EDISON − A professional soccer team is slated to begin playing in Middlesex County next summer at NEXUS, the $350 million sports and entertainment district along Woodbridge Avenue that includes a stadium for the new club. The club, currently operating under the provisional name New Jersey MLS NEXT Pro, will receive a new identity, including a name, colors and crest designed to reflect the local community. New Jersey fans and community members will help shape that identity. Club branding details are expected to be announced later this year. Plans for the professional soccer team were recently announced by Hometown Soccer Holdings, New York City FC II, MLS NEXT Pro and Middlesex County officials. "This is exactly the kind of opportunity we envisioned when MLS partnered with KKR and Hometown Soccer Holdings to accelerate the growth of MLS NEXT Pro," Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber said. "As the first club to relaunch under that partnership, New Jersey MLS NEXT Pro represents an important step in the league's next chapter by strengthening player development and bringing professional soccer closer to more communities."
The team will continue to serve as New York City FC's MLS NEXT Pro affiliate. New York City FC will oversee all sporting operations and continue developing elite professional talent through the league. "New Jersey is a soccer state, and today we're once again giving fans across the Garden State a team to call their own," Gov. Mikie Sherrill said. "Bringing professional soccer to NEXUS gives fans in the heart of our state a team to rally behind while creating new opportunities for athletes and strengthening our growing sports economy. We're proud to welcome this club to Middlesex County and can't wait to see fans in the stands at NEXUS." Not everyone is celebrating the new franchise. State Sen. Declan O'Scanlon, R-Monmouth, said $200 million in taxpayer funding helped build the sports complex that will house the team, including federal COVID-19 relief money. "Families and businesses suffered during COVID and are struggling with soaring electric bills, property taxes and daily living costs," O'Scanlon said. "Claiming this is a success and hiding the $200 million waste of taxpayer and COVID relief money behind the ribbon-cutting is a slap in the face to people who want our state to focus on affordability. Minor-league mentality gets you minor-league results. New Jersey taxpayers deserve better." More: Records show how much Middlesex will pay firm to manage new college venues Tom Glick, CEO of Hometown Soccer Holdings, said Middlesex County's diversity, soccer culture and passion for the game make it an ideal location. "We are proud to make New Jersey MLS NEXT Pro our first club under the Hometown Soccer platform and to partner with New York City FC to deliver a world-class experience for fans and families across New Jersey," Glick said. Earlier this year, MLS and KKR announced investments to accelerate the growth of MLS NEXT Pro by forming Hometown Soccer Holdings as a platform to serve as the league's commercial engine. The partnership is designed to support stadium development, create new club brands for MLS-affiliated teams and enhance fan experiences at community-focused venues. New Jersey MLS NEXT Pro is the first expansion announcement under that platform. Middlesex County also will become the second official New York City FC Youth Programs Regional Hub, joining LIU Post on Long Island. The Middlesex hub will bring the club's youth development and coaching programs to NEXUS. In 2027, New York City FC Youth Programs plans to establish a youth soccer club in Middlesex County with teams and supplemental programming for children ages 3 to 18. Based at the NEXUS Fields at Thomas A. Edison Park, near the stadium, the regional hub will provide players with direct exposure to New York City FC's player development pathway. The NEXUS stadium features 6,500 seats, an adjacent plaza, recreational fields and a full-service restaurant and bar. Amenities include luxury suites, two upper-level party decks, a field-facing premium bar and a grass hill with a playground where families can watch matches. Email: srussell@gannettnj.com Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Pro soccer coming to Middlesex County as NEXUS lands MLS club