The seed for Ozark United FC was planted as "a crazy thought" in co-founder Chris Martinovic's mind years ago, and today, that seedling has grown into a full-fledged plan to bring professional soccer to Northwest Arkansas. In this candid conversation with Managing Director Wes Harris, Martinovic gives listeners unprecedented access to the behind-the-scenes journey of building a professional sports franchise from scratch.

What stands out most is the unexpected enthusiasm from all corners of the community. "I had no idea how excited people would get about it," Martinovic reveals, noting that even self-proclaimed non-soccer fans expressed excitement at the prospect of professional sports entertainment in NWA. The conversation illuminates how the project has evolved from its initial conception, including the exciting announcement of an expanded stadium site that doubles the land footprint and transforms the vision into a sports-anchored mixed-use development.

The financial realities of sports ownership take center stage as Martinovic explains the investment model that drives professional teams. Unlike traditional businesses, sports franchises aren't primarily cash-flow generators but rather appreciate significantly in value over time. This perspective has shaped their approach to finding the right investors, culminating in their newly announced partnership with Prospect Park, a group with extensive connections to family offices and experience in professional sports investments.

Throughout the discussion, the passion for community building shines through. "This is Northwest Arkansas's club, this is your club, this is not our club," Harris emphasizes, highlighting the collaborative nature of the project. From "closet soccer fans" finding their community to children playing pickup games with makeshift goals, the soccer culture in NWA continues to grow organically alongside the more formal development plans.

The vision extends beyond just professional matches to hosting World Cup base camps, creating pathways for youth development, and contributing thoughtfully to the region's growth. But to get there, they need continued community support. Wear the gear, attend events, show up to council meetings - these seemingly small actions make a tremendous difference in demonstrating community buy-in to potential investors and local officials.

Ready to be part of this journey? Follow Pitch to Pro on social media and visit ozarkunitedfc.com to stay updated and find ways to support Northwest Arkansas's path to professional soccer.

Check out this Stoppage Time Special from Ep. 18: What Makes a Good Soccer Crest?

What's the difference between a forgettable logo and an iconic football crest that fans proudly tattoo on their bodies? Our latest Stoppage Time segment dives deep into the art and science behind the badges that represent the world's most beloved clubs.

A truly great crest tells a compelling story that resonates with supporters on a visceral level. It's not just about aesthetics – though shapes, colors, and symbols all play crucial roles. The most powerful badges serve as visual ambassadors for a club's mission and values while simultaneously celebrating the unique character of their local community.

We explore how traditional shield designs pay homage to medieval heraldry while modern circular badges create a sense of unity. The psychology behind color choices reveals fascinating insights: reds and oranges convey aggression and passion, blues represent loyalty, greens connect to nature, and occasionally, a club like Inter Miami boldly embraces pink to establish a distinctive identity. From Chelsea's lion to Barcelona's bull, symbolic elements enrich each crest with deeper meaning, often drawing from regional folklore or landmarks that ground the club in its hometown.

This segment sets the stage for the full exploration of iconic crests from Europe's top five leagues in Ep. 18. Whether you're a design enthusiast, football history buff, or simply curious about the visual identities that inspire such passionate devotion, you'll gain a fresh appreciation for the badges that transform sporting organizations into beloved cultural institutions. Subscribe now and join our journey through football's most meaningful symbols!

Want to hear more? Listen to the full conversation here: https://www.pitchtopro.com/episodes/what-makes-a-good-soccer-crest/

Check out this Stoppage Time special from Ep. 41 - Her Game Too: Fighting for Equality in Soccer - Part 2!

Gender equality in soccer remains an uphill battle, especially in communities where women's participation is still considered unusual. "I don't know many women my age who watch soccer... it's me and my dad, that's all I know about soccer fans," shares Jenn Ramczyk, one of the co-founders of Her Game Too USA, highlighting how isolating the experience can be for female enthusiasts in certain regions of the country.

The Her Game Too movement is confronting these challenges head-on with strategic priorities for 2025. Education stands as their foremost mission—creating awareness that soccer truly belongs to everyone, regardless of gender. This need becomes painfully evident when we hear about an eight-year-old girl being told by a boy her same age that "she wasn't allowed to play the game." Such early manifestations of gender exclusion demonstrate why education must target both girls and boys from the youngest ages.

Funding grassroots programs forms the second pillar of their strategy, recognizing that early positive experiences are where children develop their love for soccer before societal barriers intervene. The third initiative focuses on forging partnerships with clubs at every level—from local recreational leagues to professional organizations—without financial barriers to participation. These partnerships manifest through visible symbols like the Her Game Too patch on jerseys and dedicated fixtures that elevate women's matches.

Perhaps most powerful is the conversation around female coaching representation. When young girls see themselves reflected in leadership positions, they're more likely to believe soccer is truly their game too. Unfortunately, female coaches continue facing skepticism about their abilities solely based on gender, with comments like "I don't want my child coached by a girl" still pervasive in youth soccer. Changing this mentality forms a critical component of creating truly inclusive soccer environments where all participants can thrive.

Want to support the movement for gender equality in soccer? Tune in to our full episodes and discover how you can become part of creating positive change in your local soccer community!

When Jenn Ramczyk was questioned about her soccer knowledge in a Chicago pub, she didn't just walk away – she challenged the skeptics loudly enough for others to hear. This moment exemplifies the mission behind Her Game Too USA, an initiative she co-founded with Natasha Brand to create safe spaces for women in soccer.

The grassroots movement, which began in the UK in 2021 before launching stateside in 2022, addresses uniquely American challenges in women's soccer. Beyond combating sexism, Her Game Too USA tackles the alarming dropout rate of girls around age 10, when recreational opportunities diminish and competitive pathways narrow. This critical juncture often determines whether young female players continue their soccer journey or abandon it entirely.

Despite limited resources, the organization has secured partnerships with clubs across the country – from DeKalb County United in Illinois to USL teams like Flatirons Rush and Louisville FC. Most impressively, they've landed a partnership with EA Sports, allowing gamers to select Her Game Too jerseys in-game, and earned an endorsement from soccer legend Hope Solo.

Looking toward 2025, the co-founders emphasize education as their primary focus – teaching boys and girls alike that soccer belongs to everyone. This mission extends beyond players to developing more female coaches, an area where representation profoundly impacts young girls' relationship with the sport. As one podcast guest noted, "If you coach with passion for the game, regardless of your skill level, that's going to rub off on the children."

For those inspired by Her Game Too's mission, involvement opportunities abound – becoming club ambassadors, partnering as organizations, or volunteering specialized skills like blog writing. With women's sports experiencing unprecedented attention, Her Game Too USA stands ready to ensure this moment becomes a movement that transforms how women experience soccer at every level.

Ready to support women in soccer? Visit hergametoo.com to learn how you can join this vital movement transforming the beautiful game for everyone.

Warren Smith has been watching Northwest Arkansas evolve for decades. What started as family visits in the 1990s has transformed into a mission to bring professional soccer to a region he describes as having "come into its own." As co-founder of Ozark United FC, Smith brings the experience of five successful sports franchise launches to a community he believes is perfectly positioned for soccer's growth.

In this revealing conversation with Managing Director Wes Harris, Smith takes listeners behind the scenes of the club's development, sharing why their recent stadium site change represents not just a location shift, but a strategic evolution. "For us, this new location is really about creating a sense of place," Smith explains, highlighting how modern sports experiences extend well beyond game time, with fans typically wanting 4-5 hours of entertainment surrounding the event itself.

The club's grassroots approach appears to be working. With 7,500 potential season ticket holders already registered—enough to potentially sell out their planned venue before breaking ground—Ozark United is now considering a larger initial capacity. While the timeline has shifted to a 2027-2028 launch, Smith remains undeterred, noting that his first sports project took six years from concept to completion.

What stands out most is the club's commitment to building something truly embedded in Northwest Arkansas culture. From partnering with Sporting Arkansas on youth development to supporting the local Marshallese community's first international tournament, Ozark United is demonstrating that professional sports can be a vehicle for community advancement.

Smith's parting message speaks volumes about the club's philosophy: "This is your team, everybody. We need you to participate. I want to create a movement." For soccer enthusiasts and community members alike, the invitation is clear—the journey to professional soccer in Northwest Arkansas isn't just happening; it's being built together.

Ready to join the movement? Follow Ozark United FC on social media and visit their website to add your name to their growing list of supporters.

Soccer's ascent in America has been remarkable – once considered a foreign oddity, it now captivates millions across the country. This Stoppage Time edition of the Pitch to Pro podcast explores this transformation through the eyes of passionate supporters who've witnessed the sport's incredible growth firsthand.

We dive deep into what makes supporting a national team different from club allegiance. While club soccer may showcase superior technical skills due to players training together year-round, there's something uniquely powerful about watching professionals return to represent their homeland. As Al Schaefer puts it, "It's fun to have pride for something that matters to you."

American soccer fans experience a fascinating duality: cheering for the globally dominant Women's National Team while embracing the underdog journey of the Men's squad. This contrast creates a rich emotional landscape where supporters can experience both the thrill of expected success and the nail-biting tension of potential upset victories. Recent challenges, like the Men's 5-1 loss to Colombia despite fielding players from the world's top leagues, highlight the ongoing evolution of US Soccer's standing on the international stage.

The conversation also explores how national team coaches face fundamentally different challenges than their club counterparts. While club managers can buy and sell players to fit their preferred style, international managers must adapt their approach to the citizenship-limited talent pool available to them – a constraint that creates unique strategic considerations.

Curious about the growing soccer culture in America? Watch the full episode to hear more perspectives on how this once-niche sport has become a defining part of our national sporting identity. New episodes of the Pitch to Pro podcast, the official podcast of Ozark United FC, release every Thursday on YouTube, Instagram, and all major podcast platforms.

Soccer has a unique power to unite people across boundaries, but two significant challenges threaten this unity: the pressure adults put on young players and the barriers women face as fans. This special Stoppage Time edition of Pitch to Pro explores these crucial conversations through highlights from Part 1 of our conversation with Her Game Too.

When it comes to youth soccer, Jenn and Natasha share a critical insight: we're failing our youngest players by prioritizing winning over enjoyment. "Starting them young to fall in love with the game is where we're lacking," notes Jenn, highlighting how the pressure to perform steals joy from three-year-olds who should be discovering soccer through play. Parents and coaches often unwittingly sabotage children's relationship with sports by imposing adult expectations. The solution? Support their exploration, protect their enthusiasm, and help them find what they genuinely love about the game.

The episode also illuminates the powerful story behind Her Game Too, a movement fighting sexism in soccer culture. What began with a group of UK women tired of hearing "get back in the kitchen" at matches quickly went viral, revealing a widespread problem. Fascinatingly, the movement's expansion to America uncovered cultural differences in how sexism manifests – British women face explicit verbal harassment, while American women encounter surprised reactions to their knowledge and unwanted touching in sports bars. Despite the prominence of women's soccer in America, female fans still struggle for acceptance, challenging perceptions that the US had moved beyond these issues.

Through personal stories of bringing Her Game Too across the Atlantic, we witness how grassroots movements can create meaningful change when ordinary fans step into leadership roles they never imagined for themselves. Whether you're a parent, coach, or fan concerned about soccer's future, these conversations provide valuable perspective on making the beautiful game truly accessible to everyone. Subscribe, share your experiences, and join us in building a more inclusive soccer community.

Natasha Brand and Jenn Ramczyk never had the opportunity to play organized soccer as young girls. Now, they're transforming the landscape for women across America as co-founders of Her Game Too USA.

Growing up in England, Natasha recalls how soccer simply "wasn't for girls" - schools divided sports strictly by gender, leaving girls to play informal street games without proper pathways into the sport. Meanwhile, Jenn's playing career was cut tragically short by injury, redirecting her passion toward fandom and advocacy. Their parallel journeys converged when both independently reached out to Caz May, founder of the original Her Game Too initiative in the UK, hoping to bring the movement stateside.

What makes their work particularly fascinating is how sexism manifests differently across the Atlantic. While British female fans faced blatant hostility with comments like "get back to the kitchen," American women often encounter more subtle forms of discrimination - surprised reactions when they demonstrate knowledge about the game or inappropriate behavior in sports bars. The Her Game Too USA team has also identified unique challenges facing female referees, many of whom lack proper reporting avenues when experiencing abuse.

Operating entirely through volunteer efforts as a registered nonprofit, the team faces considerable challenges in a country five times the size of the UK. Despite their perceived "slow pace," they've already secured partnerships with ten professional clubs while building a network of female club ambassadors across the nation. Their determination speaks volumes about the necessity of their work.

Ready to support this vital mission? Follow Her Game Too USA on social media @hergametoo.us and visit hergametoo.com to learn how you can help create a more inclusive soccer culture for everyone.