COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Mar. 13, 2023) – The Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC announced in a press conference Monday in partnership with the USL Championship that the League’s Summer Showcase event would be held in Colorado Springs in August. The club also named their Captain and leadership team for the 2023 season.
“Colorado Springs offers a beautiful city, stadium and backdrop for the 2023 USL Summer Showcase,” said USL Chief Commercial Officer Court Jeske. “The world-class facility of Weidner Field, combined with the vibrant downtown entertainment district surrounding the stadium, make Colorado Springs an ideal location for our annual mid-year meetings. We are especially excited to shine a spotlight on the city and these two ambitious clubs via our partners at ESPN.”
The event will take place across the second week of August and include a wide array of events, most notably being the USL’s annual mid-season meetings, which will see over 200 executives from the USL’s professional and pre-professional clubs visit Colorado Springs. The week will also offer community events and partner activations that will highlight the growth of the game of soccer in the Colorado Springs region as well as the United States nationally. All events will lead up to the regular season clash between the Switchbacks FC and FC Tulsa Wednesday, March 9th, which will be nationally broadcast on ESPN2.
“The USL has dramatically advanced professional soccer since we launched the Switchbacks expansion franchise in 2013,” Switchbacks President Nick Ragain said. “There is no better demonstration than our story here in Olympic City USA at Weidner Field, and the adjacent Experience at Epicenter mixed use development that’s under construction. USL franchises are bringing communities together, inspiring young people, and changing urban landscapes across the country, so it is a great honor to host so many impactful leaders here in Colorado Springs.”
The event is a special opportunity that is awarded to a different USL club each year, and offers a unique platform to spotlight USL clubs along with their cities.
“We are thrilled to host this year’s USL Summer Showcase in Olympic City USA,” said Visit Colorado Springs President & CEO Doug Price. “This event is being supported in-part by our city’s Lodging & Auto Rental tax and will surely benefit our local economy. The USL Summer Showcase will drive athletes, their families and spectators to explore the growing south end of Downtown Colorado Springs.”
Head Coach Stephen Hogan also announced in the press conference that Matt Mahoney was named captain for the 2023 season.
“I’m really excited and honored to have been chosen,” said Mahoney. “This is my third season with the Switchbacks and I’m looking forward to taking on a leadership role and helping to be that voice on and off the pitch for the guys this season.”
Mahoney will join a leadership team of players put in place to guide and mentor the squad on the pitch during practice and games, as well as in the locker room. Speedy Williams will act as Vice Captain, with Aaron Wheeler and Romario Williams part of the ‘leadership team’, providing the squad with several voices who will advocate for them and help push the team to their best work.
The Switchbacks will open their season this Wednesday on the road as they take on El Paso Locomotive FC. The Switchbacks will host their home opener in a St. Patrick’s Day themed event this Saturday March 18th, with gates opening at 5 pm and a 6 pm kickoff. Tickets for that match, and all other Switchbacks events are available HERE.
