NASHVILLE (May 4, 2017) – Businessman John R. Ingram announced today that Nashville Soccer Holdings LLC has acquired a majority interest in DMD Soccer, owner of Nashville Soccer Club (Nashville SC) of the United Soccer League (USL). Nashville SC will debut in the USL in the 2018 season, delivering professional soccer to Music City and its passionate soccer fan base.

“Our effort to bring Major League Soccer (MLS) to Nashville and the mission of DMD Soccer are now jointly committed to elevate and expand professional soccer in Music City,” Ingram said. “We plan to give Nashville SC fans an exceptional soccer experience, starting with this season’s debut of the [Nashville SC U23 amateur team], which will lead to a successful debut in the USL as we continue to grow the game in Nashville at every level.”

David Dill, who has led the Nashville SC investor group which includes local entrepreneurs Marcus Whitney and Chris Redhage, said: “John Ingram has a long history supporting sports in Nashville. He will be a driving force in Nashville SC’s ownership group as we move our vision forward, which is to provide professional soccer to the region’s passionate fans. Nashville SC has grown from the grassroots, and now John’s commitment speaks volumes about the future of soccer in Nashville and helps Nashville SC grow while unifying soccer interests in our city.”  

Nashville SC began last year when DMD acquired the USL franchise. Interest in a USL team was driven by the success of the former Nashville FC, an amateur team that played for three years in the National Premier Soccer League.

“Nashville has arrived as a soccer city. Our USL team is preparing for its inaugural season, we are hosting two world-class matches this summer and the city is firmly in the hunt to win an MLS expansion team. Music City is Soccer City,” Ingram added.

Nashville SC will begin its first professional season next year in the USL, one of the most prominent second division leagues in the world. It will also field a U-23 amateur team of elite collegiate players in the PDL, including 13 from Tennessee, vying for a professional contract. Nashville SC U23 has its home opener at Vanderbilt Stadium on May 13th.