To our Season Ticket Members:
I want to take a moment to personally thank you for all your continued support. Without you, it would not be possible to continue raising our standards to new heights. While there’s still much to do in 2025, the year has already seen a number of noteworthy accomplishments.
- Louisville City is earning 2.23 points per game, matching the pace set during last year’s Players’ Shield-winning season.
- We watched with great pride as LouCity Academy graduate Elijah Wynder completed his move to LA Galaxy, where he has played in Major League Soccer and Concacaf Champions Cup games.
- Elijah’s younger brother, Josh, continues to impress for Portugal’s Benfica. At only age 20, he made match day squads at the recent FIFA Club World Cup.
- Brandon Dayes, another young LouCity Academy standout, has both debuted and played many meaningful minutes for our first team.
- A number of other academy players debuted in a recent international friendly with Spain’s CD Leganés.
- We are ecstatic to be hosting clubs competing in the UEFA Champions League (Eintracht Frankfurt) and English Premier League (Aston Villa) in an international friendly this Saturday.
- Of course, at the same time as Frankfurt-Villa are playing at Lynn Family Stadium, our LouCity squad will be looking to bring home the first Commonwealth Cup, presented by Republic Bank, from Lexington SC.
As we look forward, I’d like to emphasize the values, initiatives and priorities for our club.
USL Division One
We have submitted an application alongside a number of major markets as the USL prepares to launch a Division One league in 2027 or 2028 — meaning the chance for us to compete at a higher level. This will present an opportunity not only for our players but for our whole community to be showcased on a larger scale. The concept of promotion and relegation is also expected to bring extra attention to our league. All of this means we will have to work harder than ever to maintain our standard of excellence on the field. Your continued support is key as we work together to collect more silverware.
Academy Expansion
We have extended our youth academy’s reach beyond Louisville to include branches in Oldham, Shelby and Hardin counties. The next step calls for increased infrastructure for soccer in not only these areas but also our state as a whole. While it is impossible for every player to eventually make the first team, there have been many academy graduates who head off to compete in college or enter the local workforce with experience in our system. We take enormous pride in developing both soccer and life skills. Just as with our front office, the academy uses the PITCH model emphasizing Personal Accountability, Intellectual Engagement, Trust, Commitment and Humility. This provides a toolkit for young players to succeeded in life on and off the field.
Community Engagement
Our staff, coaches and players are spending more and more time giving back outside our walls — everything from visiting children in the hospital to being there at celebrations of life for a deceased supporter. Again, this club cannot succeed without our community’s support. Many charitable efforts are spearheaded by former Louisville City star George Davis IV, executive director of the LouCity & Racing Foundation. The foundation has quickly become a great point of pride for our organization as it seeks to make organized soccer accessible to kids throughout our community regardless of their financial means. You can support George and his team by visiting LouCityRacingFoundation.org.
2025 Season
Our team is off to another impressive start to the season as Coach Cruz and the players do their part. But as I look around Lynn Family Stadium, there are still empty seats we want to fill to support them. My challenge to our Season Ticket Members is to continue telling your personal networks about Louisville City. This week, we launched a new “First One’s on Us” program in partnership with Kroger. If you know someone who has never been to a LouCity game, they are eligible to claim a free ticket by visiting LouCity.com/first. We have many great opportunities upcoming — from a July 29 matchup with Eintracht Frankfurt to our Fill the Fam showdown with Charleston on August 9. Nothing better shows what we’re about than experiencing a home game. Please help us spread the word!
I hope this letter leaves you feeling connected to our club, its priorities and our high aspirations. We know what we have at Louisville City is special, and we appreciate everything Season Ticket Members do to continue building a winning tradition.
Let’s go City!
John Neace
Chairman & CEO
Louisville City FC
