By: Eva Lieber & Jackie Gonzalez Marroquin, Gonzaga University class of ‘26
Since their debut, Spokane Velocity FC has led us to victories on our home pitch, setting the stage for an exhilarating month ahead. May is going to be filled with themed nights that promise to amplify and honor different aspects of our Spokane Community!
Kicking off the month is our highly anticipated second Jägermeister Cup match Saturday, May 11 versus Union Omaha celebrating Mom Appreciation Night. This is an important match for our USL Spokane President Katie Harnetiaux, who explained that this match theme “…is about appreciating and celebrating all the women and mother figures in your lives who have stepped up to support you. A friend, aunt, grandmother, teacher, yoga instructor. We can all mother, nurture and care for each other… [this] is a day to thank the women and mother figures in your life who have stood by you, cheered you on, and supported you.”
We encourage everyone to join us in appreciating not just moms and mother figures, but also the powerful women who have shaped our lives. As a sign of our appreciation, the first 500 moms will receive a free flower and a commemorative T-Shirt! Finally, there will be a photo station in the stadium to capture great photos with mom.
Mark your calendars for the very next weekend, Saturday, May 19 against Forward Madison. This is EXPO 50 Night at ONE Spokane Stadium, celebrating the 50th anniversary of Spokane hosting the World’s Fair in 1974. The first 500 fans inside the gates will receive an EXPO 50 Spokane Velocity FC T-Shirt. In addition, dress like it is 1974 for a chance to win prizes!
Matt Santangelo, Program Manager for Expo 50 said, “this [is] a celebration of us, who we are, what we stand for. We are the little city that could in ’74 and still reflect that spirit today. The world descended upon our community but the global community is still very strong today. The celebration is about pride in what’s been accomplished and the challenge to be better today and tomorrow.”
Let’s show how far our community has come in bringing the world’s game to Spokane and pack the house on May 19!
In our final home match of the month, Saturday, May 25, we’re facing Greenville Triumph SC, and we encourage everyone to show up in their Spokane Public Schools gear in honor of our Spokane Public Schools (SPS) Night! This match will give students, their families, and SPS employees the opportunity to experience the excitement of a professional soccer match in the new ONE Spokane Stadium with discounted tickets! In addition, we will be welcoming summer to the Northwest with all seats on the east side of the stadium $15 each.
Ryan Lancaster, SPS Director of Media & Marketing, expressed the importance of bringing both sports and education together to enrich our Spokane student’s learning experience. He stated, “Education is a big part of what makes a community thrive. Education fosters innovation, solution-oriented mindsets, and a desire to create a better place…research has shown a correlation between students’ involvement in extracurricular activities, better academic performance, higher self-concept and self-esteem…”
At USL Spokane, our goal is to shape the next generation of community leaders, and we are looking forward to seeing our fans showing their pride by sporting their school’s gear! Join us for an unforgettable month full of celebrations and dramatic action on the pitch!
Secure your tickets now at spokanevelocityfc.com/tickets and check out the full season schedule. We look forward to welcoming you all, as we celebrate not only our incredible Velocity team but also our Spokane community!
