{"id":26425,"date":"2026-09-15T13:00:13","date_gmt":"2026-09-15T17:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/northwoodsleague.com\/kalamazoo-growlers\/?p=26425"},"modified":"2026-09-15T15:01:09","modified_gmt":"2026-09-15T19:01:09","slug":"new-ownership-group-takes-over-kalamazoo-soccer-launching-full-rebrand-and-major-stadium-renovations-for-2027","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/northwoodsleague.com\/kalamazoo-growlers\/new-ownership-group-takes-over-kalamazoo-soccer-launching-full-rebrand-and-major-stadium-renovations-for-2027\/","title":{"rendered":"New Ownership Group Takes Over Kalamazoo Soccer, Launching Full Rebrand and Major Stadium Renovations for 2027"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a><\/span><\/div>
NOMINATE TEAM NAME HERE<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Kzoo Soccer takes the reins from Kalamazoo FC with plans for a completely revamped fan experience, site upgrades for soccer and major events, and a community-driven naming campaign opening today at kzoosoccer.com.<\/em><\/h6>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

KALAMAZOO, Mich. \u2013 A new era of summer sports and entertainment is officially arriving in Kalamazoo. Kzoo Soccer announced today that it has taken over local semi-pro soccer operations to launch a revamped men’s team in USL League Two and a women’s team in the USL W League, kicking off in May 2027.<\/p>\n

The new club succeeds Kalamazoo FC, whose owner Dave Shufelt recently stepped down after eight seasons to pass the torch to new stewards. The club is owned by Brian Colopy, owner of the Kalamazoo Growlers and Outlier Events, and Aaron Guerrero, a 13-year sports management veteran who will serve as club president and oversee daily operations.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/a><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>

While soccer is at the heart of the club, the new ownership group is building a brand anchored in total entertainment, fun, and community engagement.<\/p>\n

“The match is why you show up, but the world-class entertainment, food, music, and community vibes are why you come back,” said Aaron Guerrero, president and co-owner. “We aren’t just running a soccer team; we’re building a premier entertainment experience for Kalamazoo. We\u2019ve spent more than a decade learning what makes a great night out, and we’re bringing that exact energy to this entire project.”<\/p>\n

A Complete Rebrand, Powered by the Fans<\/b><\/p>\n

As part of taking over the team, the owners are completely rebranding the organization from the ground up. To ensure the identity belongs to the city, the club is handing the naming rights directly to the community. Starting today, fans can submit name ideas at kzoosoccer.com. Community submissions will shape a shortlist of five names to be revealed October 15, with the final club name, crest, and colors officially unveiled on November 5.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/a><\/span>
Co-Owner and Team President Aaron Guerrero, recognized as Growlers Executive of the Year after the 2025 season.<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Big Stadium Renovation & Event Venue Plans<\/b><\/p>\n

The club will continue to play at Soisson-Rapacz-Clason Field at Mayors’ Riverfront Park, but fans can expect a dramatically transformed venue. Kzoo Soccer is undertaking major site renovations designed to elevate the facility into a top-tier destination for soccer, massive community events, festivals, and year-round entertainment.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/a><\/span><\/div>
NOMINATE TEAM NAME HERE<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>

“This field won’t just be a place to watch 90 minutes of soccer. It\u2019s being redesigned as a premier event venue for Southwest Michigan,” said Brian Colopy. “We have big plans for the site, and this initial renovation is just the beginning. Fans can expect several major announcements in the coming months regarding stadium upgrades, entertainment partnerships, and multi-use event programming.”<\/span><\/p>\n

USL League Two and the USL W League represent the top pre-professional summer leagues in the country, showcasing elite college athletes competing on their path to the pros. Kalamazoo’s men’s team will compete in the Great Lakes Division alongside regional rivals like the Flint City Bucks.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/a><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Key Dates & How to Get Involved: <\/b><\/p>\n

Now \u2013 Oct 13: Submit club name ideas at kzoosoccer.com<\/p>\n

Oct 15: Top 5 name shortlist revealed & priority ticket deposits open<\/p>\n

Nov 3: Official club name, crest, colors, and full season details unveiled<\/p>\n

May 2027: Inaugural season kickoff<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

NOMINATE TEAM NAME HERE<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":26423,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[15,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-26425","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-team-news","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nNew Ownership Group Takes Over Kalamazoo Soccer, Launching Full Rebrand and Major Stadium Renovations for 2027 - Kalamazoo Growlers<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/northwoodsleague.com\/kalamazoo-growlers\/new-ownership-group-takes-over-kalamazoo-soccer-launching-full-rebrand-and-major-stadium-renovations-for-2027\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"New Ownership Group Takes Over Kalamazoo Soccer, Launching Full Rebrand and Major Stadium Renovations for 2027\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/northwoodsleague.com\/kalamazoo-growlers\/new-ownership-group-takes-over-kalamazoo-soccer-launching-full-rebrand-and-major-stadium-renovations-for-2027\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Kalamazoo Growlers\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/kzoogrowlers\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-09-15T17:00:13+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-09-15T19:01:09+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/assets.northwoodsleague.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2026\/09\/kzoo-soccer-help-name-your-team.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1672\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"941\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"admin-kalamazoo\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@kzoogrowlers\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@kzoogrowlers\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"admin-kalamazoo\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/northwoodsleague.com\/kalamazoo-growlers\/new-ownership-group-takes-over-kalamazoo-soccer-launching-full-rebrand-and-major-stadium-renovations-for-2027\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/northwoodsleague.com\/kalamazoo-growlers\/new-ownership-group-takes-over-kalamazoo-soccer-launching-full-rebrand-and-major-stadium-renovations-for-2027\/\",\"name\":\"New Ownership Group Takes Over Kalamazoo Soccer, Launching Full Rebrand and Major Stadium Renovations for 2027 - 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