have filled the (vice president) of ticketing and we filled our (vice president) of corporate partnership roles just a few days ago,” DiGiulio said. “Both gentlemen will be joining us in the upcoming weeks.”
For DiGiulio diversity is also a priority in his organization.
“We have an opportunity to really be diverse from different areas of the county and represent different languages and integrate students,” he said. “We want to take from all the pockets so to speak.”
With over a year to go before fans get to fill the stadium, it’s clear that DiGiulio and Yallop are excited.
“It’s going to be a fantastic product and good players that are going to be on a show,” Yallop said, “and it’s fully professional. It’s not a half amateur team.”
Digiulio echoed Yallop’s sentiments.
“Us having that opportunity to unify the community… under one crest, under one flag, in one beautiful stadium. I think that’s special.”
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