Pitch to Pro
Pitch to Pro is the official podcast of Ozark United FC. This will be our platform to tell our story about the club and the special place that we call home, Northwest Arkansas. This is a journey. We want to bring you along for the ride. We'll share what's going on behind the curtain, help educate the community at large about soccer, Our league, and give updates on the progress of the club along the way.
Together, we'll explore and unpack our journey to professional soccer, the magic that is NWA, our community, and talk all things soccer from on the pitch to behind the scenes, telling the story of our club.
Pitch to Pro
Ep. 40 - New Stadium, New Dreams: Inside Ozark United FC’s Stadium Pivot
Warren Smith has been watching Northwest Arkansas evolve for decades. What started as family visits in the 1990s has transformed into a mission to bring professional soccer to a region he describes as having "come into its own." As co-founder of Ozark United FC, Smith brings the experience of five successful sports franchise launches to a community he believes is perfectly positioned for soccer's growth.
In this revealing conversation with Managing Director Wes Harris, Smith takes listeners behind the scenes of the club's development, sharing why their recent stadium site change represents not just a location shift, but a strategic evolution. "For us, this new location is really about creating a sense of place," Smith explains, highlighting how modern sports experiences extend well beyond game time, with fans typically wanting 4-5 hours of entertainment surrounding the event itself.
The club's grassroots approach appears to be working. With 7,500 potential season ticket holders already registered—enough to potentially sell out their planned venue before breaking ground—Ozark United is now considering a larger initial capacity. While the timeline has shifted to a 2027-2028 launch, Smith remains undeterred, noting that his first sports project took six years from concept to completion.
What stands out most is the club's commitment to building something truly embedded in Northwest Arkansas culture. From partnering with Sporting Arkansas on youth development to supporting the local Marshallese community's first international tournament, Ozark United is demonstrating that professional sports can be a vehicle for community advancement.
Smith's parting message speaks volumes about the club's philosophy: "This is your team, everybody. We need you to participate. I want to create a movement." For soccer enthusiasts and community members alike, the invitation is clear—the journey to professional soccer in Northwest Arkansas isn't just happening; it's being built together.
Ready to join the movement? Follow Ozark United FC on social media and visit their website to add your name to their growing list of supporters.
Pitch to Pro is the official podcast of Ozark United FC. This will be our platform to tell our story about the club and the special place that we call home, Northwest Arkansas. This is a journey we want to bring you along for the ride. We'll share what's going on behind the curtain, help educate the community at large about soccer, our league, and give updates on the progress of the club along the way. Together, we'll explore and unpack our journey to professional soccer, the magic that is NWA, our community, and talk all things soccer from on the pitch to behind the scenes, telling the story of our club.
Speaker 2:Pitch to Pro Podcast is proudly sponsored by PodcastVideoscom by PodcastVideoscom.
Speaker 1:Podcastvideoscom is Northwest Arkansas' premier podcast recording studio, equipped with industry-leading equipment. The recording studio and services save you time, money and hassle. They are dedicated to helping you create, record and publish high-quality podcasts for your audience. Be sure to check them out today at podcastvideoscom. Hello everybody and welcome back to the Pitch to Pro podcast. I'm your host, wes Harris, managing Director for Ozark United FC, northwest Arkansas's professional soccer club, playing in the United Soccer League. Today we've got a bit of a special edition episode on deck for everybody. I am joined by our very own Mr Warren Smith, co-founder of Ozark United FC. Warren, thanks for joining me today, sir. Thank you, wes. Sorry about your arm.
Speaker 1:Hey, you know, every now and again you got to get reminded about how old you are and how not young you are anymore. So officially retired from men's league soccer. It happens, the game believes everyone. That's right. Jamie Carragher, I think, has a famous saying leave the football before the football leaves you, and I didn't listen. But yeah, hopefully back on the men here. But you know, before we jump in, let's remind folks and maybe for new listeners, you know we had some pretty big, awesome news this week and releasing some new renderings, new stadium site and all of that. But I want to give people, and just remind them who you are, your background. You know you've got a long, illustrious career in sports. You won't say that, but I will. You're too humble and just how it's led you here to NWA. How did you come here into NWA in this project?
Speaker 3:Well, first, of all, thank you for having me and I and want to know what a great job you're doing for us and thank you, um, really excited about, kind of where we are in this project, um, especially now. But, um, I started coming here when my grandmother moved here in 1990, back when we used to fly into tulsa and drive a couple hours and and then drive and fly into Tulsa, drive a couple hours and, and you know, on this damn highway that was being built that took forever, yeah, highway 49. And so I've, you know, been watching this area grow for a long time. They'll come in at least once a year, um, and then my parents moved here in 2006, 2003, 2003 or 2006, I can't remember.
Speaker 3:Anyways, you know, because they were here, we started coming more often and they fell in love with it, you know, and we were just, if you spend time here it's hard not to fall in love with right. So really we came to appreciate it and really wasn't thinking of anything professionally, had an opportunity to help a little bit on the baseball front, early, early, early in conversations, and, you know, helped direct, you know, to affiliated programs. But anyways, watched this area grow and kept looking at what the possibilities could be, and as I'm developing projects in other markets, you're still not really paying attention to it. And then, all of a sudden, I think Northwest Arkansas came into its own, is it? And when you? It became a place where people were not just enjoying themselves here, but they came confident in themselves here.
Speaker 3:It's a good way to put it, yeah, and and and and that then they also are starting to realize that they're competing with other cities, and so, as that happened, you know, it just happened to be that Chris connected with me with his great idea and it was a good time for me to actually, you know, it was at first a bad time, you know, because I was in the midst of San Diego, but I started to think more about it. The league asked me to play more of a startup role for them, and it just happened to be that this, after really really digging deep into the research, it made a lot of sense, right. 60% of the population is not from here. Soccer is their number one sport, you know. Generally, from wherever they're from, the age groups are young, they're wealthy or at least making good income, and generally people just had a really good attitude about living here, which is the most important thing for us. Actually, pride in your city, yeah, and then tapping into that, right. So that's really what led me here and I'm really excited to be here.
Speaker 3:It's been a long project, right, so it's been a couple years since we announced our intentions. I want to remind people this is not my first rodeo, right, you mentioned that, but this would be officially my sixth project, and my first project took me six years, wow. My first real soccer startup, uh, project, the Sacramento Republic football club, took, you know, three years, right. And so here we are coming up on year two. Yeah, um, we learned a lot through the process, but we've also accomplished a lot, you know.
Speaker 3:We've been able to, you know, build a brand around what you know the people really cared about. They cared about, you know, celebrating this region. They cared about the name Ozark. They cared about being united. They cared about, you know, how these four towns really became one community. And then, you know the colors and the name and you know, the celebration of Arkansas just really kind of, you know, seemed to unite. You know, for us, as you know, location, location, location. We thought we had a really good project in the very beginning, but it became small very quickly. We also had some restrictions. There was an REA, you know, basically preventing us from being able to develop, you know, retail, which we frankly need around the stadium, right?
Speaker 1:So and tell people a little bit about why that matters in and around the stadium. I mean, we've said it a little bit, but in terms of being the success of stadiums, especially in our league, in and around other entertainment options, uh, and why that's important I would ask everyone to pause for a minute and think about their experience in sporting events.
Speaker 3:Okay, uh, you go to the university of arkansas games. You're probably doing some tailgating, right?
Speaker 3:uh, you go to some n games in Oklahoma City or Memphis, you're probably you know, enjoying those downtown locations and actually being entertained in and around that event. And you know, if you're going to baseball games, pretty much the same, right, because most of them are downtown, or you're tailgating, but no matter what, you're extending your experience. Experience, yeah, it's not just the game, right, right. And as these games have gotten longer, um, you know, our sport has gotten, you know, it's been the same start to stop, it's. You know, soccer is basically 245 minute halves with a 15 minute halftime, so it's two hours start and stop and people want to be entertained between, you know, on industry average, four and five hours.
Speaker 3:So if you're going to want to be entertained, we got to put, we got to put a stadium on in a location where, uh, it's easy to walk and be entertained. Um, so when we first, you know, our first property, we thought that we had it because we're going to be close to a lot of that, but we also learned that there is that stuff that we could control. So for us, this new location is really about, you know, being able to create a sense of place, yeah, create a sense where people can come and enjoy not just the match but things around the match.
Speaker 1:No, and I think that that's a great point. People can come and enjoy not just the match but things around the match. No, and I think that that's a great point. It's you know we were close to entertainment, but it also there were things that could we help contribute and build upon even more. You know that entertainment district and feel so. I think that that is a great insight there, too, on the how do people like to be entertained, for how long and why. That's important once they move right.
Speaker 3:They're probably thinking about, you know, gosh, she had a good location. But also, this is better freeway access, better access and egress to the facility. There's more ways in and out. So, again, we've been thinking a lot about our guest experience, and that experience is not just inside of the stadium, it's how you get there, it's what happens around it, and so on and so forth.
Speaker 1:No, that's a great point and I mean, you know, let's dive in a little bit. You said you know this isn't your first rodeo. Let's talk about, if you would, some of your prior projects. You know they are you, you, you say this internally all the time. These, these projects are hard, they take a village, uh, they are never linear. Um, if you could share just some of your experiences on your, some of your other projects and how, maybe you know how, how are we tracking here in in NWA? Why are you confident, um, um, in our project here as it relates to some of those and where we stand? I don't know. That's kind of a loaded question, but well.
Speaker 3:First, I'm confident because of this community and who they are, what, um, what they've told us, what they've wanted. It's not like we're coming into a market where people don't want this is, is it? That's number one. Number two you really look at the DNA of the sport. It matches really well with this community. It really does.
Speaker 3:A lot of people might not kind of the older Northwest Arkansans, if I say that correctly, northwest Arkansans, I believe. Thank you, they might think differently about that, but it's the people that live here now that have come here. Yeah, definitely will feel it. And then it's like every community is different, right? So this one is less familiar with the sport, less familiar with sports as an asset class, less familiar with, frankly, how to get these things done and generally what it takes. But in every single case, when I say it takes a village, that means it really the 7,500 people that we have on our database, the input that we get from our fans on social media. We never really asked our fans to go out and do stuff, but as we now are going through the public process, as you know, we just received last night approval on the zoning for that site, but we're going to have a lot of public meetings around the stadium and we're going to ask our fans to come to those, articulate their desires and let the city council, the planning commission, hear that, because it's their club.
Speaker 3:At the end of the day, wes, you and I will be gone, they'll still be here and they're helping to build this. In fact, they're helping to build their club. So when I say it takes a village, it really does, and it's our job to create a dynamic where they can participate. And we've done a good job of listening. Now we're going to start asking them to participate in different ways. You're aware of the Marshallese community and the event that they'll have. I'm sure you'll talk about that, but that's one where we can make a difference. So you know that's kind of what we mean by it takes a village and it takes time, um, but at the end of the day, so, um, I'm sure you're going to ask questions on kind of where we are from a financial standpoint, but I'll let, I'll follow your lead.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and it you know those are. Those are great thoughts and insights and it's it's things that you know we talk about and feel confident about. But I think it's important for people to hear from somebody that's done this been there in multiple different markets, has come up against different obstacles in these projects to hear that level of confidence coming from you in our project and why projects. To hear that level of confidence coming from you in our project and why, and in our community and why we're so bullish on on you know the feedback that we've gotten and the feelings that we feel about the project in our you know our fans are telling us how they're feeling about too. Yeah, so, um, you know, is there ever? Is there ever a point?
Speaker 1:Uh, you know in some of your past projects that you know these things are not linear, right, like we have this stadium site move and people don't necessarily know all the reasons you know for it and they may think one way or another. But can you give you know some examples in past on? Maybe it was Portland turnaround, maybe it was Sacramento getting started and Rayleigh Field at the Rivercats, or whatever it was. These things happen right and it's opportunities to learn and get better and, you know, feed that into the project. Yeah.
Speaker 3:I think it all boils back down to, though, how you operate as a business and listening to your clients, hey. So my best example would be in the sacramento republic football club. It was 2012. Uh, we pulled the trigger, made an announcement that we were coming, um, and guess where we were going to play? We're going to play at a place called hugh stadium, which is at the sacramento city college 23 000 seats, beautiful facility, but american football field with lines, surrounded by a track. As we were talking to our customers, guess what I heard whatever you do, don't play on a field that is american football lines, uh, has a track around it and is artificial. Um, and you know, I didn't know that, I didn't know why, right, but apparently it was all about being true to the sport, um, so we had to listen and we didn't have all the answers, but it did lead to what became bonnie field, which is a modular facility that, ultimately, we built on the California State Fairgrounds in partnership with the State Fairgrounds.
Speaker 3:So it's somewhat similar here to here, except for the technologies have changed. It's so much greater. You know, that was a $10 million project. This is going to be a $30 million project. So just stadium, yeah, and you know, but know, but you know what the fans, the fans told us, right, um, and so if you listen to your fans, um, you're going to be successful. Yeah, um, and it may take longer, it may take shorter, um, but you know, as we start to get. You know, let's be real, this is a community and all communities have decision makers in the community and you know kind of people that have been in the community a lot longer, have a lot higher status that ultimately somewhat control what happens in markets. Right, the good news is they all seem very supportive and I think we've got, you know, things really moving in the right way. But we are going to start, because we've been listening, asking our fans to articulate what they want.
Speaker 1:So, and I think that that's just a great model and always something you know don't overcomplicate it. Listen to your customer which is a good, fresh reminder even for me right now sitting here talking to you is don't overcomplicate it. Listen to what people want and try to go and execute the best that you can within the confines and constraints that you can deliver, and continue that process. It's iterative as you continue to build.
Speaker 3:Business 101, right Now in sports. Imagine building a brand that's built by fans and they feel that ownership because it is their club. It's just a magical experience. It really is for them and for us, right.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and we felt that throughout the brand process too. It's why we took our time with it and dedicated a ton of resources and time to it, because we knew we needed to get it right and needed to get that fan input. So let's you know you kind of touched on this a little bit, but let's talk a little bit about you know a lot of people. We've almost come up on two years here. July It'll be July, so we're still not quite there yet, but we've done a lot more than maybe what people realize. Uh, and a big part of that is going out and talking to different individuals and groups about, uh, about ownership and investment. How do those conversations go? Share what you can in terms of kind of our process and you know people want kind of to understand where we're at and what are those next steps. So we have to be respectful of individuals and their privacy, but whatever you can share in terms of bringing people under the tent just a little bit on that front.
Speaker 3:Sure, as you know, and as we've shared in the past, this is about getting people excited, getting them on board and then showing momentum and improving the business model. So we're designing, building, flying the plane all at the same time.
Speaker 1:And I think that's maybe a little bit different than maybe some people might think of in terms of process and other markets that they've seen right. So share a little bit about that and why that's been a successful model for you and your other markets too.
Speaker 3:So no disrespect to the great people in Lexington, kentucky. I just did a tour there this weekend Beautiful facility, similar, same manufacturers, similar system, but different that we're trying to bring here. Very well, you know the league, you know, goes to markets and tries to get wealthy people to actually say yes, and they did that. They had a gentleman there that actually pulled the trigger and built a League One team. They advanced this to league or championship and also put a Super League team. The problem is the stadium is empty. It's a beautiful facility, it's not empty, it's just not full. It's not empty, it's just not full.
Speaker 3:No-transcript, and that proving the financial business model. That's how you get investment into the club. And all the people that we may have talked to here that don't really understand sports might like what we're doing, but they think we're kind of a little bit crazy until they start to see the fact that we're actually meeting our objectives in the business model. To give an example. So there are two big sources of revenues that we actually have in professional sports obviously ticket sales and sponsorships. Right, as you know, we've done a really good job in getting people excited. We have 7,500 people on the list that want to potentially be with us. My experience has shown that those people turn into. Roughly 40% of those people will buy season tickets and of those they'll have 2.4 tickets per person. So we're 2.4 times what would 40% of 7,500 be? You know it's a little over 3,800. Right, so we're at 5,000 season tickets right now.
Speaker 3:So of the 5,000 seat venue that we are designing, we're already sold out and, as you know, we're looking at the possibility of delivering something bigger. So we're proving the tickets of delivering something bigger. So we're proving the tickets. We just also, in partnership with the Sporting Arkansas, have developed a youth program with them and really just helping them advance the youth program for all of the Northwest Arkansas kids, making sure it's not just for Sporting Arkansas but for all the kids, and did a really good job in our first year of that. We're also bringing a sponsorship deal to that. That's very interesting and we'll announce soon. So we're now proving the sponsorships and it's been my experience and it won't be until we get the principal investor, until after we get that naming rights agreement in place, whether it's the kid agreement or the stadium naming rights.
Speaker 1:And for folks those are generally the two largest. That's right, both from value and holding hands and partnership outwardly to the community, but also ticket size. That's right. So I think that that's you know. I didn't fully answer your question. Yeah, keep going keep going.
Speaker 3:I want you to keep. Well, I want you to ask. But I mean what we were. As you know, we also had a lot of local people to help to fund our startup. Yes, and so it's. We haven't raised a money. We just don't have all of the stadium money that we are going to need. And what we're hearing from them is they love what we're doing, we love the community, we want to make a difference. Keep going, keep going, keep going.
Speaker 3:And now, as we're you know we did. We came to the market. We looked for the principal owner that ideally came from Northwest Arkansas. Yeah, that would be my perfect scenario because they know this community fans can develop a relationship with them and ultimately, you know, it may not be like a personal relationship, but it's going to feel like, yeah, that's the, that's the owner of my club and that person you know can they see out and about in the community. They going to feel like one. That's the owner of my club and that person they see out and about in the community. They get to say thank you and that's magic and we tried that.
Speaker 3:And obviously there's more than enough wealth here, but also I would say that the people of that wealth here don't really understand professional sports as a business model. It has only recently become an asset class that is very powerful. Um, as you are seeing valuations, you know, go through the roof, nfl great example, even in our league, you know team most recently traded above 100 million. You know you're starting to see just huge growth, right right. So now what we're doing is going out. Ultimately, they might not have gotten just through a stadium project.
Speaker 1:Additional value propositions Right, and one that is A understood, long time understood, and B in a market that's growing, et cetera, et cetera. We don't need to talk about the real estate NFA right that's growing, et cetera, et cetera, like we don't need to talk about the real estate NFA right. So I think that the combination of that is also not just for the national scale but also potentially here in the local, especially if we get that when, not if when we get that lead domino to fall. That's right. You know they've all been, I think, really supportive and shared their support, just maybe some hesitancy on being the lead domino.
Speaker 3:That's right and and there are some things that are changing within the league in the united states soccer federation that could be favorable. You can't really get into the details of that, but let's just say the requirements. 35 may be going away here in the in the near future, and that just so the fans know that the principal owner needs to take 35% of the capital stack.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so if you're talking just team and stadium, what we shared is roughly $50 million project. You guys do the math. It's roughly in the 17-ish million dollars. That's what we say and mean when we say principal owner. Somebody needs to have and represent at least that amount. They can take the whole thing down, they can take down half if they want majority ownership, and sometimes that happens.
Speaker 3:But in order to move forward, that's the mandate from the governing body of soccer in the US and there's some juggling that you can do, but generally, principally, that's exactly right yeah.
Speaker 1:There's a lot of creativity, as I've learned.
Speaker 3:Well, in soccer there's a lot of creativity. Right, there is, and that's really you know. We have to have the same creativity on the business side.
Speaker 1:I love that analogy there is. Soccer is one of. I just did it's a bit of an aside, but I just did a coaching course over the weekend, continuing down my coaching licenses, and one of my fellow classmates. We talked about why we love the game and he said it's one of the only games out there or at least the one that he felt did it the most on a bit of a spectrum where it is player led on and less coach influenced.
Speaker 1:Um, and so much I think of that parallels into the business side where and the fans and the relationship with the club and how that is a different dynamic and other sports and the creativity on the field and your hands off and you have to be, there's no timeouts, all of those things.
Speaker 1:Anyway, I thought that you said that without me ever sharing that with you and that's pretty interesting. But so at you know, it's not that the to, to to kind of circle back to our conversation on on kind of principal owner and ownership and how that is. We obviously couldn't do what we're doing if we hadn't raised money and had local ownership. That's right. Um, we also, uh, it's not like these projects can't be successful with with, you know, a primary or somebody like that, being maybe not from this market but care deeply about the market and still coming in and being present and making sure that we're looking for that in a partner. So it's not a a must make or break. It just is something that we would prefer to have and you know that can also evolve over time as we prove success right.
Speaker 3:Well, yeah, wes, let's just look at and be truthful, right? Most of the teams that are owned in the major league sporting markets are not owned by people that live in those markets. Exactly Right they're. You know, mr Walton here probably cares deeply about Denver maybe even more so now after he was able to acquire the Broncos Right about Denver. Maybe even more so now after he was able to acquire the Broncos right. It's not? You know, having good owners is the most important thing, but if we could have a local one, it's even a little bit better. Yeah, sure, and, as you know, we're hiring a firm that actually is going to, that's family office oriented, to help us actually really have really good conversations, since they're really, ultimately, the biggest players, the family offices, in real estate development. They also happen to be looking for the asset class.
Speaker 1:And talk a little bit if you can. I mean, it's so case by case and it varies, but just because maybe your primary is, maybe not, not from the market, there could be limited partners that once they see that dominant, oh my gosh, I want to come in.
Speaker 3:And we've certainly had those conversations as well with local folks I really think that's where it's we're going to find most of the local people to come in and it's very important that we actually have, um, that and to that, uh, primary owner if he's from out of town or she's from out of town to actually have somebody that they can stand with, because they have those business relationships, they understand the politics. So we were going to surround the people with them and, as you know, a number of these families are very interested. They just want to see the principal first, sure.
Speaker 1:So you started talking about it. But maybe you know what's next in terms of that conversation and kind of where do you see that going? We, you know, you just kind of hit on it, but we are looking to kind of take the next step, next level, with this investment. That kind of can help maybe accelerate that conversation.
Speaker 3:Well, yeah, I mean all the all scale.
Speaker 3:Well, I think folks need to know is that there's people you know, investment bankers or you know, ultimately, organizations that actually you know get compensated to actually connect and bring investment. And this is a firm that has got a great reputation and one that we've hit it off with and just like a lot, and has had a lot of success in that area. So we're just starting that path More to come on it but ultimately, the more the people get excited about this, the more they support us at city council meetings. A couple things need to happen before somebody's going to come in. Yeah, we need to get the stadium approved from the city. We need to get, you know, ideally, naming rights or a you know kit partnership of some sort, and we need to start actually converting you know kit partnership of some sort and we need to start actually converting you know some of the folks which we can't do until the stadium's approved on the list, you know to season tickets, and then the rest is going to be kind of like dominoes, knock-on effect. That's right.
Speaker 1:So, yeah, let's get into you know, I think people want to know now, is you right? So, yeah, let's get into. You know, I think people want to know now, is you know? And and let's talk about it we, we need to extend the timeline. Um, you know, when we initially launched, we said targeted to to start playing 2026 with this move on the site. Um, you know, and we don't need, let's be, we don't need the development to be done to start playing. That's right. The stadium will be first. The stadium will be first. So we're not waiting just to be very, very clear and make sure we're transparent there. We're not waiting for the development to then build the stadium. Stadium will be the very first thing on the, on the docket and make sure that that is. You know, our timeline is not delayed by anything with the development surrounding it.
Speaker 3:We may choose to do a building at the same time, right, because there's some efficiencies there, sure, but definitely this will be a project that's built out over time.
Speaker 1:Likely not you know right away, not all delivered at the same time.
Speaker 3:Back to I think where you're going. On the starting of the season, I mean, hey, listen, we didn't know exactly. We had hopes. The good news is we're still using modular facilities. They still take eight months to build once you move your dirt, you know. So it's less than a year project, which is the great news. If you look at where we are from a timing standpoint, we get approvals within the six-month period. Then the dominoes can start to finally fall.
Speaker 1:We never really got final approval on that other stadium location right, we did and we were kind of far down the path.
Speaker 1:I think that that's also a good thing for us is we've got such a great working relationship with the city and all those involved and our partners that are helping us to kind of develop this and do all the pre-development work and the stadium is largely staying the same. We're not all of a sudden upheaval and overhauling the stadium design. So all of the great feedback and all of the things that we heard that went into the stadium design. It's kind of lift and then you may have to tweak a couple things just based on the layout and all of that kind of thing, but largely the same stadium design. But we do have to kind of go back, go re-through all a lot of the permitting process and and working with the city. But we've got a great working relationship with them. They're very familiar with the project now, uh, so that hopefully shouldn't take maybe as much time with all the back and forth and the questions but I'd take it a step further.
Speaker 3:I think they're very excited about this development project. You know, I had a meeting yesterday where they expressed that and they want to see, obviously, the zoning pass last night. That's very favorable. Could not do it without the zoning right. So, but back to the timetable.
Speaker 3:I think, listening, there's a lot happening in soccer. But back to the timetable, I think, listening, there's a lot of happening in soccer. So our goal is to really kind of in the beginnings, you know, being optimistic and hopeful and could it have happened? Yes, but 2026 is a big year in professional soccer. Being able to, you know, take advantage of that is very helpful, right, is very helpful, right. But now, because of the timetable, it's going to take probably to at least 2027.
Speaker 3:I'm more comfortable, as you heard last night, 2028. But there's also keep in mind, we're two projects that play two different seasons, right. So we have two teams and so one that starts in March, one that starts in August. So we've got some flexibility on kind of which team comes first. You know, let's get approvals, let's, you know, finalize the capital stack and then start building, and they're working towards building, and then we're, you know, proving out the business model even further, getting people excited. And then we're, you know, proving out the business model even further, getting people excited. Here's one thing I know, if I can Professional soccer is going to happen in this region and if it doesn't happen with us, we have laid all the groundwork for that to happen in a very impactful way, but I do believe that it's going to happen with us.
Speaker 3:I'm really excited about it. I wouldn't still be here. The thing about me is that I'm like a dog on a bone that can't get off it right, and I have not had one project that I've gotten involved with that I've not been successful. Every day you're assessing risk. Every day you're looking at where we are in the process. Every day, as you know, we talk internally what's working, what's not, how far are we? And every day it seems like we keep coming up with the same answer. You know, yeah, today was hard, but doggone it. Look how close we are. Or doggone it, look what we did today. You know we, you know so, anyways, really excited. I'm sorry to be talking so much.
Speaker 1:No, it's great. I mean it just shows the passion that's there for the project in the area and I mean I get to see it every day with you. But I think it's great for the community to see it as well from again. Somebody that has done this multiple times successfully in multiple markets, multiple sports leagues, to feel that passionately and strongly about our project here is reassuring, especially for somebody that's working in it every day. My wife certainly takes some solids in that right. But I think this kind of pivot and the opening of the scope, I mean there's just kind of pivot and the opening of the scope. I mean there's just.
Speaker 1:We've heard so much from people in terms of how they want us to engage and that this needs to be more than just a pro men's and women's soccer team and I think that this is one part of that. It's a big part of that, the shift in kind of the development sports anchor district and that being a big trend in sports anyways. But yeah, and in terms of how we deliver value and to the community, to the investment component of that as well. But we're going to be everywhere and so involved and this league is such a grassroots league and the relationship with the fans is so special, is such a grassroots league and the relationship with the fans is so special.
Speaker 1:I think we can kind of end it maybe a little bit here is what's next for us? I mean, we kind of talked about it already, but what can people expect from us? Kind of going forward, and we may not have all of the answers right now, guys, but we are trying to, as hopefully you guys can see, be open and honest with you guys on where we're at and continue to listen to you as we go forward. But maybe some closing thoughts on where we're going and what people can see from us.
Speaker 3:Well, listen, I mean, we started right. We have a grassroots team that is out growing relationships, right? So they're getting people answering questions, getting people excited about what we're ultimately doing, getting names, starting the relationship process. Once they come in with us, we start communicating with them and actually continuing to grow those relationships. And actually continuing to grow those relationships.
Speaker 3:I think that's where you're going to see the bulk of the change for us is really trying to understand our customers a little bit further what they want, what they don't want, preferences, what's your favorite beer, Seriously, and then making sure it seems like local beer is very, very important. So, all right, what do you mean by that? So how do we mean by that, right? So how do we actually do that? Do we have one big local or do we have, you know, as many taps from locally as we can, right? So just a small example. And then being out everywhere, because really it's all about relationships, right? So we just happen to have a brand that we need to develop and want to develop relationships with tens of thousands of people.
Speaker 3:Yeah Right, sacramento Republic has got over 100,000 people now in their database, which we will have eventually, but right now we have 7,500, which is a great number to start with. So a lot of grassroots marketing, mainly because that's who professional soccer is. It's like getting out like we do in soccer you go out and you play, you go out into the leagues or you go out in the parks, right, but you go out, right. So we're going to go out and then just keep building on that, right. So that's number one. I think number two is continue to be. I think we want to do a better job updating and being open and vulnerable and sharing kind of where we are in this process. Uh, engaging, um, and then just like celebrating as. Back to the marshallese right, so, yeah, second largest or largest population of marshallese people outside of the marshall islands, right? Um, they were the last.
Speaker 1:We'll tell the group they're the last last un nation to have a national soccer team, um, and, but that's changing now. Uh, and big shout out to to lloyd uh owers and and his team, uh, woody watson here locally, uh, matt weber, uh, or matt webb sorry Matt, if I got your last name wrong Matt and co, the whole team doing phenomenal work, and they're going to host their first ever kind of international tournament here locally in Northwest Arkansas in August. And you know how do we help support them and support the game? Right, you know we're going to. You know, heads up, lloyd, you're going to get a phone call on how we can talk about it, right?
Speaker 3:So, yeah, we want to make a difference for them, right, exactly, we can have our fans, and if we can come and have our fans come and do something for them, you know they're going to have their first international match played in arkansas. So cool, yeah, what a moment, right? Yeah, if we can help bring the resources enough to, maybe they can play in front of, maybe they can play at the university of arkansas, if they would let them, or, you know, we'll find a place. If not, you know, um, you know there's great high schools here with great soccer fields, but nonetheless, they're going to play, right, and we that's a very important community for us we want to make a difference for them, and so that is how we're going to grow this brand and that is what we're going to do. To be successful is to continue doing things that make a difference in this.
Speaker 1:It all hits back to our, our mission, vision and using the sport. You know, yes, it's soccer, that's great, but using it for a way and a vehicle to do good in our community and make it a better place to live, work, play, amen. So well, warren, any other last thoughts that you want to leave people with? I think we've had a great convo, great update, but we keep onward, we keep going.
Speaker 3:Yes, so yes, so, um, listen, I mean, but quick, I mean I think it's important to really look at the timetable.
Speaker 1:when we knew we needed to pivot, it was what june the last year, june of last year, when we started having those conversations june may and june late may, um, and then and at that time, um we did it went back to our site selection process.
Speaker 3:We're able to find a piece, but then we had to assemble a bunch of pieces right, and that took time and um, very different than the first time around.
Speaker 1:Exactly right, one owner, that's right, right. So that also is a for folks that were kind of like where is it? Where is it? Yep, that's a big piece that takes a lot of time. If you've ever bought a house or anything, that's one lot with one owner. We did it with almost double digits.
Speaker 3:And I want to say thank you to those landowners because they ultimately care deeply about what we're trying to accomplish and they loved what we're doing, what we're about about and the difference that we're making in the community. So they wanted to. You know, some of them maybe have taken a little bit of price reduction because of that, right so, which is amazing to us, right? So, anyways, long story, you know, it took I mean so it was really a year into the process um, and where we knew we needed to pivot and it just took some time. I hope and I believe that we're just going to be able to accelerate that now, because now we control our own destiny. The last thing I want to say this is your team, everybody. This is your team. We need you to participate.
Speaker 3:I want to create a movement, man, because when people come to soccer matches and the hellbenders are just like yelling and screaming and having a great time singing songs, those non-soccer fans become soccer fans immediately, right? So let's speak up as soccer fans, those that know the game, those that love what we're doing. Let's speak up as soccer fans, those that know the game, those that love what we're doing. Let's speak up together, right? So, when we ask you, I'm hopeful that you can participate, because it's about creating that movement. Yeah, because that movement can be really powerful, we can make a difference together.
Speaker 3:As you know, one of our big, big long-term objectives is to build a true soccer complex Mm-hmm Right, true soccer complex, right? Um, it'd be an economic driver for the region to actually can, you know, get some of these very large events that are going to Kansas city and Dallas not come in here? Yeah, um, oklahoma city's adding 24 fields to their portfolio this year. Yeah, you know that's. That's something I think that we can do and, and you know, can't do it without people speaking up.
Speaker 1:No, and I mean we've already even started working with a company sports facilities company uh, to even start looking into feasibility of that. I want to make sure we hit on that because that's also a big part of you know what we've heard from people recognize, um, people, us recognizing that. But also I want you guys to understand we have heard you, we get it. We need fields in Northwest Arkansas, even without us, we just need it, period.
Speaker 1:There's not enough at all levels of sport, but especially soccer, and you guys have said, hey, can you help deliver this, can you help be a leader there? We have started to look into that. Yes, there is a need, but it doesn't happen without your support and you guys speaking up, especially with community leaders, public officials et cetera. And we'll continue to share in how you can help support those efforts as we go, share in how you can help support those efforts as we go. But I'm glad you brought that up, warren, that's another big part of you know the roadmap and things that we know are important to folks here in the community.
Speaker 3:So yeah, I mean, if you look at Arkansas soccer participation growth, there's no way these leagues can serve the public without substantial growth in these facilities, and they're hard to do, even at just building fields right or maintaining fields it is, but I do believe that we'll be able to make a very significant difference in that area.
Speaker 1:I do too. I do too. We certainly have some land for it out there, yeah, in that area.
Speaker 3:I do too. I do too. We certainly have some land for it out there. Yeah, wesley, as we close, I just want to say thank you for being such a believer, such a fan of all that we're doing and being somebody that is true to our values, because that is really the most important thing that we can do is do and say, or say and do what we are trying to to do, and say we believe in there, do after we say say what you.
Speaker 1:What is it? Uh mean what you say? Say uh, do what you say, or something like that. I don't know. Whatever it is, living into it, I appreciate it, warren. Uh, thank you guys for believing in me and and bringing me along for the ride, man last yeah, last shout out because we didn't mention chris's name much.
Speaker 3:But you know, gosh, he cares deeply about this community. That's a fantastic and really wants us to do this right man. He's still very active, as you know. We talk every day and really appreciate all that he has done to actually grow relationships and and articulate you know why this is so important in this region. I can only be here every couple of weeks, but he's here every, every, every. Well, not every day because of his work, but as close as he can be. Yeah.
Speaker 1:Big shout out to Chris and his uh efforts I mean even you know, back to conversations back with Jake and all of that kind of thing to help deliver this. I mean it's such an amazing project and look where we are now and uh and sharing, and hopefully everybody feels the same way, and onward and upward we go, uh. So, warren, thanks so much for jumping on and joining me here today. I think that that's going to do it for this episode of Pitch to Pro. We hope you enjoyed it. Be sure to catch all of our episodes on PitchToProcom, or look for PitchToPro on YouTube, spotify, apple or wherever you get your podcasts. For more content until next time.
Speaker 2:Northwest Arkansas cheers, amen thanks for joining us on this episode of the PitchToPro podcast. Be sure to tune in again in two weeks for the next installment and check out the Stoppage Time series for a recap of today's episode. Be sure to find us at Pitch to Pro on YouTube, instagram and everywhere you get your podcasts. Until next time, northwest Arkansas cheers.