Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC is a professional soccer team based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Founded in 2014, the team is a member of the USL Championship, the second tier of the American soccer pyramid. The franchise is owned and operated by Martin Ragain and Ragain Sports, LLC. History. An ownership group from Colorado Springs were awarded a USL Pro franchise on December 5, 2013, with plans to begin play in 2015. The team's name, the "Switchbacks", was announced on January 31, 2014, following a fan contest. The team hired Steve Trittschuh as their head coach  on March 11, 2014. On October 30, 2018, Switchbacks FC announced an affiliation agreement with the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer, who are based in the Denver area. The Rapids ended their affiliation with the Switchbacks following the conclusion of the 2021 Major League Soccer season. Stadium. The team opened Weidner Field, a new 8,000-seat downtown stadium, for the 2021 season. Plans for the stadium were officially announced by the City of Colorado Springs in July 2018. Construction began on December 7, 2019. The stadium will cost $35 million, to be funded by city bonds, the club , and a real estate partner. On October 15, 2020, the name "Weidner Field" was officially transferred from the team's old stadium in eastern Colorado Springs to the new downtown venue. The former Weidner Field, now officially known as Switchbacks Training Stadium, is a soccer stadium adjacent to UCHealth Park (formerly known as Security Service Field). In the summer of 2014, the club started a $3 million renovation of the stadium after signing a 10-year lease with the City of Colorado Springs. Located at roughly 6,500 feet above sea level, the stadium was at the highest elevation of  any primary home stadium for a professional team in the American soccer pyramid. This status will transfer to the new Weidner Field, although it sits at a lower altitude of 6,035 feet.