Santa Barbara Sky FC
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox football club
| clubname = Santa Barbara Sky FC
| image = File:Santa_Barbara_Sky_FC_logo.svg
| image_size = 125px
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| founded = {{start date and age|2022|07|12}}
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| American = yes
| ground = Harder Stadium
| capacity = 17,000
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| owner = Peter Moore
| chrtitle = President
| chairman =
| mgrtitle = Head coach
| manager =
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| league = USL Championship
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| website = https://www.santabarbaraskyfc.com/
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Santa Barbara Sky FC is a planned American professional soccer team based in Santa Barbara, California. First announced in 2022, the team plans to play in USL Championship beginning in March 2026. The team had originally been slated to play in USL League One beginning in 2025.
History
On July 12, 2022, the United Soccer League announced that Peter Moore had been granted a USL League One expansion team in Santa Barbara, to start play in the 2024 season.{{cite news |url=https://www.uslleagueone.com/news_article/show/1232374 |title=Santa Barbara Sky FC to Join USL League One |work=USLLeagueOne.com |accessdate=July 12, 2022}}{{cite news |last=Bryant |first=Victor |date=July 12, 2022 |title=Introducing the Santa Barbara Sky Football Club |url=https://www.independent.com/2022/07/12/introducing-the-santa-barbara-sky-football-club/ |work=Santa Barbara Independent |accessdate=July 12, 2022}} Before the 2024 season could kick off, however, the team announced that they would begin play in 2025 instead.{{Cite news |last=Sandoval |first=Diego |date=March 12, 2024 |title=Santa Barbara Sky FC Officially Announces Plans to Begin Play in 2025 |url=http://www.noozhawk.com/santa-barbara-sky-fc-officially-announces-plans-to-begin-play-in-2025/ |access-date=May 9, 2024 |website=Noozhawk |language=en-US}}
On June 18, 2024, the Sky announced they had signed a multi-year contract to play at Harder Stadium.{{cite web |title=Santa Barbara Sky FC to play at UC Santa Barbara's Harder Stadium |url=https://www.uslleagueone.com/news_article/show/1312649 |website=USLLeagueOne.com |publisher=USL League One |access-date=June 18, 2024}}
On November 13, 2024, the United Soccer League announced that the USL Championship franchise rights held by Memphis 901 FC had been transferred to Santa Barbara Sky FC. The Sky would begin play in the USL Championship in 2026, opting to skip USL League One entirely.{{cite news |title=Memphis 901 FC moving to California, club confirms |url=https://www.fox13memphis.com/news/memphis-901-fc-moving-to-california-club-confirms/article_5bce8c1a-a1b5-11ef-9ecf-5bf9f639b327.html |access-date=November 13, 2024 |work=FOX13 Memphis |date=November 13, 2024 |language=en}}
Colors and badge
The club's official colors are terracotta and navy blue, representing the "local Spanish-style terracotta rooftops against the backdrop of a deep blue sky." The crest depicts Saint Barbara, the city's namesake.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|https://www.santabarbaraskyfc.com/}}
{{USL Championship}}
{{California sports}}
Category:Soccer clubs in California
Category:Association football clubs established in 2022
Category:2022 establishments in California
Category:USL Championship teams
Category:Sports in Santa Barbara, California
{{California-footyclub-stub}}