Galaxy's MLS Next Pro team undergoes a name change and will leave Dignity Health Sports Park and move their home games to California Lutheran in April
In a new partnership with Oak Sports Holding, the Galaxy announced Friday that LA Galaxy II, its MLS Next Pro Club, will be moving to Ventura County and undergoing a rebrand.
The club, which will remain under AEG ownership, will now be known as Ventura County FC and play home games at California Lutheran University starting in April.
The move is part of a “collaborative effort between LA Galaxy and Oak Sports Holding to broaden and deepen the presence of soccer in the Central Coast communities of southern California, including Oxnard, Camarillo, Santa Paula, Fillmore, Moorpark, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks and other surrounding cities.”
“We are excited to partner with Oak Sports Holding to bring professional soccer to Ventura County and its surrounding communities,” Galaxy President of Business Operations and Chief Operating Officer Tom Braun said in a statement. “LA Galaxy’s second team is about player development and a player pathway into the first team. As we kick off this new partnership with Oak Sports Holding, we are confident that Ventura County FC will have success on and off the field.”
Thursday’s U.S. Open Cup game against Irvine Zeta II will still be played at Dignity Health Sports Park’s Track and Field Stadium. The match is open to the public.
The club will play its first two matches – Sunday against Town FC and March 31 against Tacoma Defiance – at DHSP before moving to California Lutheran for the April 7 game against Whitecaps 2.
“VCFC will play an important role in furthering the Galaxy’s sporting vision and soccer operations goals, which will remain under our control,” general manager Will Kuntz said.”We look forward to this new partnership with Oak Sports Holding as we continue developing top-tier talent in their progression to our first team.”
Galaxy legend Cobi Jones is a member of Oak Sports Holding.
The Galaxy will oversee all soccer operations for Ventura County FC. The club will continue to train at DHSP during the new partnership.
