ANNAPOLIS, MD — A new semi-professional soccer team is coming to Annapolis, and it will play its first season next spring.
The squad announced Tuesday that its name will be the Annapolis Blues FC. The club on Aug. 9 said its home field will be Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.
The team will play in the Mid-Atlantic Conference of the National Premier Soccer League. The Blues are the second Maryland team in the league. FC Frederick plays in the same conference.
The Blues conducted a fan poll to pick their name, which honors the Maryland blue crab. The other options were the Seawolves, the Kraken and the Yard FC. More than 1,200 fans voted in the survey.
"Annapolis Blues was clearly the fan favorite," Owner and Managing Partner Michael "Hitch" Hitchcock said in a press release. "It won by a nautical mile. Annapolis Blues is the perfect name to represent Naptown. Well done, Annapolis soccer and sports fans!"
The Blues' ownership group includes three big names with DMV ties.
Crofton native Kyle Beckerman is one owner. The midfielder played 21 seasons for Major League Soccer from 2000 to 2020.
Another owner is Alex Yi, who is from Alexandria, Virginia. The defender played professionally in Europe and in the U.S. for Major League Soccer in the 2000s. He also spent two seasons as an assistant coach for Navy Men's Soccer in 2016 and 2017.
Hitchcock is the final major owner. Since graduating from Virginia Commonwealth University, Hitchcock has held several positions for Major League Soccer clubs. He got his start with D.C. United as a corporate sales executive from 1998 to 2000. He then worked in sales for the Colorado Rapids and the LA Galaxy before serving as the general manager of FC Dallas from 2005 to 2009.
The team will announce other local owners later this month.
The Blues recently opened their season ticket sales. A full-season general admission pass costs $100 for adults and $80 for kids. Season ticket holders will get a free Blues jersey and scarf if they order by Dec. 25.
"We look forward to seeing the Annapolis Blues gear being proudly worn all over the DMV," Hitchcock said.
More information on the team, tickets and merchandise is posted at annapolissoccer.com.
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