“As of today, Major League Soccer has finally arrived in San Diego.”
The powerful statement was delivered by Major League Soccer commissioner, Don Garber, during a press conference Thursday morning. The San Diego addition will be the 30th team added to the MLS.
Garber was up on stage with two majority owners of the new MLS team. First to give a speech was Mohamed Monsour; entrepreneur, philanthropist and chairman of Man Capital.
Monsour delivered a heartfelt thank you to the community for a chance to bring soccer to our hometown. “This is truly a moving moment for me and for my family…Today, feels to me in some ways like a thousand birthdays have come together. I’m so happy and honored to kickstart this venture.” said Monsour. He followed up the sentiment with ““Being here today is perhaps the most exciting challenge. The greatest chance to live my dream. I want to also make it your dream. San Diego is my dream, my new American dream, and I thank you all so much for making this happen.”
Along side Mr. Monsour was Cody Martinez chair of local Sycuan tribe. Martinez touched on the involvement the Sycuan tribe has offered to the local sports world and in this breaking new venture with the MLS team. “They say good things come to those who wait…. Our vision and our values for community and for sport have aligned. When you share a passion and you share your reason for why you’re doing things, I think there is no end to the future and the success that this club will bring.”
Martinez touched on the long involvement the Sycuan tribe has offered San Diego. “We have continued to give back in what is called the Kumeyaay spirit of giving. .. For the last 40 years, we have supported professional sports in this town. This is a natural evolution, to go from sponsoring to sitting at the ownership table.”
Another partial owner with a more familiar face to San Diego locals also made an appearance during the press conference. Six-time all star for the San Diego padres, Manny Machado. “What a great moment for San Diego. It means so much to me, my family, to continue to plant roots in this community.”
Local leaders were also in attendance for the big news. Mayor Todd Gloria had a message for the naysayers that claim San Diego does not have a big hand in the sports realm.
“What we see time and again, is that San Diegans don’t only support our teams, we rally around them, we cheer for them and we beam with pride. My friends, San Diego is a sports town.”
Also in attendance, the heart of any sports organization, the fans.
“I think a lot of San Diegans have been really trying hard to push for MLS in this city for a long time now. It’s been a roller coaster ride. So to be here is pretty surreal.” says Adrian Delgado, from San diego.
The new MLS team for San Diego, which has yet to be named, will start their season in 2025 at Snapdragon stadium in San Diego.