PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Northeast United Soccer Club (NEU) and BSC Oregon (BSC) are excited to announce their intent to merge. The combined club will be named United PDX (United).
The combination of NEU and BSC will create the largest soccer club in Oregon, serving nearly 2,700 families throughout the Portland metro area. The club will introduce soccer to children in neighborhood-based programs and continue their development within a single organization through a city-wide high school program. United PDX will also consolidate its US Development Academy program – an elite player platform for children under-12 to under-14 within the city.
The combined club will include 4 US Soccer Federation A-licensed coaches; 7 training facilities within the Portland metro; and will offer a unified curriculum and coaching development platform. Finally, the combination of clubs will allow greater specialization and focus within the club’s administrative functions by separating management and soccer roles, which will drive development of best-in-class member services, playing and coaching development platforms.
Rene Gonzalez, president of NEU and United, commented: "With BSC, we found strong alignment for providing the city with an independent, non-profit soccer club. The combined club will provide economies of scale in administration and allow the club to separate management and soccer roles, which together will significantly increase the club’s level of professionalism in supporting our staff, members and volunteers.”
Ryan Youngblood, United's Executive Director, observed: "At the heart this is the desire to provide more opportunities for our youth to learn and love the beautiful game. This always starts at a place close to home...By uniting our clubs we now have the ability to create pathways for our players so as their love and desire for the game grows they can expand their wings into a larger community and still feel like they’re at home."
Brandon McNeil, United's technical director, commented: "The unifying of two innovative soccer clubs in order to better serve all levels of soccer within our communities is so exciting. Consolidation and attraction of the top talent into truly one club will greatly impact the ever-changing soccer landscape across our Region!"
"Both BSC Oregon and Northeast United Soccer Club have always had an excellent reputation as a youth soccer clubs," said Jim Field, President of BSC Oregon. "We have found a synergy between our organizations regarding the core values and philosophies in player and coaching development. United PDX will allow the already talented players and staff within the city to further progress to the highest levels."
The mission of United PDX is preparing children for the opportunities and challenges of life through the game of soccer.
United PDX will operate as a member-based 501(c)(3) non-profit. The merger is subject to Oregon Department of Justice and US Development Academy approval, which is expected in the 2nd Quarter of 2018. Players and parents interested in learning more should email info@unitedpdx.org.
About Northeast United — NEU is a member 501(c)(3) centered on the eastside of Portland. The club was founder in 1985 to provided recreational programming to northeast Portland, but has grown rapidly in the last 10-years providing soccer programming to over 1850 youth players throughout the Portland-area. NEUPDX.org
About Bridlemile — Bridlemile Soccer Club is a 501(c)(3) based in SW Portland and has been a leader in coaching development and licensing in the region. They administer a US Development Academy program for children under-12 to under-14 as well as offering programming from kindergarten through high-school. BSCOregon.com
