Club History - Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC

Join the Switchbacks FC as we “WIND UP” for 2015
BELIEVE | GLAUBEN | CREER
A Man with Vision
T
he Colorado Springs Switchbacks
largest sporting venues, health care
Football Club is an organization
systems, and airports around the world.
shaped by our owner, Ed Ragain who is
He has personally written the broadcast
a man of big vision. Ed is a successful
lighting design guidelines for FIFA,
engineer and businessman who
MLS, NFL, MLB, NBA, and the Olympic
founded and built a Colorado based
Broadcast Systems. Sports has been
engineering firm into an international
central to Ed’s professional interest
engineering leader. Ed’s company, ME
which he now brings to Colorado
Engineers, has designed many of the
Springs with the Switchbacks FC.
Nick Ragain | President
Career in Sales & Marketing,
Entreprenuer, Board VP of CCMRD
Our Mission:
Steve Trittschuh | Head Coach
Career in Pro Soccer as a player and
coach: US National, MLS, CYSA
To engage our community and industry by selling soccer through excellence in
competition & production quality to create sustained excitement around our brand and sport.
A City with Vision
T
he City of Colorado Springs announced in July of 2013,
from the State to complete four sports and tourism related
that it is the “City for Champions” and desires to build,
projects. A sports centric City with a vision for growth is an
amongst three other sports related projects, a downtown
ideal incubator for a successful sports franchise. Adding to
stadium. This big vision has attracted significant attention
the City’s assets are organizations like the Sports Corporation
from around the State and Country. Colorado Springs has
and the UCCS Sports Management Program with an emphasis
received approximately 120 million dollars in tax rebates
on soccer.
Franchise Announcement at the Penrose
House, Colorado Springs (Left to Right:
Colorado Springs Mayor Steve Bach,
Franchise Owner Ed Ragain, and USL
President Tim Holt]
The Wind Up
1
November 25, 2013
Franchise Approved
The USL and MLS approved Ragain Sports’ franchise application.
2
December 5, 2013
Franchise Announced
Mayor Steve Bach, USL President Tim Holt, and Franchise Owner Ed Ragain
announced the team at the Penrose House (pictured left).
3 Name Announced
January 24, 2014
Ragain Sports, LLC announced its team name at Jack Quinn’s Pub
downtown. Seven hundred people contributed name ideas and input.
The top five names from the five most common name categories were
submitted back to the public for their vote. Live radio, newspaper,
and local television covered the event.
4 Head Coach Selected
March 11, 2014
The Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC selected and announced their head
coach Steve Trittschuh at St. Francis Hospital. Steve played on the 1988
Olympic Soccer Team, the 1990 World Cup Team, the first American to
compete in the Premier League championship, played with the Colorado
Rapids for 6 years, Coached with the Rapids for 4 years, coached with
top competitive Clubs in the State including Rush and Storm, and was
admitted to the Colorado Youth Soccer Hall of Fame. Covered by local
television and newspaper.
5 Crest Reveal Party
June 5, 2014
After months of anticipation, the Colorado Springs Switchbacks
FC officially unveiled the logo at Ivy Wild and Bristol Brewery. The
fanfare included a balloon drop, DJ, lighting effects, video and a
3D motion graphic reveal piece. Two hundred and fifty soccer fans
filled the venue to maximum capacity. Following the unveiling of
the Switchback Logo, fans rushed for the opportunity to purchase
the first Switchbacks merchandise to go on sale.
6 Groundbreaking Ceremony
July 17, 2014
The Colorado Springs Switchbacks hosted the Mayor, City officials,
and the design/construction team at Sand Creek Stadium to
officially break ground on the stadium improvements project. This
project will complete a vision that the US Soccer Federation, the
USOC, and the City of Colorado Springs began thirty years ago.
7 Stadium Rennovation
October 16, 2014
Sand Creek Stadium remodel opened to the press for the first
time and Arizona United SC practiced on the field in preparation
for the Pro Soccer Kickoff. The project schedule was so tight that
it didn’t receive RBD approval until the day before the game. The
City was a great partner facilitating this project and the stadium
will be fully operational for the 2015 season.
8 Pro Soccer Kickoff
October 18, 2014
LA Galaxy II faced off against Arizona United SC in the first ever
pro soccer exhibhibition in Colorado Springs. The stadium saw
nearly 3,000 fans fill the seats to watch the two teams compete.
Arizona United’s Long Tan scored the only goal of the match to
substantiate all the press the Chinese native has been receiving.
A League with Vision
T
he United Soccer League (USL) has been organizing
structure. In August of 2013, however, the USL and MLS
professional and amateur soccer under the umbrella
created a groundbreaking relationship where all MLS
of the US Soccer Federation (USSF) since the 1980’s. Unlike
teams would eliminate their developmental team in order
other professional sports in the US, the USSF provides
to field or affiliate with a USL team by 2015. As a result
overall guidance and plan for the development of the sport
of this new arrangement, the USL is growing dramatically
in this country. From competitive youth leagues all the way
while improving its on field content and content
to the USL, MLS, and Men’s/Women’s National Team, the
delivery. The Switchbacks FC are proud
USSF is the governing body.
to be joining professional soccer
Up unto August of 2013, professional soccer leagues had
been in somewhat of a competition between each other.
In Europe, professional soccer teams participate in what
is called promotion and relegation where a club can move
to a higher or lower league based on it’s performance.
The US has never been a promotion / relegation
system, nor have top leagues cooperated
under a true pyramid type of
when cooperation at the
professional level is
at an all-time
high.
USL
In 2015, the Colorado Springs Switchbacks join the ranks of 18 other clubs
competing in USL soccer across the country. The League anticipates an
additional 4 teams joining.
Business Partners with Vision
The Switchbacks are looking for partners that share a big
to our success are partners who want a unique and exciting
vision for their organization and desire to use sports and
platform to engage and drive business. The Switchbacks
entertainment to create and enhance their customer
FC desire to understand our partners’ business needs and
relationships. We are seeking partners who demand more
develop unique and custom approaches to generate success.
out of their marketing budgets seeking higher quality marketing
Our goal is to create fewer but larger partnerships to increase
opportunities. At our core, the Switchbacks Football Club is
value and return (More inforamation available on request).
a marketing company focused on generating quality content
and experience for soccer fans in Colorado Springs. Critical
Choose to believe! Choose to partner with the Switchbacks!
JOIN PENROSE-ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL, FRONT RANGE ORTHOPAEDIC, NIKE, AND KRDO IN PARTNERING WITH COLORADO SPRINGS’ MOST POPULAR NEW TEAM!
Message new
clients
Get Started
Create Buzz
Socially
Engage
719-368-8480
Ideal location
Focused Event
Calendar
Invest more in
relationships
Travel with the
team
Give away
tickets
Experience
up close
Measeure value
Partner with
the best
Exciting
Advertising
Marketing
Videos
International
connections
Dine with
prospects
The sound
of sports
In the Community
Spring & Summer 2014
The Switchbacks’ ongoing particpation in community events is a key factor in building excitement
and making our presense known throughout Colorado Springs. Some of the events include the
Winter Olympic Ceremony, Territory Days, Spring Spree,
UCCS v CC, First & Main Concert Series Events,
Pride Soccer Camp, Rush Soccer Camp, World
Cup watch parties, Airforce Soccer Camps,
and the Rocky Mountain State Games. In 2015,
players outreach to schools, non-profits, and
businesses will be a key way we distiguish
ourselves.
In the News
“What should the pro soccer team in
Colorado Springs be called”
“Steve Trittschuh named
coach of Colorado Springs
Switchbacks Football Club”
“Springs soccer team scores
victory off the field”
“Colorado Springs to get USL
PRO soccer team in 2015”
“Colorado Springs council signs $2M
stadium deal with pro soccer team”
“Switchbacks FC Unveil their Logo”
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
234 N. Tejon, Colorado Springs, CO, 80903
719-368-8480 | switchbacksfc.com | [email protected]
Sand Creek Stadium - Home of the Switchbacks FC
6303 Barnes Rd, Colorado Springs, CO 80922