Jonathan Berman
Oak Park, IL (USA)
Role(s):
Founder/Owner/Principal
321 Partners
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Startup
Location:
Oak Park
Industry:
Sports/Recreation
Year Founded:
2009
Number Employees:
1-10 people
Description:
“USL-2, Indianapolis – 2010” will be a men’s professional soccer franchise competing in the United Soccer League’s (USL) Second Division which is the Third Division of the sports hierarchy below MLS and USL’s First Division. This level is comparable to professional baseball’s farm system “AA” level although there is no formalized farm system relationship between the various levels of professional soccer in North America.
At present, there is no professional men’s soccer franchise in the State of Indiana. Despite a lengthy list of successful professional sports franchises based in the Indianapolis area, the lack of a professional soccer team is believed to represent an excellent opportunity for both investors and the USL. The Indianapolis market’s broad affinity for sports, and well-established youth and university level soccer programs are evidence of a core market opportunity for a USL Division 2 franchise. A USL-2 team in Indianapolis couples expansion of the Division 2 league with establishment of an initial base for a USL Midwest Region, both understood as goals of the USL. Moreover, the growth in the popularity and exposure of professional soccer in the USA speaks to a potential enhanced franchise valuation during the next 5 to 7 years.