Chicago NISA

Chicago NISA is a future professional men's soccer team owned by Bruce Merivale-Austin and lead by CEO Peter Wilt based in Bridgeview, Illinois, in the Chicago metropolitan area that will begin playing in the National Independent Soccer Association, in fall of 2021.[1]

Founded2020 (2020)
StadiumSeatGeek Stadium
Capacity20,000
OwnerBruce Merivale-Austin
Head CoachC. J. Brown
LeagueNational Independent Soccer Association
WebsiteClub website

History

On September 10, 2020, the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA) announced that an investor group, led by league founder Peter Wilt, had applied for a club to play in the Chicago market.[2] Wilt had previously attempted to start a new Chicago team in 2016 with the North American Soccer League (NASL) and more recently in 2018, following his depature from NISA, successfully started the Madison, Wisconsin based Forward Madison FC in USL League One.[3][4] Other investors included Bruce Merivale-Austin and William "Night Train" Veeck, grandson of famed Major League Baseball team owner Bill Veeck.[5]

On November 5, NISA officially announced the team had been accepted with an aim to begin play in Fall 2021.[6] In the following months, the team asked fans to submit potential team names that related to the history and culture of Chicago. The team selected 68 finalists and held a fan advisory poll bracket, dubbed "Moniker Madness", to determine the most popular option.[7]

On January 27, 2021 the team announced that it would play home matches at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois.[8] On February 2, former Chicago Fire FC player and all-time appearance leader C. J. Brown was announced as the team's first technical director and head coach.[9]

Players and staff

Front office
  • Bruce Merivale-Austin – primary owner
  • Peter Wilt – CEO
  • William "Night Train" Veeck – COO
  • C. J. Brown – Technical Director and Head Coach

References
  1. "NISA Approves the Chicago NISA Application". NISA Homepage. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  2. Kennedy, Paul. "Peter Wilt launches another start-up, in another league". www.socceramerica.com. Retrieved January 28, 2021. (subscription required)
  3. Tolmich, Ryan (February 17, 2016). "Peter Wilt looking to revitalize soccer in Chicago with NASL project". SBI Soccer. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  4. Milewski, Todd D. "Big Top hires Peter Wilt to launch pro soccer team at Breese Stevens Field in 2019". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  5. Sandalow, Brian (November 21, 2020). "With passion for fans, Night Train Veeck eager to build new Chicago soccer franchise". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  6. Lewis, Michael. "WELCOME ABOARD: Chicago joins NISA for the 2021 fall season". Front Row Soccer. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  7. Mikula, Jeremy. "What do you get when a Veeck and the man who helped launch the Fire and Red Stars team up? A new soccer team coming to Chicago". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  8. Hanania, Ray. "Chicago NISA Club names SeatGeek Stadium home". Suburban Chicagoland. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  9. Mikula, Jeremy. "Chicago Fire legend C.J. Brown is the 1st technical director and coach of the new Chicago NISA club". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
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