introduced Tuesday a 33-person “OKC for Soccer” advisory committee composed of civic, enterprise and sports activities leaders who will assist information the membership’s future.
The committee consists of outstanding names like Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell, Invoice Anoatubby, governor of the Chickasaw Nation, and Oklahoma Metropolis Public Colleges superintendent Dr. Jamie Polk. A handful of faculty athletic directors are on the committee, as is a Thunder consultant.
There are a number of Hispanic committee members, given Oklahoma Metropolis’s massive Latino inhabitants and the recognition of soccer in that group. They embrace David Castillo, president and CEO of the Larger OKC Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and Fred Mendoza, founder and chairman of the Oklahoma Hispanic Institute.
Sean Trauschke, president and CEO of OG&E, and Easy Trendy CEO Mike Beckham are additionally on the committee.
“There’s a mosaic of individuals on right here,” . “What we actually endeavored to do was to ensure that we concerned all these completely different teams after which had a deal with minorities and girls to be part of this committee.”
Echo, an Oklahoma Metropolis-based funding agency, bought a majority stake of Power FC in July. Power FC, a member of the USL Championship, suspended operations in 2022, however Echo is reviving the franchise and is . The stadium, a part of MAPS 4, is predicted to be accomplished in spring 2027.
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The brand new possession group introduced in August {that a} girls’s crew can be a . The group can also be present process a model evaluate of the membership, which might doubtlessly result in a brand new identify, emblem and coloration scheme for what was previously Power FC.
Jeske, , is overseeing the membership’s return to the USL, the place Jeske most just lately labored as chief industrial officer. Jeske grew up in Tulsa and went to OU. Echo founder Christian Kanady employed Jeske to steer the “OKC for Soccer” initiative. Each Kanady and Jeske are on the 33-member advisory committee.
“It is a plan I wished to place in place after seeing how aligned town was,” Jeske stated, “and after seeing how many individuals got here out saying they wished to assist skilled soccer.”
The committee will maintain its first assembly this fall with two to 4 conferences per 12 months transferring ahead.
“The committee might be much less about soccer and extra concerning the future imaginative and prescient of Oklahoma Metropolis,” Jeske stated.
And, in fact, soccer’s place in that future.
“All of those people have completely different contact factors all through town and state,” Jeske stated. “They’re actually essential to verify they might help us reimagine soccer in Oklahoma Metropolis the way in which Oklahoma Metropolis must be mirrored at this time.”
Jeske remembered an early dialog he had with Pinnell, the lieutenant governor.
“That is so thrilling that you simply’re bringing the Power again,” Pinnell stated.
“Nicely,” Jeske stated, “not precisely.”
The Power performed at Taft Stadium. Regardless of the Power turns into will play at a brand new downtown facility that may double as the most important out of doors live performance venue in Oklahoma Metropolis.
“The earlier group with the Power did a incredible job,” Jeske stated. “I believe there are just a few various factors. One, soccer was in a unique place in 2013 than it’s at this time. Two, they didn’t have the posh of a MAPS stadium that we have now. And No. 3, Oklahoma Metropolis is in a unique place than it was in 2013. We have now a a lot bigger inhabitants, we have now a way more various inhabitants. … These issues are what makes this time proper for a really, very, very profitable motion.”
Power FC house owners Bob Funk Jr. and Tim McLaughlin, who bought a majority curiosity of the membership to Kanady, are on the “OKC for Soccer” committee.
They helped lay the groundwork for skilled soccer in Oklahoma Metropolis, however Kanady, Jeske and Co. purpose to raise the membership.
“We’re not going to convey the Power again,” Jeske stated. “That is going to be an effort to have Oklahoma Metropolis’s second main league crew take the market by storm.”
OKC for Soccer committee
Invoice Anoatubby, governor, Chickasaw Nation
Donna Bartley, president, Bartley Industries
Mike Beckham, CEO, Easy Trendy
Brian Byrnes, senior vice chairman enterprise operations, Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder
Nathan Cao, founder and president, Omega Investments LLC
David Castillo, president and CEO, Larger OKC Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Zac Craig, president, Go to OKC
Mackenzie Dilbeck, government affiliate athletics director, OU
Bob Funk Jr., CEO, Prodigal
Steve Hahn, president, Central States AT&T
Karen Hancock, senior affiliate athletic director, OSU
Jorge Fernandez, president, Tango Public Relations
Brent Hubbard, senior vice chairman, Integris Well being
Courtroom Jeske, president, OKC for Soccer
Sean Jones, president, Ladies’s Premier Soccer League
Christian Kanady, founder and CEO, Echo
Tim McLaughlin, companion and co-founder, Sq. Deal Capital
Fred Mendoza, founder and chairman, Oklahoma Hispanic Institute
Matt Mercer, president, Oklahoma Soccer Affiliation
Mark Moore, CEO, Bob Moore Auto Group
Shani Nealy, senior vice chairman of administration, City League of Larger OKC
Ran Oliver, co-president and CEO, Viking Minerals
Salvador Ontiveros, president and CEO, Latino Group Improvement Company
Edurne Pineda, head consul, Oklahoma Metropolis Consulate of Mexico
Matt Pinnell, lieutenant governor, State of Oklahoma
Dr. Jamie Polk, superintendent, Oklahoma Metropolis Public Colleges
Adam Rainbolt, president, Oklahoma Metropolis BancFirst Insurance coverage Providers
Invoice Raynor, interim athletic director, Oklahoma Metropolis College
Sarah Roberts, vice chairman of packages, Inasmuch Basis
Dr. Mautra Stanley Jones, president, Oklahoma Metropolis Group Faculty
Suzie Symcox, government vice chairman, First Constancy Financial institution
Sean Trauschke, CEO, OG&E
Stan Wagnon, athletic director, College of Central Oklahoma