Ozark United Football Club is an upcoming American professional soccer team based in Rogers, Arkansas. Founded in 2023, the club plans to have a men's team in the USL Championship before the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and a women's team in the USL Super League debuting in late 2026.
 | |
| Full name | Ozark United Football Club |
|---|---|
| Founded | July 12, 2023 |
| Stadium | Ozark United Stadium (tentative) Rogers, Arkansas |
| Capacity | 5,000 |
| Founders | Chris Martinovic Warren Smith |
| League | USL Championship |
| Website | Club website |
History
editOn July 12, 2023, the USL awarded an expansion team to the city of Rogers, Arkansas that will represent the Northwest Arkansas region.[1][2][3] The founders are Chris Martinovic and Warren Smith.
The club plans to build a new, 5,000-seat stadium located in Rogers, just north of the Pinnacle Hills Promenade. On July 19, 2023, the City of Rogers officially approved the rezoning of the stadium site.[4] USL Arkansas is expected to buy the land through an agreement with Rogers philanthropist Johnelle Hunt, the landowner.[5]
A "Name the Team" campaign created by ownership to hear fan suggestions for team names and branding happened in October 2023.[6] The development of the club's name and branding identity will be led by Stone Ward, an advertising agency with offices in Rogers, Chicago, and Little Rock.[7]
On January 5, 2024, USL Arkansas announced the launch of a Founding Fans panel, a group of 36 fans who will "be instrumental in shaping the club’s defining elements – its name, crest, and logo, ensuring that every aspect resonates with the spirit and values of USL Arkansas’ supporters and community."[8]
On May 16, 2024, USL Arkansas announced the launch of a U20 Academy team, a new initiative to cultivate local soccer talent. The team will play in a combination of USL Academy competitions, including USL Academy Cup and other USL-sanctioned events, as well as the United Premier Soccer League (UPSL), beginning play in the fall of 2024.[9]
On August 15, 2024, USL Arkansas announced a partnership with Charly, a leading soccer brand from Mexico, to become the official kit and training apparel provider for the club. The partnership will equip USL Arkansas with on-field match and training kits, as well as an extensive range of merchandise.[10]
Colors and badge
editOn October 3, 2024, USL Arkansas officially announced its team name and brand, unveiling Ozark United FC as the symbol that will represent Men’s professional soccer in Northwest Arkansas. Ozark United FC gathered tens of thousands of pieces of feedback that shaped the team’s identity and vision, utilizing a community-centric approach. This included nine focus group sessions with 36 Ozarkers from diverse backgrounds, online fan surveys, 16 community listening sessions, and thousands of one-on-one conversations. By actively engaging with the community, the club ensured that the brand truly belongs to the people of the region, reflecting their pride and deep connection to the game.
Inspired by the unique beautiful landscape of Northwest Arkansas and the Ozarks, Ozark United FC embraces the rugged terrain and rich cultural history of the area, while celebrating the values of authenticity, commitment to excellence, passion, compassion, and belonging. The crest features a unique condensed “O” shape representing the high terrain of the Ozarks. The interwoven “O-Z” monogram is symbolic of the interconnectedness and individuality of the communities in our region, anchored by its four largest cities: Bentonville, Rogers, Springdale, and Fayetteville. The ever-ascending stripes represent the region’s limitless potential and its rising acclaim, as well as the mountains that define the Ozarks.
The Arkansas State motto, Regnat Populus (“The People Rule”), is a prominent feature in the design, reinforcing the club’s commitment to being a club by and for the fans. Inside the state motto is the number 25 within a diamond, highlighting Arkansas as the 25th state in the union and the only U.S. state where diamonds are naturally found.
In addition to the primary crest, the club features several secondary marks, including a legacy mark that honors Arkansas’s nickname as the “Natural State” and an origin mark celebrating Arkansas as the 25th state in the Union, highlighting the club’s official launch in 2025.[11]
References
edit- ^ "Professional Soccer Landing in Northwest Arkansas". Retrieved July 12, 2023.
- ^ "Pro soccer teams and a new 5,000-seat stadium are coming to Northwest Arkansas". Retrieved July 12, 2023.
- ^ "USL Arkansas plans soccer club in Northwest Arkansas". Retrieved July 12, 2023.
- ^ "Rogers approves rezoning for new professional soccer stadium". USL Arkansas. 19 July 2023. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
- ^ "Warren Smith updates USL backing, branding, naming". USL Arkansas. 5 September 2023. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
- ^ "USL Arkansas Invites Community to "Name The Team" in Latest Campaign". USL Arkansas. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
- ^ "USL Arkansas Partners with Stone Ward to Shape a Dynamic Soccer Brand in Northwest Arkansas in Latest Campaign". USL Arkansas. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
- ^ "USL Arkansas Partners with Stone Ward to Shape a Dynamic Soccer Brand in Northwest Arkansas in Latest Campaign". USL Arkansas. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
- ^ "USL Arkansas Academy". USL Arkansas. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
- ^ "USL ARKANSAS PARTNERS WITH CHARLY AS OFFICIAL APPAREL PROVIDER". USL Arkansas. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
- ^ "USL Arkansas Unveils Ozark United FC as Official Brand, Bringing Unity and Community to Northwest Arkansas Soccer". USL Arkansas. Retrieved 4 October 2024.