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Flower City Union

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Flower City Union
Founded2020; 4 years ago (2020)
StadiumRochester Community Sports Complex Stadium
OwnerJimmy Paola
General ManagerCasey Catlin
Head CoachJordan Sullivan
LeagueNational Premier Soccer League
Websitehttp://www.flowercityunion.com
Current season

Flower City Union is an American pre-professional soccer team based in Rochester, New York, United States, that most recently played in the National Independent Soccer Association, a third tier league of the United States soccer league system and currently plays in the National Premier Soccer League. Its home stadium was Rochester Community Sports Complex Stadium. Flower City Union won their first championship in 2023, winning the 2023 National Independent Soccer Association Championship.

History

Founding

In 2017, the long-time professional soccer team in Rochester, the USL's Rochester Rhinos, announced that they were going on hiatus as of the 2018 season. The departure of the Rhinos left Rochester without a professional soccer team for the first time since 1995 and left the team's stadium, Rochester Community Sports Complex Stadium, without a tenant in 2019. In 2020, an ownership group headed by David Weaver, the CEO and founder of Rochester-based Aphex BioCleanse Systems Inc. and a former Kodak optical engineer, submitted an application for a NISA team in Rochester.[1][2] Mark Washo, a former Chief Business Officer with the Rhinos, was appointed as Managing Director and Chief Commercial Officer and the group later announced a partnership with St. John Fisher College’s Sport Management Department.[3] In December 2020, NISA approved the group's expansion application, and soon after the team was unveiled as Flower City Union, a nod to Rochester's nickname as the "Flower City".[4][5] On April 14, 2021, the team logo and colors were introduced, the primary color being lilac purple in honor of Rochester's signature flower.[6]

Salt City Union
Founded2023; 1 year ago (2023)
Dissolved2024
StadiumFalcon Park
Syracuse, New York
Capacity2,800
OwnerJimmy Paola
General ManagerCasey Catlin
Head CoachJordan Sullivan
LeagueNational Independent Soccer Association
Websitehttps://www.flowercityunion.com/salt-city
Current season

NISA Champions

The club began play in 2022,[7] and finished last in the nine-team league. For 2023 they merged with the Syracuse Pulse to form a single club that would split home matches between Rochester (as Flower City Union) and Syracuse (as Salt City Union).[8]

During the 2023 season, Flower City finished in 6th place during the regular season, making the playoffs as the last seed. Flower City defeated the top three seeds, on the road, to win the 2023 NISA Championship.[9]

Departure from NISA

Flower City Union announced its departure from NISA in a statement on February 15, 2024, promising an announcement on the club's future to come the following week.[10] NISA responded with a press release saying "goodbye to our reigning champions".[11]

Club general manager Casey Catlin cited the cost of traveling cross-country for league matches as the primary reason for Flower City's departure from NISA.[12]

New league

On February 20, 2024 the team were announced as members of the semi-professional National Premier Soccer League.[13] As a regional league, the clubs play fewer matches with shorter travel distances.[12]

The Salt City identity has been abandoned with the move to the NPSL, and Flower City Union no longer plays any of its home games in Syracuse.[14]


Seasons

Season League Position Playoffs USOC Continental Average attendance Top goalscorer(s)
Div League Pld W L D GF GA GD Pts PPG Conf. Overall Name Goals
2022 3 NISA 23 2 18 3 13 57 −44 9 0.39 4th 8th DNQ R3 DNQ — 492 United States Giancarlo Canas-Jarquin 3
2023 24 8 13 3 30 34 −4 27 1.13 N/A 6th Champion R3 DNQ — 635[a] Senegal Alioune Diakhate 7
  1. ^ Only accounts for regular season matches played at Rochester Community Sports Complex Stadium

Honors

National Independent Soccer Association

  • NISA National Championship

References

  1. ^ Lewis, Michael (November 11, 2020). "MORE NISA EXPANSION?: Sources: Rochester group submits application to join league". www.frontrowsoccer.com. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  2. ^ "#118 - From Kodak Layoff - To Creating 50 New Millionaires - David Weaver". www.audacy.com. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  3. ^ "Rochester group bringing pro soccer back to the Flower City". Rochester First. November 25, 2020. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  4. ^ "THEY'RE IN: NISA approves Rochester's application". www.frontrowsoccer.com. December 17, 2020. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  5. ^ "SOME FLOWER POWER: Rochester's NISA team gets a name". www.frontrowsoccer.com. December 19, 2020. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  6. ^ "New logo revealed for Rochester's next pro soccer team". NEWS10 ABC. April 15, 2021. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  7. ^ Hanley, Liam (March 22, 2022). "American Expansion: 8 New Pro Soccer Teams To Get Out And Watch This Summer". the18.com. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
  8. ^ Lewis, Michael (January 17, 2023). "A Unique Union: Flower City, Syracuse Pulse join forces as NISA team will play in both cities". Front Row Soccer. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  9. ^ Battista, Michael (November 14, 2023). "How sixth-seed Flower City Union won the NISA title". Hudson River Blue. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  10. ^ @FlowerCityUnion (February 15, 2024). "Our time in NISA will forever be a substantial part of our history. We are grateful to NISA and we wish the league nothing but the best moving forward. That being said, stay tuned for an announcement coming next week!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  11. ^ "Media Alert: NISA Delivers Statement on Flower City Union Departure". nisaofficial.com. National Independent Soccer Association. February 15, 2024. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  12. ^ a b Lewis, Michael (February 19, 2024). "JUMPING LEAGUES: Why Flower City Union left NISA and where they will wind up". www.frontrowsoccer.com. Front Row Soccer. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
  13. ^ "Flower City Union joins NPSL". npsl.com. National Premier Soccer League. February 20, 2024. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  14. ^ "FLOWER CITY UNION SCHEDULE". flowercityunion.com. Flower City Union. Archived from the original on April 16, 2024. Retrieved April 16, 2024.


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