A real life field of dreams is taking shape as a group of civic, business, sports and cultural leaders unite to re-energize the sport of soccer in Oklahoma City.
“It’s exciting when you can bring people from different communities, different cultures and different languages together and connect them all through this wonderful sport of soccer – or football,” says Jorge Hernández, president of Tango Public Relations and a founding member of the OKC for Soccer committee.
Led by Echo Investment Capital and founder Christian Kennedy, the re-imagination of OKC’s soccer culture comes complete with a downtown stadium and 42-acre development next to Bricktown, construction for which is now underway. A groundbreaking is set for later this year, and opening day is anticipated for spring of 2027. Alongside founding committee members like Gov. Bill Anoatubby of the Chickasaw Nation and Zac Craig, president of Visit OKC, OKC Thunder legend Russell Westbrook also has a sizable investment in the project.
“It’s not only going to be a really fantastic stadium, but it will also be one of the most unique places to experience an event of any kind in the region,” says Court Jeske, Echo’s sports and entertainment partner. “Oklahoma City has had a very rich history in the world’s game of soccer. Now the vision includes a publicly-funded, multi-purpose stadium that will be the home for the new team in Oklahoma City.”
The club is going to be built with the community’s fingerprints on it at every turn, Jeske says, with fans getting to have input on the team name, team colors and other important facets.
“We all have seen how the Thunder have benefited Oklahoma City and the state in terms of the way that they represent us in the global sport of basketball,” Jeske says. “Now it’s time that Oklahoma City has a club that represents us in the global sport of soccer.”
That includes, he says, the 300,000 Hispanic residents who live in OKC.
“Soccer is the fastest growing sport in America for many reasons,” Hernández says. “But soccer has been part of the Latino culture for [a long time]. It’s a sport that a high percentage of our population is involved in or engaged in.”
Having a world class soccer club in town is an inspiration for everyone, Hernández says.
“It gives kids a chance to dream,” he continues. “When you can experience the sport at a high level with international talent like the [OKC Energy FC] or the future soccer team here in OKC, it gives kids a chance to work at something, at a vision they can see, taste and hear. I think it will be nothing but incredible.”
Women’s soccer is in the game plan as well, Jeske mentions.
“We will have women’s soccer as a part of our club,” he says. “We don’t know at what level they will play at and when they will begin, but we have made the commitment that it’s important to us to have cultural equity and gender equity as a part of the club from day one. We want to make sure that through the world’s game, Oklahoma City has a brand and a movement that they can be proud of.”
Hernández encourages soccer fans, and those new to the sport, to get pumped about the big changes coming to OKC.
“There’s a reason why it’s called a beautiful game,” he says. “It really is art in motion. The skill that it takes to move a soccer ball at the speed that they do on the pitch, it’s beautiful. And soccer has a special type of fan base, so together we’ll be uniting Oklahoma City and cheering on our team to victory.”
