Sarasota Paradise is an American soccer club based in Sarasota, Florida, competing in the South Florida Division of USL League Two. They began play in the 2023 season.
The club is partly owned by Audigr Group Inc., a joint venture between entrepreneurs Marcus Walfridson and Kenneth Bethune.[1] It played it's 2023 and 2024 seasons at Charlie Cleland Stadium at Ihrig Field, on the campus of Sarasota High School.
History
It was first announced on October 27, 2022, that a team in Sarasota would be joining USL League Two for the upcoming 2023 season, simply known at the time as Sarasota USL. Owned by operated by Sarasota Professional Soccer LLC with support from Audigr Group Inc., the clubs' branding and identity was to be decided through a Name the Team contest, with the results announced January 2023.[2]
Club branding was announced by owner Marcus Walfridson on January 14, 2023.[3]
Sarasota Paradise made their league debut on May 20, 2023, a 1–0 loss away at Miami AC.[4] They made their home debut on June 3, 2023, defeating FC Miami City 2–1 in front of a crowd of nearly 500 spectators.[5] The team finished 4th in the South Florida Division, 6 points behind division winners Weston FC. Their final home game of the season garnered 1086 fans in attendance. Defender Hosei Kojima was selected to the 2023 USL League Two Team of the Year, drafted number 17 in the MLS Superdraft, and is now playing for MLS side St. Louis City SC.[6][7]
On July 13, 2023, Walfridson announced his hopes for the club to turn professional and join USL League One in either 2025 or 2026.[8]
In their second season, Sarasota Paradise secured their first South Florida Division Championship in club history with a 1-0 victory away against St. Petersburg FC. Sarasota Paradise remained undefeated at home throughout the season. Key results included a commanding 4-0 win over Miami AC, a thrilling 4-4 draw with Tampa Bay United, and a decisive 3-0 victory against Weston FC. This success earned the team a spot in the playoffs, where they faced Brave SC. [9]
Stadium
Sarasota Paradise played their 2023 and 2024 home matches at Charlie Cleland Stadium at Ihrig Field, located on the campus of Sarasota High School, just south of downtown Sarasota.
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