AV Alta FC
 | |
| Full name | AV Alta Football Club |
|---|---|
| Founded | October 4, 2023 |
| Stadium | Lancaster Municipal Stadium |
| Capacity | 6,000 |
| Owner | John Smelzer J. David Harden Bob Roback |
| President | John Smelzer |
| Head coach | Brian Kleiban |
| League | USL League One |
| 2025 | Inaugural season |
| Website | https://www.avaltafc.com/ |
AV Alta Football Club, commonly referred to as AV Alta FC or Alta, is an American professional soccer team based in Lancaster, California. First announced in 2023, the team plans to play in USL League One beginning in 2025. Their home field is Lancaster Municipal Stadium, also known as "The Hangar".
History
On October 4, 2023, the United Soccer League announced that the city of Lancaster, California, had been awarded a USL League One expansion team which would start play in the 2025 season. John Smelzer, an entrepreneur who worked with the United States Soccer Federation for the 1994 FIFA World Cup, was announced as founder and president.[1]
On May 16, 2024, Brian Kleiban was announced as the team's inaugural head coach. Kleiban had held coaching roles with FC Barcelona, Los Angeles FC and Chivas USA.[2]
The club's name — AV Alta FC — and logo were unveiled on May 17, 2024.[3] Former U.S. international and Major League Soccer player Miguel Ibarra, who hails from the area, was announced as the club's first player on December 9, 2024.[4]
Club identity, crest and colors
The club's official name, crest and colors were unveiled in front of thousands of fans in Lancaster on May 17, 2024.[5] "AV" is a common local nickname for the Antelope Valley, while "Alta" is meant to allude to the region's location in the high desert, its ties to the aerospace industry, and to Alta California, the region's name prior to California statehood.
The club's official colors are referred to as Joshua Green and Desert Sand, the former in reference to the abundant Joshua trees in the area. The shape of the crest is meant to resemble a California poppy, while the angled font of the "AV" at the center of the crest was inspired by angular shape of the B2 stealth bomber.
Stadium
The team will play at Lancaster Municipal Stadium, also known as "The Hangar", a minor league ballpark that was home to the Lancaster JetHawks until 2020.[6] The stadium will be reconfigured for soccer use by adding seating in the former outfield at a cost of $17 million. It will have 5,300 seats, including a safe standing supporters' terrace on the north side.[4]
Current roster
- As of March 7, 2025
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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References
- ^ "USL Antelope Valley announces plans to bring professional soccer to Lancaster, Calif". USL League One. 2023-10-04. Retrieved 2024-05-20.
- ^ "USL Antelope Valley Announces Brian Kleiban as the Club's First Head Coach". AV Alta FC. Retrieved 2024-05-20.
- ^ Caiuch, Eduard (2024-05-18). "AV Alta FC, equipo de tercera división en USL, busca llenar un vacío en Antelope Valley". Los Angeles Times en Español (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-05-20.
- ^ a b Baxter, Kevin (December 9, 2024). "Showcasing a homegrown star will be part of AV Alta's ambitious launch plans". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
- ^ https://www.avaltafc.com/news/2024/06/20/av-alta-fc-hosts-thousands-in-downtown-block-party-as-it-revealed-its-crest-and-name/
- ^ Baxter, Kevin (October 1, 2023). "How a pro soccer team hopes to create a new identity in the Antelope Valley". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
External links
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