MLS officially offers AFC Ann Arbor expansion franchise for 2018

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - April 1, 2015 - PRLog -- "MLS officially offers AFC Ann Arbor expansion franchise for 2018; team declines to retain roots in community..."

Major League Soccer (http://www.mlssoccer.com, Twitter:@MLS, Facebook: www.facebook.com/MLS) announced on Wednesday that Ann Arbor, Michigan has been awarded an expansion team that will begin play in 2018.

With uncertain future of still to be named, Miami-based MLS Team owned by David Beckham (http://afcannarbor.com/wp-admin/twitter.com/davidbeckhamweb), the league decided to move swiftly to secure another, even more promising location.

The new club  - AFC Ann Arbor (http://www.afcannarbor.com/) - established by Ann Arbor, MI based Ownership Group led by Jamey Amrine just a few months ago is scheduled to play at the historic Big House – 2^nd largest stadium in the world owned and operated by The University of Michigan

“We are proud to welcome AFC Ann Arbor to Major League Soccer,” MLS Commissioner Don Garber said in a league statement. “The ownership group’s commitment to soccer and the community, the area’s growing millennial population and the region’s rich tradition of supporting soccer at all levels in Michigan were key indicators that this was the right market. The passionate soccer fans in Washtenaw County will soon have a world-class soccer team and allure of historic “Big House” ensures it’ll become a destination for marquee international sports events and top talent from all over the world.”

Michigan’s soccer tradition includes US-soccer attendance record of 109,318 fans watching Manchester United (http://www.manutd.com/) defeat Real Madrid (http://www.realmadrid.com/en) in 2014 edition of International Champions’ Cup; University of Michigan’s Collegiate Soccer Team that produced number of professional players, including Knox Cameron who played for MLS’s Columbus Crew as well as numerous Youth and Amateur Soccer Teams.

In unexpected turn of events, AFC Ann Arbor’s Ownership Group declined the invitation in order to retain its roots in the community….

“I want to thank MLS Commissioner Don Garber and the league’s owners for inviting us to join Major League Soccer” Amrine said in the statement, “however, we’re committed to growing AFC Ann Arbor (http://afcannarbor.com/) as an independent, deeply rooted in local community team for the time being”.

Amrine stated the decision was relatively easy considering strong ownership group, enthusiastic initial support from both businesses and fan community and stronger than expected group and single ticket sales for upcoming season; not to mention Ann Arbor’s well-documented preferences for local, non-franchise businesses.

AFC Ann Arbor was founded in 2014 to bring minor league soccer to Ann Arbor and the surrounding communities.  The team will compete in the inaugural season of the Great Lakes Premier League as a founding club.  The club will be made up of amateur players from the area and recruited from top college programs across the state and country.  The season will begin May 1st with the season opener scheduled for a 7pm start at Pioneer High School’s Hollway Field, AFC Ann Arbor's home field.

The game day atmosphere will be family-friendly, with pregame activities for kids of all ages, including a skills clinic area, face painting, meet the players, and giveaways. Parking is free. AFC games will also feature unique eats from an array of areas best food trucks, while some of the best local DJs will be entertaining the crowd before the players take the field to represent Ann Arbor.

Every game the first 300 fans will receive a FREE giveaway item plus a commemorative game day program/poster. Tickets are $10 for an adult and $6 for kids (up to 12 years old) at the gate but can be purchased in advance online at afcannarbor.com beginning Friday, March 27th at 10am.  Advance purchase tickets and packages are discounted and some include additional benefits.  Season tickets and memberships will also be available with extra incentives and such as VIP parking, team scarf and/or metal membership card.

There are plenty of ways to get involved: join a supporter group, become a season ticket holder, sign on as a sponsor, volunteer as part of the game day staff or buy some official team gear.  Either way, you won’t want to miss out on the inaugural season of AFC Ann Arbor.

For more information, visit our website at http://afcannarbor.com, or follow us on on Twitter (@AFCAnnArbor) or Facebook (www.facebook.com/afcannarbor).