Florida Has Two of the Best Cities for Soccer Fans
The U.S. Women’s National Team’s journey in the FIFA World Cup is over, and the 2026 U.S. Open Cup final is approaching quickly. Soccer is gaining popularity among American fans, partly due to shows like “Welcome to Wrexham” and “Ted Lasso” have helped to popularize the sport, known as “football” in most other countries. TODAY also reported on soccer’s growing presence in pop culture. WalletHub, a personal finance website, has released its report on the best cities for soccer fans.
To do this, the personal finance website compared nearly 300 U.S. cities with at least one college or professional soccer team across five divisions comprising 52 key metrics. The data set ranges from minimum season-ticket price for a game to stadium accessibility to the number of championship wins.
Two Florida cities make the top 8
Two cities from Florida have been ranked in the top eight. Overall, Orlando has claimed the fourth spot, and Miami is at number seven. Jacksonville and Tampa are also on the list, ranking 39th and 47th.
The study examined teams in five divisions and rated their performance on a scale of up to 100%. According to the study, the performance level of the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the USL stands at 64.40 percent, which is notably 4.4 times higher than Loudoun United FC, whose performance is at 14.57 percent. The study also revealed that Orlando has the lowest minimum season-ticket price for an NWSL game, priced at $140, presenting a cost 1.7 times lower than Houston, the city with the highest price of $240.
Ranking in the top three are Portland, OR, taking the third spot, Seattle, WA, positioned at number two, and Los Angeles, CA leading the pack at number one among the top three.
The study also included ranking by city size. In the midsize category, St. Petersburg holds the seventh position, followed by Gainesville at number 43, and Tallahassee at number 56. Among the small cities in the ranking, Fort Myers is placed 43rd, while Boca Raton takes the 95th spot, alongside various others.
See how other cities ranked by checking out the complete study here.
A Look at the New U.S. Women's Soccer Uniforms
U.S. Soccer and Nike just revealed the new women’s 2023 home and away USA soccer uniforms. The national team will sport this new look during the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. In addition, these will also be worn in games and events leading up to the World Cup.
Through a press release, USA Soccer noted, “Starting with listening to the players who embrace their role as trendsetters and boundary-pushers, the design, colors and aesthetic of the jerseys were heavily influenced and built by the players,” while explaining the new design. The players worked with Nike designers and came up with a classic combination of comfort and tradition. On this uniform collection you will notice a custom USA “signature.” “The bespoke mark is hand painted with ink on paper, and is a nod to the abstract expressionism movement, where each artist would sign their painting,” the press release states.
Home Whites
The U.S. women’s team will wear white at home. This combination features one of the more unique patterns you will see in the game. Team U.S.A. describes it by saying, “Highlighting the energy of the USWNT and how they are diverse players and personalities, but always united, the action painting method pattern features a distinctive placement, making every single jersey unique. The jersey also features distinctive gold branding as a nod to the team being the four-time World Cup champions and will be paired with blue shorts and white socks.”
U.S. Women’s national team has four World Cup championships – 1991, 1999, 2015 and 2019. This is also recognized in the inner pride mark of the uniform.
Road Blues
The away option will also eventually be worn by the U.S. Men’s team. This is an all-blue arrangement (including shorts and socks) that features “bespoke stars and stripe print on the sleeve cuffs – a diagonal stripe with intersecting stars – and a neckline that also features red blades, formed to look like the tip of stars.”
Innovation
Nike crafted this uniform using innovative design techniques that emphasize player comfort and staying cool. Designers were able to interchange mesh and ribbed textures. This is a method that was not available to them as recently as 2019. Other notable material enhancements include – DRI-FIT technology, 4D data with body mapping technology, and breathability functionality designed to move sweat away from the player’s body. There are two neckline options based on the female athlete’s preference and a new side panel that offers increased stretch.
Furthermore, sustainability was a top priority in the evolution of these uniforms. They are made of 100% recycled polyester from recycled plastic bottles. Less material was utilized. As a result, this almost doubling fabric marker efficiency compared to 2019.
Finally, is the classic Nike Swoosh and USWNT crests. This is comprised of 100% Nike Grind for the first time in a Nike kit. Nike Grind is a collection of recycled materials they developed. It is composed of pre-consumer manufacturing scraps, recycled post-consumer shoes from the Reuse-A-Shoe program, and unsellable footwear.
Fans can purchase the jerseys during a special early access window until April 12 at select retailers, including the U.S. Soccer Store. Visa cardholders have the option to customize their jerseys. After this exclusive offering closes, uniforms will be available to purchase via Nike or USA Soccer on June 5th, with mass distribution aligned to June 8th.
The uniforms will debut on the field during the two-game series against Ireland on April 8th and 11 in Austin, TX, and St. Louis, MO.
Here is a look at the new women’s 2023 USA soccer uniforms.
Kayla is the midday host on Detroit’s 105.1 The Bounce. She started her career in radio back in 2016 as an intern at another Detroit station and worked her way here. She's made stops in Knoxville, TN, Omaha, Ne and other places before returning to Detroit. She’s done almost everything in radio from promotions to web, creating content on social media, you name it.
She’s a true Michigander, born and raised. So, you can catch her camping or vacationing up north to exploring the downtown Detroit or maybe even catching a sports game. During her free time, Kayla enjoys watching movies, roller-skating, crafting, and music festivals. She and her husband together dip into many of the great things Michigan has to offer. Together they also like to travel.
A few hobbies of hers include wine and beer tastings, crafting, hiking, roller skating, movies, home improvement projects, gardening, and festivals. She’s always looking to take on more local events happening in the community.
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