
When Spokane Velocity FC host the Richmond Kickers for their first-ever game in USL League One, they’ll do so with the support of a sold-out crowd at ONE Spokane Stadium. As of Thursday, there were few tickets left for what is expected to be a sellout of more than 5,000 fans at standing-room capacity for Velocity FC’s home opener in their inaugural season as a club.
Founded in 1993, the Kickers are one of the two longest continuously running professional outdoor soccer clubs in the United States. The Kickers will bring to Spokane a storied history. The team has won three league titles and in 1995 won the U.S. Open Cup. In 2022, the Kickers won the USL League One Players’ Shield for finishing with the best regular-season record. This past season, the team missed the playoffs after finishing in 11th place with a 6-15-11 record.
Last Saturday in Greenville, Velocity FC conceded 3 goals against the Triumph in game week 1 despite enjoying more possession and achieving an xG advantage of 1.8 against Greenville’s .91 in a 3-1 loss. Velocity head coach Leigh Veidman will look for “very loud” support from the sellout crowd. Dozens of members of the 509 Syndicate, USL Spokane’s supporters group, have been busy into the wee hours of the night preparing banners – “tifos” – as well as chants and songs themed to the 509 region and the team.
Richmond will look to rebound from a particularly disappointing 2023 campaign that saw them finish 11th with only 1 point from their last 5 games. Head coach Darren Sawatzky is coaching the Kickers for the 5th season and has earned 40 wins from 111 matches during that time. Sawatzky played his last year of professional soccer with the Seattle Sounders in 2004.
Saturday will be a festive day in Spokane with the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Velocity FC home opener. Gates open at 1 p.m. for a 2 p.m. kickoff.
The 509 Syndicate March to the Match also starts at 1 p.m. (arrive at 12:30 p.m.) at the Rotary Fountain in Riverfront Park. Fans will not want to miss pre-match festivities in the stadium that include honoring the Spokane Spokes – Spokane’s first traveling soccer team, The Rumble tradition, a commemorative crowd photo, and more. Please visit the Know Before You Go web page for important details.