After years of planning and preparation, Ballard FC will play the first match of its inaugural season on Saturday, May 21st against Lane United FC from Eugene, Oregon. Kickoff is at 6:00pm.
The long awaited debut of Ballard FC will be viewed by a sellout crowd at Seattle’s Interbay Stadium and will be broadcast live at goballardfc.com. If you weren’t lucky enough to get a ticket for the opener, you can join fans and supporters at Reuben’s Brews Taproom to watch the match on the big screen.
Head Coach Jason Farrell, as well as assistant coaches Amadou Sanyang, David Lara, and Goalkeeper Coach Ben Willis, have worked tirelessly to assemble a talented inaugural roster of young men, many leaving their hometowns to come and play for the Ballard team.
“I have been extremely pleased with how this team has come together in such a short period of time. We literally have players from all over the world and attempting to build a cohesive squad in such a short amount of time is no easy task. However, with all credit to the players and the amazing coaches on my staff, we look like we have been playing together for quite awhile. I am so excited for these players, this club and this community! May 21st represents a historic day in Ballard and will be the culmination of a lot of hard work.” – Coach Farrell
The play-by-play broadcast will be called by Andrew and Jim Harvey and will be available starting at 5:45pm on the team homepage. A Seattle Native, Andrew Harvey is the lead play-by-play broadcaster for the MASL Tacoma Stars and performed play-by-play duties for Tacoma Defiance from 2017 to 2021. A former goalkeeper, Jim Harvey played in the first- ever NCAA Division III national championship for Swarthmore College and has worked for over 50 years as a broadcaster, coach, and referee. This father-son broadcast duo has called games together for over a decade, previously in USL League 2 as the commentary team for the Kitsap Pumas in Bremerton.
Ticketholders should arrive early. Doors open at 4:30pm for the 6:00pm kickoff and fans will have the opportunity to enjoy a selection of Reuben’s Brews beers, including the team’s own “Up The Bridges!” – an American Pale Ale in the Reuben’s Brews Foundation Beer Garden. Levantine Cuisine food truck and Mainstay Provisions food tent will also be available to purchase food from before and during the game. With sunny weather in the forecast, everything is lining up for a truly memorable night of soccer.
Saturday’s inaugural match is sold out, however, tickets for future matches are just $15 for general admission or $12.50 for standing and they are available for advance purchase.
For more information about match day, including transportation, Covid-19, fan code of conduct, prohibited items, and more click HERE. Reuben’s Brews is also offering a shuttle bus ride to the match, which you can learn more about and purchase tickets to here.
