Will WNY get a pro soccer franchise?

Peter Marlette Jr. has been immersed in soccer since the age of four, when his parents enrolled him in the Delaware Soccer Club.

 

Reflecting on the sport, Marlette observes, "Soccer mirrors life. It's a low-scoring game with a significant element of luck. You endure physical and mental challenges, constantly supporting your team, and when opportunities arise, you must seize them, or they may not come again."

 

With Buffalo's passionate fanbase, growing international community, and the upcoming North American World Cup, Marlette sees a prime opportunity to expand the sport locally. In 2024, he founded Buffalo Pro Soccer with the goal of bringing a United Soccer League (USL) team to the area, establishing a new sports venue, and creating a viable pathway for player development in Western New York and Southern Ontario.

 

Marlette and his team believe it's a winning bet for many reasons. Both youth and adult soccer teams are popular in the region, Buffalo was the top domestic television market for the English Premier League last season, and numerous sport-themed pubs attract patrons during Premier League matches, boosting business during otherwise slow hours. Additionally, Buffalo's diverse international community is transforming what's possible.

 

"Buffalo meets and, frankly, exceeds everything you want in a professional soccer city," Marlette points out. "As Buffalo grows internationally, and with soccer being the world's biggest sport, families coming here from abroad are likely to have a strong connection to the game."

 

However, soccer isn't the dominant sport in Buffalo. Fans are deeply passionate about the Bills and Sabres, and even the Buffalo Bandits enjoy regular sellouts. While capturing a slice of the competitive local market may seem daunting, Marlette sees an opportunity.

 

"We are going to have a different value proposition," he says. "We will have exceptionally high-level players and a phenomenal stadium atmosphere that will be representative of Buffalo, with price points that allow people to take their families without having to think about what they're sacrificing on the other side of it."

 

In addition to fielding a USL team, Buffalo Pro Soccer aims to develop promising young players through its Academy initiative. Available for both boys and girls, the Academy coaches players holistically while identifying pathways to more advanced levels of the game, including college and professional opportunities. Scholarships are also available. It's a model that has developed players worldwide, and by introducing it in Buffalo, Marlette hopes to open more doors for elite local players.

 

"We produce very few professionals," Marlette says. "It is not due to a lack of participation, athletic ability, or talent. It is because that true pathway to the pros does not exist right now. Yes, the goal of the Academy is to produce pro players. But the reality is, statistically, it is so hard to make it to the top levels. But everybody on that roster, whether they are on a professional pathway or not, will have the opportunity to be developed and coached at the highest possible level."

 

Marlette expects the next year to be pivotal for Buffalo Pro Soccer as it prepares to make several public announcements about new initiatives. Five years from now, he hopes Buffalo Pro Soccer will have its USL team playing summer games in a new mid-sized stadium that also hosts concerts, events, and other sports.

 

"Buffalo sports fans have proven that if you put a team on the field who represents the city the right way, fans will follow," he says. "We're going to do that. I'm excited to start the process and show this region what we can offer. From a fandom standpoint, this is the best pro sports market in the country. It's going to be very fun."