Real Colorado Soccer
Real Colorado Soccer is a nonprofit youth soccer club founded in 1986 serving 5,000+ players across Colorado's Front Range through recreational, competitive, and elite national programs (ECNL, MLS Next, USL). Revenue comes from registration fees, tournaments, camps, and donations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1986
- HeadquartersCentennial, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Real Colorado Soccer does
Real Colorado Soccer is a nonprofit, community-based youth soccer club founded in 1986 and headquartered in Centennial, Colorado, serving more than 5,000 players ranging from recreational 5-year-olds to U19 elite athletes. The club operates dual North (Frederick) and South (Centennial) regional divisions covering the Colorado Front Range, with a multi-tiered program portfolio organized by competitive level and geography. At the elite end, Real Colorado fields national-platform programs including ECNL Girls, ECNL Boys, ECNL Boys North, Academy Boys, USL Pre-Professional, and (effective Fall 2025) ECNL-Regional League for Boys-North and DPL Open for Girls-North. Below elite, the club offers competitive, junior academy, and recreational programs for all abilities. Ancillary offerings include three tournaments (Real Colorado Cup, Real Spring Classic, Festive Futsal Tournament), year-round camps, a Boys Director of Goalkeeping pathway, an Alumni and College Prep program, and sports medicine services delivered through a four-year partnership with CommonSpirit Health.
The business model is nonprofit and diversified across three core revenue streams: recurring annual registration fees for recreational ($120-$200 for entry-tier), competitive, and elite programs; one-time fees from tournaments, camps, and off-season programming; and donations plus scholarship funding sourced through Colorado Gives Day, an annual Golf Classic, and tiered giving programs ($15 soccer ball to $4,500 elite scholarship). The April 2025 merger with Ignite Soccer Club expanded the North division footprint and added ECNL-RL (Boys) and DPL (Girls) programming effective Fall 2025. Real Colorado is the only Colorado club with ECNL teams qualifying for national playoffs in both boys and girls programs, drove ECNL's decision to bring Colorado into the Texas Conference, and produced the U17 ECNL Girls National Champions in July 2025 alongside multiple State Cup, Presidents Cup, and Centennial Cup titles across 2024-2026.
Real Colorado Soccer firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Real Colorado Soccer
- Legal name
- Real Colorado Soccer
- Website
- https://realcolorado.net
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1986
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Real Colorado Soccer is a nonprofit youth soccer club founded in 1986 serving 5,000+ players across Colorado's Front Range through recreational, competitive, and elite national programs (ECNL, MLS Next, USL). Revenue comes from registration fees, tournaments, camps, and donations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Real Colorado Soccer industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Soccer Club Services
- NAICS
- Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (713940), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Local Amateur Clubs & Community Sports Organizations (MPAKACAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Sport-Specific Amateur Leagues & Circuits (Non-Professional) (MPAKACAJ)
Keywords
Where Real Colorado Soccer is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Centennial
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Real Colorado Soccer business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Program Registration Fees: Revenue is generated through seasonal and annual registration fees for recreational, competitive, and elite soccer programs across North and South Colorado. Fees vary by program tier (Recreational, Junior Academy, Competitive, Elite/ECNL/MLS Next).
- Tournaments and Camps: Revenue from hosting tournaments (Real Colorado Cup, Real Spring Classic, Festive Futsal Tournament) and summer/off-season camps. Tournament entry fees and camp registration fees contribute to revenue.
- Donations and Scholarships: Nonprofit donations and scholarship program funding from donors and Colorado Gives Day. Donations are directed toward player scholarships and program support.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Elite/ECNL/MLS Next programs - highest tier competitive soccer |
| Subscription | Annual | Competitive programs - select-level play |
| Subscription | Annual | Recreational and Junior Academy programs |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Real Colorado Soccer product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Real Colorado Soccer is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit youth soccer club operating in Colorado with offices in Centennial and Frederick. Founded in 1986, the club serves more than 5,000 players annually through recreational and competitive programs, including North and South divisions that run seasonal leagues, camps, and clinics for children and young athletes.
Product overview
Real Colorado Soccer is a nonprofit, community-based youth soccer club founded in 1986 serving over 5,000 players ranging from age 5 recreational participants to U19 elite athletes. The organization operates a multi-tiered program portfolio organized by geography (North and South regions) and competitive level. At the elite end, the club fields national-platform programs including ECNL Girls, ECNL Boys, ECNL Boys North, Academy Boys, USL Pre Professional, and newly added (Fall 2025) ECNL-Regional League for Boys-North and DPL Open for Girls-North, all competing at the highest domestic youth levels. Below elite, the club offers competitive programs (RC North and RC South), junior academies, and recreational soccer for players of all abilities. Ancillary offerings include tournaments (Real Colorado Cup, Real Spring Classic, Festive Futsal Tournament), camps/off-season training, a Boys Director of Goalkeeping pathway, an Alumni and College Prep program, and sports medicine services via a partnership with CommonSpirit Health. The club also provides a scholarship program for financial assistance. The portfolio is designed as a unified club experience with clear player pathways from first-kick recreation through national-level elite competition.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Recreational Youth Soccer Program Community-based seasonal soccer program for children, offered in both North and South Colorado divisions, designed to introduce and develop players in a fun, inclusive environment.
- Competitive Select Soccer Program Higher-level travel and select soccer teams for youth players seeking advanced development, offered in the North and South divisions.
- ECNL (Elite Clubs National League) Teams Top-tier national-level elite competitive soccer teams for the highest-performing youth players, providing exposure to college recruiting pathways.
- MLS NEXT Program MLS-affiliated elite youth soccer development program, providing the highest level of competitive play for selected players.
- Ignite Soccer Program Competitive youth soccer programming integrated from the April 2025 merger with Ignite Soccer Club, expanding Real Colorado's player base and service area.
- Halftime Cafe On-site cafe operations at Real Colorado facilities, providing food and beverages to players, families, and spectators.
- Soccer Camps and Clinics Seasonal and supplemental soccer training camps and clinics for youth players seeking additional skill development outside regular programming.
Quantifiable outcome
- National 2008 ECNL Girls team won U17 ECNL National Championship (July 2025)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Real Colorado Soccer
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Real Colorado Soccer technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Real Colorado Soccer partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- CommonSpirit HealthcoreFour-year landmark partnership (announced August 20, 2025) making CommonSpirit Health the Official Health Care Partner of Real Colorado Soccer. CommonSpirit provides medical care for practices and games, a Medical Director, dedicated Athletic Trainers (Mitch Gardzalla, Brittany Vigil), and a network of elite Sports Medicine physicians (Karim Meijer MD, Bradford Bellard MD, Aaron Mates MD, Samuel McBride PA-C). Services include free injury assessments, injury management, functional rehabilitation, and expedited scheduling. CommonSpirit is prominently featured on the front of all Real Colorado club kits (kit sponsorship). Health and wellness education is delivered via a dedicated newsletter.
- ECNL (Elite Clubs National League)coreReal Colorado competes in the ECNL, a top-tier national youth soccer league. Real Colorado was the driving force behind ECNL's decision to bring Colorado into the prestigious Texas Conference. The club has both boys and girls ECNL programs and is the only club in Colorado with ECNL teams qualifying for national playoffs in both genders.
- Nike SoccerminorNike Soccer is a sponsor of Real Colorado Soccer, providing official kit sponsorship for club uniforms. Nike branding appears on club apparel.
- Colorado Soccer AssociationcoreColorado Soccer Association (CSA) is the governing body for youth soccer in Colorado. Real Colorado competes in CSA leagues (State Cup, Presidents Cup, Centennial Cup) and its teams regularly win championships at the state level. CSA approves competitive rescheduling requests and league structures.
- Ignite Soccer ClubcoreMerger announced April 2025, effective Fall 2025. Ignite Soccer Club merged into Real Colorado, expanding the North division footprint. Kelly Thomson (former Ignite culture leader) became General Manager. The merger added ECNL-Regional League for Boys and DPL (Development Player League) for Girls to North programming. Led by General Manager Kelly Thomson under CEO Jared Spires.
- USL Real ColoradominorUSL Pre-Professional program operating under the Real Colorado umbrella, providing a pathway for elite players toward professional soccer through USL competition.
- Children's Hospital ColoradominorPartnership referenced in giving/donation programs. Real Colorado directs families to Children's Hospital Colorado as a resource supported through its community giving initiatives.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Real Colorado Soccer competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- FC Boulder: Boulder-based competitive youth soccer club offering ECNL and developmental programs. Directly competes with Real Colorado's North division in the Boulder/Longmont corridor for elite players and is one of the peers that the Ignite merger was designed to counter.
- Arsenal Colorado: Colorado-based youth soccer club competing in ECNL and developmental leagues, operating in similar geography to Real Colorado. It is a direct competitor for elite and competitive players across the Front Range.
- Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club: The official youth development affiliate of MLS's Colorado Rapids, offering MLS NEXT and competitive programming across Colorado. It is a direct competitor for elite-tier players, with the structural advantage of MLS affiliation and a clear professional pathway — the same territory Real Colorado targets.
- Colorado Rush Soccer Club: Colorado Rush is one of the largest and most established competitive youth soccer clubs in Colorado, offering ECNL, NPL, and recreational programs across the Front Range. It directly competes with Real Colorado for elite players, coaching staff, and family registrations in overlapping geographic territories.
- Colorado United Soccer Club: Colorado-based competitive and recreational youth soccer club competing across the Front Range. It offers ECNL programming and recreational leagues that directly overlap with Real Colorado's portfolio, particularly in mid-tier competition.
- Broomfield Soccer Club: Youth soccer club serving Broomfield and surrounding North Metro communities, offering recreational and competitive programming. Competes with Real Colorado's North division for recreational and select-level families in the Boulder County area.
- Storm Soccer Club (Colorado Storm): Long-established Colorado-based competitive and recreational youth soccer club that competes with Real Colorado for players, particularly in the South Denver metro area, with similar programming tiers from recreational through select/competitive.
Others
- US Club Soccer (USL Pre-Professional): National youth soccer governing body and league operator that runs the USL Pre-Professional pathway in which Real Colorado competes. Comparable as an ecosystem partner and league structure provider rather than a direct competitor, but it shapes the competitive environment Real Colorado operates in.
Broad incumbents
- LA Galaxy Academy: Elite MLS-affiliated youth development academy serving top national youth soccer talent, providing professional pathway exposure. Comparable in elite player development and MLS Next participation, but operates at a much larger national scale and is not a direct Colorado competitor.
Regional players
- Real Salt Lake Academy: MLS-affiliated elite youth development academy in Utah serving top players across the Intermountain West. Comparable in the elite-tier product offering but does not directly compete in Colorado geography; however, it competes for scouting attention and elite player identification in the broader region.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights3 records
Customer concentration
Real Colorado Soccer social profiles
Digital presenceReal Colorado Soccer financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Real Colorado Soccer leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Real Colorado Soccer funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Real Colorado Soccer M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Real Colorado Soccer
What does Real Colorado Soccer do?
Real Colorado Soccer is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit youth soccer club operating in Colorado with offices in Centennial and Frederick. Founded in 1986, the club serves more than 5,000 players annually through recreational and competitive programs, including North and South divisions that run seasonal leagues, camps, and clinics for children and young athletes.
Is Real Colorado Soccer a public or private company?
Real Colorado Soccer is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Real Colorado Soccer founded?
Real Colorado Soccer was founded in 1986. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Real Colorado Soccer based?
Real Colorado Soccer is headquartered in Centennial, United States, in the North America region.
How does Real Colorado Soccer make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Program Registration Fees are the primary driver. The others are tournaments and Camps and donations and Scholarships.
Who are Real Colorado Soccer's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are FC Boulder, Arsenal Colorado, Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club, Colorado Rush Soccer Club, Colorado United Soccer Club, Broomfield Soccer Club and Storm Soccer Club (Colorado Storm). US Club Soccer (USL Pre-Professional) is listed as an others. LA Galaxy Academy is listed as a broad incumbent. Real Salt Lake Academy is listed as a regional player.
Does Real Colorado Soccer have an API?
No public API is recorded for Real Colorado Soccer.
What industry is Real Colorado Soccer in?
Real Colorado Soccer's product category is Youth Soccer Club Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAKACAE, Local Amateur Clubs & Community Sports Organizations, with a secondary code of MPAKACAJ, Sport-Specific Amateur Leagues & Circuits (Non-Professional). Its NAICS code is 713940 and its SIC code is 7997.