Mansfield Unveils ‘Southern Gateway of Soccer’ to Host New Team
Texas Health Mansfield Stadium officially opened for operations Wednesday morning with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
After hosting the Czechia World Cup team throughout June and having a community day for fans, construction was finally finished. The stadium will be home to North Texas Soccer Club, which competes in MLS Next Pro, the third division of professional soccer in the U.S. The team is owned and operated by FC Dallas.
“So we want to welcome everybody to what we can finally say now is the southern gateway of soccer in the DFW Metroplex,” Mansfield Mayor Michael Evans said. “I am happy to proclaim it is soccer time in Mansfield, Texas.”
Fort Wayne FC Cuts Ribbon on Ruoff Mortgage Stadium
The Fort Wayne Football Club hosted a grand opening ceremony for its brand new stadium and announced the team’s official mascot.
During the nation’s celebration of its 250th anniversary, the Fort Wayne FC also celebrated the completion of the Ruoff Mortgage Stadium in a ribbon-cutting ceremony, followed by a match to commemorate the special day. The team also revealed its official mascot — a soccer-ball-print gorilla, complete with a golden mohawk, aptly named Friendly the Goal-Rilla.
Mark Music, Principal Owner of Fort Wayne FC and owner and CEO of Ruoff Mortgage, said that he hopes the stadium will be a place where fans can come and escape from reality for a while.
Oregon Lays Sand for New Outdoor Volleyball Facility
The initial wave of sand has been poured onto the courts at Duck Dunes, the on-campus, future home of Oregon Beach Volleyball, marking a visible milestone for one of the fastest-rising programs in the country. This project continues to make progress every day as the public phase of the fundraising campaign for the facility officially gets underway, and the program's new locker room opened in September 2025. The courts are scheduled for completion in late September.
The 2026 season for Oregon Beach Volleyball was a giant leap forward, featuring ranked victories, a historic start to the year, and a recruiting footprint that now reaches the nation's most talented athletes. Under first-year head coach Kristian Kuld, the Ducks delivered the most successful campaign in program history, setting the single season wins record and signaling the arrival of a new era.
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