Nashville SC is a professional soccer team based in Nashville, Tennessee, currently playing in the United Soccer League Championship (USL). The club was founded in 2016 as an expansion team for the USL and has quickly become a major player in the league.
The team's success has been impressive since their debut season, with Nashville SC consistently ranking among the top teams in the Eastern Conference. They reached the conference finals in 2019, finishing just short of a place in the USL Championship final.
Despite being one of the newer teams in the league, Nashville SC has already established itself as a strong contender for promotion to Major League Soccer (MLS). The club was awarded an MLS expansion team for the 2020 season, joining the highest level of professional soccer in the United States.
The USL, which functions as the second division of American professional soccer, is comprised of 47 teams organized into two conferences, Eastern and Western. The league offers a lower-cost, more accessible alternative to Major League Soccer, providing the opportunity for smaller and emerging markets to establish a foothold in competitive soccer.
Nashville SC is emblematic of this trend, utilizing the expansive USL network to establish itself as a regional powerhouse in soccer. While not playing at the highest-level yet, the team's strategic and incremental approach has garnered significant support from fans and the league alike.
As one of the best-supported clubs in the USL, Nashville SC benefits from its location, fan base, and incredibly loyal supporters. The club plays home games at Nissan Stadium, with seating capacity reaching over 60,000. In 2018, their inaugural season, the club averaged over 7,000 fans per game, an impressive figure for any USL team.
In addition to their strong local support, Nashville SC has also gained international recognition, partnering with Liverpool FC of England's Premier League, launching several new initiatives aimed at promoting the game and the partnership between the two clubs.
As Nashville SC looks toward its first season in MLS, the club's continued success in the USL bodes well for its future prospects. With a strong organizational structure, talented coaching staff, and passionate fan base, the club looks set to establish itself as one of the top teams in MLS.
In conclusion, Nashville SC is a great representation of the potential of US Minor League Soccer, offering an exciting alternative to Major League Soccer. As the sport continues to grow and expand in the United States, USL teams like Nashville SC have a significant role to play in developing new talent, building regional communities, and fostering a sustainable culture of soccer that can continue to inspire future generations.