Could professional soccer be coming to Fresno? Mayor Dyer to make announcement
Fresno could be getting another shot at professional soccer.
Mayor Jerry Dyer will announce a “new and exclusive” deal with the United Soccer League on Tuesday, with the hopes of bringing both men’s and women’s pro soccer teams to the Central Valley, according to a city news release.
Fresno has tried several times before to lure professional soccer to the city.
When Central Valley Fuego FC launched in 2020, it not only revived the legacy of the original Fuego brand, but also reignited hopes for a soccer stadium downtown.
The team struggled to find a site for a new stadium, The Bee previously reported. Proposals for several locations, including by Selland Arena and on F Street, fell through because of political disagreements or conflicts with major construction projects like the California high-speed rail project.
The Central Valley Fuego left the USL League One after the 2024 season and switched to a lower-level developmental league.
Another previous professional team, the Fresno Foxes, joined the USL in 2017, but folded after two seasons when they couldn’t build a stadium and moved to Monterey.