Ballard FC is excited to announce that we have joined Common Goal, an international movement mobilizing the global soccer industry to pledge a minimum of one percent of all business revenues to sport-based social initiatives. The move makes the club the first USL2 club to join Common Goal, as well as just the second club in the United States and the tenth worldwide to make the 1% pledge alongside SV Werder Bremen of the German Bundesliga and Oakland Roots SC of the USL Championship.
Common Goal funds projects across several major impact initiatives locally and abroad. Ballard FC has selected LGBTQ+ inclusion as its area of focus for the partnership’s first year. Ballard FC and Common Goal will collaborate on the Play Proud initiative, a grassroots-driven program that works with all stakeholders in soccer to make communities and stadiums a safer space for the LGBTQ+ community, and to equip players, coaches and staff with the skills and knowledge to ensure that LGBTQ+ inclusion is championed on and off the pitch.
“This collaboration represents a historic moment for our league and a significant step forward for Ballard FC as we look to keep making a difference in our local community and beyond,” said Ballard FC co-founder Chris Kaimmer. “Play Proud aligns perfectly with Ballard FC’s stance that soccer should be accessible and inclusive for everyone.”
Ballard FC, along with its non-profit Ballard FC Foundation, will contribute one percent of all revenue into its partnership with Common Goal. This includes merchandise, concessions, ticketing, sponsorships and more. As a hyperlocal soccer club, Ballard FC will focus our initial efforts in the greater Seattle area and over time, grow our impact regionally, nationally and internationally through the Common Goal platform.
“Ballard FC is leading with purpose. The club has put social impact at the forefront since their origin. We look forward to creating environmental and social change across Ballard and the wider-Seattle community for years to come,” said Common Goal USA’s Executive Director Lilli Barrett-O’Keefe.
Pride Night
The first initiative that Ballard FC and Common Goal will collaborate on is Ballard FC’s 2023 Pride Night match on Saturday, July 8th against Cultures United FC. The teams do not play in the same league, but have created an annual friendly match tradition built around social impact. Pride Night will feature organizations from the LGBTQ+ community before and during the match, and fans will have the opportunity to learn more about the club’s inclusion efforts. Before the match, Ballard FC and Common Goal will co-host a Play Proud workshop to provide youth soccer coaches and administrators with training and resources to create inclusive spaces in soccer. Tickets for Ballard FC Pride Night can be purchased HERE and the club will begin distributing information about the Play Proud workshop in the coming months.
Sebastian Diaz, Executive Director of Cultures United FC, sees the unique nature of the relationship between the two clubs: “We are so honored to have found not only a working relationship but also a close partnership that is not very common between crosstown teams,” said Sebastian Diaz, Executive Director of Cultures United FC. “The commitment of Ballard FC does not stay in words, but they demonstrate in actions what helping your neighbors is all about. We believe in the innovative approach they are taking to create community and doing it in a welcoming and inclusive manner with their membership in Common Goal and support for programs like Play Proud.” Ballard FC are really all about bringing the community together, and that is something we have immense respect for.”
Ballard FC kicks off its 2023 season on May 18th with a pre-season international friendly against Vancouver Whitecaps U19. Season tickets for 2023 are sold out but individual match tickets are still available.
Common Goal is a global impact movement that exists to unite the soccer community in tackling the biggest challenges of our times. The movement aims to inspire and mobilize every stakeholder of the soccer economy to play a meaningful role in serving the wellbeing of people and planet. To do so, Common Goal provides a simple and impactful mechanism for professional soccer players, managers, officials, clubs, and other stakeholders, to pledge a minimum of 1% of their earnings to high-impact initiatives that use the game to drive progress towards the Global Goals. The movement’s long-term ambition is to unlock 1% of the entire soccer industry’s revenues—estimated at $54 billion per year —to establish an intrinsic link between soccer as a business and soccer as a tool for social change.
Play Proud is an initiative launched by Common Goal offering a holistic and collective approach to creating inclusive soccer spaces with a focus on under-resourced and under-represented communities. Play Proud provides participating clubs and organizations with training, resources, and support to help them create inclusive policies and practices within their organizations and the broader world of soccer.
