Velocity

Spokane, Wash. – United Soccer League (USL) Spokane will reveal the name and crest of its new women’s professional team and pre-professional team on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023 at the Davenport Grand Hotel in Spokane, Wash.

The event is free of charge with an RSVP at www.WindsOfChangeSpokane.com. Doors open at 2 p.m. with a program to reveal the new women’s professional and pre-professional brand at 3 p.m. USL Spokane is grateful to The Davenport Hotels for its partnership in hosting this momentous event for the Spokane community.

Spokane’s professional women’s soccer team will be part of the new USL Super League which is expected to compete at the U.S. Soccer Federation Division 1 level – the highest level of professional soccer in the United States. Spokane will be one of eight inaugural teams in the league with more growth on the horizon. In addition to Spokane, other cities hosting teams in the league will be Charlotte, Dallas/Fort Worth, Lexington, Phoenix, Tampa Bay, Tucson, and Washington, D.C.

Spokane’s pre-professional team will join USL’s W League – a league built to expand opportunities and create upward mobility for outstanding women’s soccer athletes, coaches, and staff. The league features the best collegiate women’s soccer players in the nation as they pursue a professional career.

“Change is happening in women’s sports and Spokane has the distinct privilege to help usher in a new era of opportunity for women’s professional athletes, coaches and those who aspire to a career in sports,” said Katie Harnetiaux, Founder and Co-Owner of USL Spokane. “This event will be a celebration for everyone in our community who appreciates the beauty and boldness of women in sports and especially those who play, work, coach, and follow the game of soccer.”

Regional youth soccer players and teams who attend the event wearing their team jerseys will receive a free women’s team branded T-shirt (first 250). The event program will feature Ryan and Katie Harnetiaux, Co-Owners of USL Spokane, as well as Amanda Vandervort, President of USL Super League. A video presentation will reveal the new teams’ name and crest. There will be a bracelet-making craft station, games, photo booth, giveaway items, drawings for prizes, and women’s team merchandise for sale.

In addition, the event will be a special opportunity for the community to check out the new USL Spokane Team Store in the Davenport Grand Hotel. The store will open on Friday, Nov. 3 and offer specials on Velocity FC merchandise (men’s professional team) throughout the weekend. The store will be stocked with women’s team merchandise following Sunday’s event.

“We are excited to welcome families, friends, teams, coaches, fans, and supporters of women’s sports to our hometown,” continued Harnetiaux. “Women’s Super League and W League soccer in Spokane is first and foremost a wonderful new way for our community to come together to celebrate the opportunity, equity, and professional advancement of women in sport.”

Media: You are invited to attend this event. Please notify Dave Sonntag at dave@uslspokane.com if you wish to attend. There will be a designated photo and video area in front of the stage.

For more information, contact Dave Sonntag at dave@uslspokane.com.

Aequus Sports LLC is the ownership entity of USL Spokane, an organization launching two professional soccer teams and one pre-professional team in Spokane – a Super League women’s pro team expected to be USSF-sanctioned Division I, a men’s Division III USL League One team (Spokane Velocity FC), and a women’s pre-professional team participating in USL’s W League. Home games will be played in ONE Spokane Stadium that opened in September 2023 in Spokane’s North Bank Arts and Entertainment District. Spokane Velocity FC will kick off first, with the inaugural game expected around April 1, 2024. Learn more, order team merchandise, and join the waitlist for season tickets at https://www.uslspokane.com/.

September 21, 2023

Spokane, Wash. – Holistic Sport Systems Co-Founders Gareth Smith, Ph.D. and John Cone, Ph.D. have joined USL Spokane as Sporting Department Consultants.

Dr. Smith and Dr. Cone bring a combined 40-plus years of experience in technical department leadership, sports science leadership, coaching education, and coaching ranging from senior national teams and Major League Soccer (MLS) to NCAA Division I and youth soccer ecosystems. Both have experience working with several federations including U.S. Soccer Federation, Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), and The Confederation of North, Central America, and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF).

In their roles as consultants, Dr. Smith and Dr. Cone are helping to architect a comprehensive club technical development plan and implement a holistic methodology for the USL Spokane sporting department. They will design and shape the sporting strategies of the professional women’s Super League team, professional men’s USL League 1 team (Spokane Velocity FC), and the pre-professional women’s team with the goal of achieving long-term success on and off the field. This will include consulting on technical department leadership, player and team performance development, talent identification, scouting, youth development, and more.

“It is a privilege to partner with USL Spokane and support the club’s purpose-driven mission of creating world-class experiences for its players, coaches, staff, and community,” said Dr. Smith. “The opportunity to collaborate with a high-character leadership team who is committed to implementing an evidence-based and holistic approach throughout the youth-to-professional pathway aligns with our mission at Holistic Sport Systems. USL Spokane has all the ingredients to create a unique and high-performance environment.”

“We are so excited to be partnering with Dr. Gareth Smith and Dr. John Cone at Holistic Sport Systems, as both are highly respected and qualified experts boasting an impressive 20-year career in the game at all levels,” said Ryan Harnetiaux, Managing Partner of Aequus Sports, LLC and co-owner of USL Spokane. “Their deep understanding of the U.S. Soccer sports systems and extensive multi-disciplinary knowledge pertaining to performance development is helping us build a successful technical department that aligns with our values as an organization.”

Dr. Smith’s coaching and coach education experience includes roles as Technical Leader and Coach Educator for the U.S. Soccer Federation; Assistant Coach of the Senior Men’s National Team U.S. Virgin Islands Soccer Association; Technical Director for Iowa Soccer; and Assistant and Head Coach for the Drake University Men’s Team. Dr. Smith holds the UEFA ‘A,’ U.S. Soccer ‘A,’ National Youth, National Goalkeeper, and Scottish F.A. Children’s licenses. He also holds a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Drake University.

Dr. Cone’s coaching experience and expertise include roles as MLS Assistant Coach with Sporting Kansas City, Director of Sport Science at Portland Timbers, Lead Sports Scientist for the U.S. Soccer Federation, and Sport Science consultant for more than 300 teams in professional and collegiate sports. Dr. Cone also holds the U.S. Soccer ‘A’ license and has a Ph.D. in Kinesiology with extensive experience in soccer-specific sports science and periodization, testing, and monitoring.

As Co-Founders of Holistic Sports Systems, Dr. Smith and Dr. Cone have helped guide professional teams, national governing bodies, and federations regarding technical leadership, educational frameworks, and a comprehensive approach to performance development in pursuit of optimal performance and best in practice standards. Finally, Dr. Smith and Dr. Cone are published co-authors in player development and evidence-based training methodology (Player Development: A Holistic Method).

“Dr. Smith is already applying his vast experience to reviewing the extensive application pool with candidates from all over the nation and world for the Spokane Velocity FC head coach position,” continued Harnetiaux. “His keen insights will help ensure we identify and select the ideal coach that will allow for the club to achieve long-term sustainable success.”

Aequus Sports LLC is the ownership entity of USL Spokane, an organization launching two professional soccer teams and one pre-professional team in Spokane – a Super League women’s pro team expected to be USSF-sanctioned Division I, a men’s Division III USL League 1 team (Spokane Velocity FC), and a women’s pre-professional team participating in USL’s W League. Home games will be played in ONE Spokane Stadium which is currently under construction in the North Bank Arts and Entertainment District in Spokane, Wash. ONE Spokane Stadium is set to open Fall 2023. Spokane Velocity FC will kick off first, with the inaugural game expected around April 1, 2024. Learn more, order team merchandise, and join the waitlist for season tickets at https://www.uslspokane.com/.

Dave Sonntag to Join USL Spokane as Vice President of Marketing and Communications

Spokane, Wash. – Dave Sonntag will join USL Spokane as Vice President of Marketing and Communications in September. Sonntag is a purpose-driven leader with more than 27 years of management, brand, marketing, and communications experience in higher education, sports, technology, health care, and more.

In this role, Sonntag will build and oversee the USL Spokane brand, inclusive of its two professional and one pre-professional USL soccer teams, in alignment with USL Spokane’s values for professional sports excellence; diversity, equity, access, and inclusion; health and wellbeing; and an uncompromising fan experience that bolsters the Spokane economy. This includes marketing in support of merchandise and ticket sales as well as fostering strong ongoing relationships with corporate sponsors, community members, business partners, and USL stakeholders.

“I am beyond excited to join the USL Spokane leadership team,” said Sonntag. This is an opportunity to be a part of building something completely new for Spokane that is certain to energize the entire community, significantly boost our economy, inspire our youth to be active and healthy, and create a pipeline for young women to become professional athletes.”

“Dave brings the highest level of brand and marketing experience to USL Spokane,” said Ryan Harnetiaux, Managing Partner of Aequus Sports, LLC and co-owner of USL Spokane. “We are thrilled that he will bring this deep experience to help build a dynamic fan experience, deliver tremendous brand value to our partners, and represent the values of USL Spokane in everything that we do.”

Sonntag has spent the past 15 years leading marketing and communications at Gonzaga University, a nationally recognized private, Jesuit university in Spokane, Wash. As Associate Vice President of Marketing and Communications, this role included oversight of the university’s brand, marketing, website, digital media, publications, and public relations. Over his tenure, he launched a rebrand of the university in 2015, oversaw communications for the university’s largest-ever capital campaign, led marketing initiatives in support of student enrollment, and leveraged Gonzaga’s athletic success – including both men’s basketball Final Four runs – to elevate the university’s brand profile in support of strategic goals.

Prior to Gonzaga, Sonntag led marketing and communications at Eastern Washington University and was an account manager for two regional marketing and public relations firms. Sonntag is active in the Spokane Community, serving on the board of the Inland Northwest Land Conservancy and working to diversify Spokane’s workforce while empowering people with developmental disabilities through Hire Ability Spokane.

“I love that the men’s crest and team name, Spokane Velocity FC, is rooted in Spokane’s DNA – the power of the Spokane River, the community’s always-forward momentum, and its classic architecture. I cannot wait to be part of revealing the women’s Super League team name and crest this fall,” said Sonntag. “Stay tuned – it’s going to be special!”

By Will Maupin

July 27, 2023

^{Spokane soccer fans packed Brick West for the big reveal.}

It was a sight that would shock many in-the-know soccer fans: supporters decked out in Seattle Sounders gear happily fraternizing with fans donning the Portland Timbers’ forest green and gold. These two archrivals found some common ground in downtown Spokane last Friday — a hometown team to bring them together.

Spokane’s new men’s professional soccer team is the Spokane Velocity. The club announced the name in front of a packed house at Brick West Brewing Co. on a sweltering mid-July evening, but the heat didn’t seem to matter as an overflowing crowd spilled out onto the brewery’s patio.

The name and team crest, also made public at the event, are an homage to the Spokane River, flowing just a couple of blocks away from the still-under-construction ONE Spokane Stadium, which the team will call home.

The unveiling was made through a video presentation featuring shots of the river running high and fast, roaring over the falls. Before finally revealing the Spokane Velocity name and crest, the video referenced the “powerful” and “bold” aspects of the river and referred to it as “a driving force of nature, continuously pushing us forward.”

“I graduated from Lewis and Clark High School, and I took physics my senior year,” Velocity co-owner Katie Harnetiaux tells the crowd after the video. “Velocity is directly related to power and force, and the key here is that we can put a team on the field, but we can’t do it without you. You all are the power and the force behind the team that’s coming to this town.”

If the crowd size is any indication, there looks to be a lot of power and force behind the Velocity.

The announcement was made Friday at 5 pm, but the house was packed well over an hour in advance. By 4 pm, the line for a beer was nearly 10 minutes long, and it only grew from there.

After the announcement, an even longer line snaked its way around the perimeter of the patio adjacent to the taproom. That queue was for the chance to buy the club’s first merchandise and apparel, including hats, scarves and shirts emblazoned with the Spokane Velocity name and logo.

The logo — or crest, as it’s known in the soccer world — also pays tribute to the river. Four vertical bands of aqua blue, stylized to appear as flowing water, are set underneath the word “velocity.” The first and last letters of “velocity” frame the water to evoke the Monroe Street Bridge’s grand arch over the Spokane Falls.

Local agency Treatment designed the crest and club branding, which includes black or white to offset the teal-blue crest.

^{USL Spokane co-owners Ryan and Katie Harnetiaux.}

The Spokane Velocity will begin play in USL League One in March 2024 at ONE Spokane Stadium. The team competes on the third tier of the U.S. soccer pyramid, below Major League Soccer and the USL Championship. Spokane is set to be the 13th team in the league, with the others based in mostly midsize cities, most of which are located in the southeastern U.S.

Team co-owner Ryan Harnetiaux joked before the announcement about the lack of a regional rival for the club but said he already has a team in mind that he considers a rival for the Velocity.

USL deputy CEO Justin Papadakis also praised Spokane as special, noting that the Velocity is a part of larger growth and change occurring in the city.

“Spokane is one of those cities that has changed a lot. When we look at the new Spokane, if you go down to the Riverfront [Park] over the past five, 10 and certainly past 20 years, so much has changed,” Papadakis says. “From day one, [Velocity owners] Ryan and Katie, Jordan and Whitney [Tampien], they thought about this new Spokane and wanted to create a club that represents the city they love on the national and international stage.”

Friday’s announcement was just one of many that the organization behind the Spokane Velocity plans to make in the coming months. The still-unnamed women’s team, which will also take the pitch next year, is set to have its identity released sometime in October.

For potential fans who may have missed Friday’s name reveal event, there are still opportunities to get involved with the club ahead of next spring’s opening match. Season tickets for Spokane Velocity are running low, however, with about 200 remaining as of press time.

Prior to the name release and subsequent merchandise sales, another brand was on display at Brick West. The 509 Syndicate, the first supporters’ group for the Velocity, was in full force with members rocking scarves emblazoned with the group’s name.

509 Syndicate President Jonathan Ehrenberg says the group has its next meeting Aug. 8 at Flatstick Pub in downtown Spokane. The event is open to anyone interested in joining the nonprofit supporters’ group, which plans to march from Flatstick through Riverfront Park ahead of every Velocity home game. ♦

_{The original print version of this article was headlined “A Name That Flows”}

krem.com

KREM 2 Sports Director Travis Green was given an exclusive tour of the soccer stadium, which is set to open this fall.

The team will take the pitch in 2024 in the United Soccer League.

LOCAL CREATIVE AGENCY TREATMENT’S DESIGN FEATURES STYLIZED NOD TO MONROE STREET BRIDGE ATOP FOUR DESCENDING WATER BLADES

SPOKANE, Wash. – The newest arrival to USL League One is ready to reach full Velocity.

Spokane Velocity FC and ownership group, Aequus Sports, LLC unveiled the club’s official branding on Friday evening at an event at Brick West Brewing as the club prepares to kick off in the 2024 League One at the new ONE Spokane Stadium.

The crest, designed by local creative agency Treatment, draws from regional inspiration. The club nickname Velocity is stylized as a nod to the Monroe Street Bridge and sits atop four descending water blades representative of the waterfalls in and around downtown Spokane and Riverfront Park.

The design process for the club’s name and crest involved collaborative listening sessions with members of the community, brand surveys and ongoing connectivity with fans. The information gathered during this process revealed a clear theme centered around the unparalleled landscape and pride in the river that runs through downtown Spokane. 

These unique elements were brought to life in the official launch video also created by Treatment capturing the essence of the river’s power and speed as well as the anticipation of the team’s launch in 2024.

“Creating a team name and crest which personifies the strength of the city, the fans and the players in Spokane was our main objective throughout the process,” said Ryan Harnetiaux, Managing Partner for Aequus Sports, LLC. “It was really fun and took many turns along the way – in the end, I believe we will have created an enduring brand for our men’s team.”

For Treatment Co-Founder Benji Wade, the project was one he was eager to bring to life thanks to his lifelong love of the sport.

“Soccer has been my absolute favorite sport since I was a kid and my appreciation of the colors and crests of clubs throughout the world runs deep,” said Wade. “This opportunity was an unbelievable joy for the Treatment team and we’re super grateful for the inspiration and support of the Aequus team and USL. We can’t wait for the first game. LFG!”

In addition to introducing the club’s name and crest at the event, Spokane Velocity FC also unveiled a new website and gave fans a first look at merchandise. In addition to launching their new online team store, merchandise will also be available for purchase on site at the stadium on games days and at their new downtown location to be announced later this Fall.

Will Wixley – KXLY

SPOKANE, Wash. — The names of the Lilac City’s two new United Soccer League Clubs have been announced: the Spokane Velocity.

The men and women’s teams will play at the newly-named “ONE Spokane” stadium in downtown, which is expected to open by September.

The reveal took place at Brick West Brewing with a plethora of fans in attendance. There’s also a watch party at the venue for the USA Women’s National Team as they face off against Vietnam for the World Cup.

The reveal video says the team name comes from the Spokane River, which is always rapidly flowing and ever-changing.

The Spokane Velocity will have another big reveal in a few months. Stay tuned!

By Jim Allen For The Spokesman-Review

The power of the Spokane River was a driving force in the creation of a name for Spokane’s professional men’s soccer franchise that will kick off its first season next spring.

The team will compete in League One of the United Soccer League as the Spokane Velocity FC, the franchise announced Friday night.

The team crest features the word “Velocity” stylized as a nod to the Monroe Street Bridge atop four descending water blades representative of the waterfalls in and around downtown Spokane and Riverfront Park.

The identification with the river made a lot of sense, said Ryan Harnetiaux, the managing partner for Aequus Sports LCC, which owns the Velocity and two women’s teams that also will debut next year in the nearly completed ONE Spokane Stadium rising on the north bank of the river.

“The power of the river and what it brings to Spokane is really important to us,” Harnetiaux said Friday. “It’s a pretty cool logo.

“Creating a team name and crest which personifies the strength of the city, the fans and the players in Spokane was our main objective throughout the process. It was really fun and took many turns along the way.

“In the end, I believe we will have created an enduring brand for our men’s team.”

The crest was designed by Treatment, a local creative agency.

“Soccer has been my absolute favorite sport since I was a kid and my appreciation of the colors and crests of clubs throughout the world runs deep, said Benji Wade, co-founder of Treatment.

“We can’t wait for the first game.”

He isn’t alone. Harnetiaux said almost 3,800 season ticket deposits had been received.

Spokane Velocity FC is expected to play about 35 matches in a season that will run from late March to late October,

The next step includes hiring of technical staff next month and beyond.

A name reveal for the women’s pro team is planned for October, Harnetiaux said.

In addition to introducing its name and crest at the event, Spokane Velocity FC unveiled a new website and gave fans a first look at merchandise.

In addition to an online team store, merchandise will also be available on site at the stadium on games days and at the new downtown location to be announced later this fall.

By Jim Allen

For The Spokesman-Review

In a major step forward for women’s sports in the Inland Northwest, the United Soccer League announced Tuesday that Spokane will be one of eight franchises to compete next year in the new USL Super League.

The inclusion of the Super League team means that Spokane will be home to both men’s and women’s professional teams as well as a women’s preprofessional team in the W League, also under the USL.

“When we looked to invest in USL Spokane, it was always our intention to add a women’s professional team to the club,” said Katie Harnetiaux, who along with husband Ryan Harnetiaux leads Aequus Sports, LLC, the investor group purchasing the expansion club rights for USL Spokane.

“We are thrilled the league and other USL ownership groups are committed to U.S. Soccer’s Division One standards,” Katie Harnetiaux said. “This is a historic moment; we are literally doubling the landscape of opportunity for women in pro soccer.”

Other markets confirmed for the Super League are Charlotte, North Carolina; Dallas/Fort Worth; Lexington, Kentucky; Phoenix; Tampa Bay, Florida; Tucson, Arizona; and Washington, D.C.

More could be added in the weeks ahead.

Play is scheduled to begin in August 2024.

The USL Super League is also aiming to obtain Division I status from the U.S. Soccer Federation, putting it on par with the National Women’s Soccer League.

According to USL Super League president Amanda Vandervort, the creation of the league is about meeting demand.

Vandervort noted there are more than 100 professional men’s teams in the U.S. but only 12 on the women’s side.

“You’ve got 12 professional women’s teams in this country, and amazing cities and fans and players who want to be part of this movement of professional women’s sports,” Vandervort told ESPN on Tuesday.

“I think that’s created the opportunity that there is now for the Super League. We’re ready and we’re excited to create that platform for all of those people.”

The USL operates the W League, a preprofessional women’s league that began last year and has 65 teams. It’s expected the W League will feed into the Super League.

“What we’re trying to do is connect talent with opportunity at all steps in a player’s journey,” Vandervort said. “So that infrastructure is important, but the Super League teams are top-tier professional teams that stand in their own right.”

Vandervort praised the efforts in Spokane, which along with Lexington will be among the smallest markets for the Super League.

“Katie and Ryan have big ambitions for this club and their community. And with such a beautiful stadium in a prime downtown location, there is no doubt that this team will be electric,” Vandervort said.