Spokane Velocity FC Bio
Spokane Velocity FC is a professional soccer club based in Spokane, Washington. Founded in 2022, Spokane Velocity FC competes in USL League One and plays home matches at One Spokane Stadium.
Early Life and Background
The club’s establishment followed a multi-year effort to bring professional soccer and a new downtown stadium to Spokane. A proposed 5,000-seat stadium project was advanced in 2021 and approved by the Spokane Public School Board in May 2021 to serve as the home for a new USL League One franchise.
Aequus Sports, LLC purchased and launched the men’s team in October 2022, with ownership led by Ryan and Katie Harnetiaux alongside partners. The organization secured stadium rights and positioned Spokane Velocity FC to begin play in the 2024 season at the newly completed One Spokane Stadium.
Path to Soccer
The club’s path to professional competition combined civic planning and league discussions. Spokane Public Facilities District officials met with USL and MLS Next Pro representatives about locating a club at the city-run stadium, and the ownership group finalized plans that resulted in a USL League One expansion franchise.
Spokane Velocity FC announced commercial and operational partners as it prepared for its inaugural season. The club named Capelli Sport as its exclusive uniform, equipment, and training apparel provider in June 2023 and unveiled the Spokane Velocity FC name and crest at a July 21, 2023 launch event. Leigh Veidman was appointed the club’s first head coach on November 15, 2023, and initial player signings followed in December 2023 and January 2024.
Spokane Velocity FC Career
Early Career (2024)
Spokane Velocity FC began competitive play in the 2024 USL League One season. The club’s inaugural match was played on March 9, 2024, at Paladin Stadium against Greenville Triumph SC and ended in a 3–1 loss; Josh Dolling scored the club’s first-ever goal on a 13th-minute penalty.
The team recorded its first home victory on March 16, 2024, defeating the Richmond Kickers 2–1 at a sold-out One Spokane Stadium. Spokane also entered the 2024 U.S. Open Cup and won its opening cup match on March 20, 2024, against Ballard FC at Memorial Stadium in Seattle.
USL League One Breakthrough (2024)
In its inaugural campaign Spokane Velocity FC qualified for the USL League One playoffs, clinching a postseason berth on October 12, 2024. The club won its first playoff match 3–0 against Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC on November 2, 2024, then advanced past Forward Madison FC via a penalty shootout in the semifinals to reach the championship match.
Spokane completed the 2024 playoff run as runners-up after a 3–0 defeat to Union Omaha in the final. The club was one of the few expansion teams in USL League One history to reach the title match in its first season.
One Spokane Stadium Era (2024–Present)
One Spokane Stadium serves as the club’s home and anchor for community events. The 5,000-seat venue opened in late 2023, sits adjacent to The Podium and Spokane Arena, and can be expanded with on-field seating for larger events. The venue hosted the club’s sellout home opener in March 2024.
Off the field, Spokane Velocity FC established a visible commercial and organizational identity. The club’s crest and color palette—basalt, impact blue, and river rapid white—reference the Spokane River and local landmarks, while a partnership with Capelli Sport provides playing and training apparel.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones in the club’s early history include the unveiling of the Spokane Velocity FC name and crest on July 21, 2023; the signing of their first players in December 2023; the first competitive goal scored by Josh Dolling; the sold-out home opener at One Spokane Stadium; and the club’s run to the USL League One championship match in 2024, where they finished as runners-up.
Spokane Velocity FC Career Wins
Spokane Velocity FC recorded its first competitive victories during the 2024 season across league and cup competitions. The club’s early résumé includes a first home win at One Spokane Stadium, a U.S. Open Cup match victory, and multiple postseason wins that advanced the team to the league final.
USL League One Highlights
The club’s first home victory came on March 16, 2024, with a 2–1 result over the Richmond Kickers before a sold-out crowd. Spokane’s playoff run in November 2024 produced a 3–0 quarterfinal win over Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC and a semifinal victory over Forward Madison FC via penalty shootout, culminating in an appearance in the USL League One championship match.
Other Wins & Perfromances
Spokane Velocity FC advanced in the 2024 U.S. Open Cup with a win against Ballard FC on March 20, 2024. The club’s early cup and league results demonstrated competitive form for an expansion side in its inaugural season.
Spokane Velocity FC Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
The club is owned and operated by Aequus Sports, LLC, whose listed principals include Ryan and Katie Harnetiaux alongside additional partners. Spokane Velocity FC shares ownership ties and facilities with Spokane Zephyr FC, the women’s team that competes in the USL Super League, aligning both clubs under the same local ownership group.
Personal Life
Supporter culture coalesced quickly around the club, with the 509 Syndicate emerging as the largest supporters’ group; the group organizes a march through Riverfront Park to One Spokane Stadium and occupies the midfield east side during matches. The team’s mascot, the Goats, references the city’s Garbage Goat sculpture in Riverfront Park and is a visible part of matchday culture.
Local broadcast coverage has included select matches on Spokane television stations KHQ/SWX and KREM/KSKN, and national distribution of some fixtures via CBS Sports Network as part of USL League One coverage. League matches are generally available on ESPN+ under the USL streaming arrangement.
2025 Season Performance
According to club records for the 2025 campaign, Spokane Velocity FC finished third in USL League One’s regular-season table and again reached the playoffs, registering a runners-up finish in postseason competition. The 2025 results extended the club’s competitive profile following its inaugural-season championship appearance in 2024.
The club continued to base operations at One Spokane Stadium and maintained its partnership with Capelli Sport while Leigh Veidman remained the head coach. Continued local support and the shared infrastructure with Spokane Zephyr FC reinforced Spokane Velocity FC’s place in the regional sports landscape.