The two biggest youth soccer clubs in Bloomington-Normal are merging and they’re becoming affiliated with the Chicago Fire pro soccer team.
The organizations say a merger of Prairie City Recreational Soccer League (PCSL) and the Illinois Fusion travel soccer club will allow better collaboration as they look to develop a new soccer complex in the Twin Cities. The announcement of the merger and new Chicago Fire affiliation was made before nearly 300 parents, soccer coaches and referees in the auditorium at Heartland Community College last night. There will be a similar meeting next Wednesday night to help parents understand the benefits of the new model of serving soccer families.
Alex Jimenez, whose 13 year-old daughter and two boys, aged seven and 11 play soccer, says affiliating with a pro team provides access to the highest level of player development, coaching, tournament planning and best practices. He sees a big benefit. "Just to be able to now share and not have to rely on our own resources but to tap into our own bigger, broader organization [will offer better support].
PSCL, which has 1,700 boys and girls who play recreational soccer, says not much will change. The league posted a joint release with Illinois Fusion on its social media sites. Fusion currently has 550 players and as of June 1 it will be re-branded as Illinois Fire Junior Soccer.
Former Normal Councilman Adam Nielsen, whose son Benjamin now plays soccer for Illinois Wesleyan University and whose daughter Rebekah a is an Illinois Fusion player, also sees the Chicago Fire affiliation igniting momentum for a multi-sport complex. "The Chicago Fire stated that if we are able to deliver the goods as a community and create something, they would work very hard to put together a national tournament here so that's intriguing."
Kathleen Lorenz, whose daughter is playing soccer on a college scholarship, serves on the town council and is its representative on the Convention and Visitors Bureau Board and CVB's Sports Commission. She told audience members that if they support a multi-sport complex, local elected officials need to hear from them. "No one community can do it alone," she said. Then Lorenz added, "Bloomington especially needs to hear from you." She noted soccer fields were not included in the city's master parks plan.
The soccer enthusiast also met with Congressman Darin LaHood last week about the possibility of requesting an extension of an FAA waiver of flight path regulations so soccer can continue to be played on airport land now that possible replacement fields could be in future development from Dave Stark. Real Estate Consultant Katie Kim, who is working with the developer, plans by next week to have a price tag on the first phase of a multi-sport complex for land east of the former Mitsubishi plant. Kim told WGLT the soccer community and government leaders will get their first peek early next month.
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