Sporting Cascades FC
| Full name | Sporting Cascades Football Club |
|---|---|
| Founded | April 18, 2024 |
| Ground | Civic Park |
| Capacity | 3,500 [1] |
| Owner | Bill Cornog |
| President | Dave Galas |
| Head coach | Darren Sawatzky |
| League | USL League One |
| 2027 | TBD |
| Website | sportingcascades.com |
Sporting Cascades Football Club is an upcoming professional soccer club based in Eugene, Oregon, United States. Founded in April 2024 to replace the pre-professional Lane United FC of USL League Two, the club is planning to make its USL League One debut in 2027.
History
On April 18, 2024, USL League One announced that a franchise would be granted to Eugene, Oregon.[2] The club was founded by the same group behind the pre-professional Lane United FC, who aimed to move towards the pro soccer world and leave behind the previous branding of Lane United.[3] The team planned to play at Civic Park, at the former site of Civic Stadium which was rebuilt after a damaging fire in 2015, in Eugene for the 2025 USL League One season.[4][5] The club's start date was later pushed back to the 2026 USL League One season,[6] and then again to the 2027 season,[7] in part due to announced head coach John Galas passing away from cancer.[8] In May 2026, the club officially confirmed Civic Park as their home venue.[1]
The first half of 2026 saw new life for the club in preparation for their inaugural season in 2027. An owner for the club was announced to be Bill Cornog, providing necessary funding for the club to afford to begin play.[9] In June the club announced that outgoing Richmond Kickers coach, Darren Sawatzky will be the club's first head coach.[10] The confirmation of Sporting Cascades beginning play was confirmed in a press release by the United Soccer League, which confirmed that Sporting Cascades will be a part of a group of four teams joining the USL League One in 2027.[11]
Club identity and crest
The club's Sporting Cascades FC branding was unveiled on August 22, 2025.[12] The region identifier references the Cascades mountain range, the mountain range that spans from British Columbia to Northern California. In the crest, which is shaped like a shield, features the Three Sisters mountain peaks that are in Lane County, as well as the McKenzie and Willamette rivers.[13]
Stadium
Sporting Cascades will play their matches at Civic Park, a new soccer-specific stadium built on the footprint of the former Civic Stadium. Opened on May 1, 2025, at a cost of $30 million,[14] the stadium features a main grandstand and a field house, with a phase two planned to add a scoreboard and a food court.[15] The capacity of the stadium is around 3,500, and has a turf field.[16]
References
- ^ a b Sporting Cascades FC Officially Announces Civic Park as 2027 Home at sportingcascades.com. 21 May 2026
- ^ "USL Eugene announces plans to bring professional soccer to Eugene, Ore". OurSports Central. April 19, 2024. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
- ^ Flynn, Henry. "Say Hello To Sporting Cascades—A Fresh Addition To U.S. Club Soccer". Forbes. Retrieved June 22, 2026.
- ^ "Eugene Embraces a New Era: Professional Soccer Ambitions Arrive with the Completion of Civic Park Stadium". USL Eugene. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
- ^ Rodriguez, Julio Mora (April 18, 2024). "New soccer stadium set to be completed this November in Eugene". KEZI 9 News. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
- ^ Gillette, Alexandra (September 26, 2024). "A Gooooaaaal for Youth Sports". Eugene Weekly. Retrieved February 22, 2025.
- ^ McConaghie, Rachel (December 12, 2025). "Sporting Cascades' debut postponed, Eugene awaits 2027 return". KEZI 9 News. Retrieved March 29, 2026.
- ^ Prezelski, Ted (March 19, 2026). "Former FC Tucson & UA Wildcat soccer coach Galas dead at 53". TucsonSentinel.com. Retrieved June 22, 2026.
- ^ Alger, Tyson (May 28, 2026). "New owner of Eugene's upcoming pro soccer club says he's in it for the joy, not the money". Lookout Eugene-Springfield. Retrieved June 22, 2026.
- ^ WTVR CBS 6 Web Staff (June 15, 2026). "Richmond Kickers part ways with coach Darren Sawatzky in rare mid-season move". WTVR. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ USLSoccer com Staff (June 1, 2026). "USL Includes Five Additional Clubs in 2027 Sanctioning Application". USL Championship. Retrieved June 22, 2026.
- ^ "Sporting Cascades FC reveals brand identity". USL League One. August 22, 2025. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
- ^ "Our Identity". Sporting Cascades. Retrieved August 23, 2025.
- ^ Rothman, Stephanie (October 2, 2018). "Civic Park breaks ground". KMTR. Retrieved August 23, 2025.
- ^ Weston, Eve (May 1, 2025). "From Ashes to Light". Eugene Weekly. Retrieved August 23, 2025.
- ^ Lonergan, Ben (October 13, 2023). "What's that construction at Civic Park in South Eugene?". subscribe.registerguard.com. Retrieved August 23, 2025.