Rhode Island FC

What Rhode Island FC does

Rhode Island FC is a privately held professional soccer club operating in the USL Championship, the second tier of American soccer. Founded in 2024 as an expansion team and based at Centreville Bank Stadium, a 10,500-seat venue in Pawtucket, Rhode Island along the Seekonk River, the club is the only professional soccer franchise in the state. Co-founded and majority-owned by Bruce Mandeltorst and Melissa Babcock, the club operates as part of the United Soccer League network. Its principal customers are Rhode Island sports fans attending home matches, with secondary audiences comprising families and youth, corporate sponsors and hospitality clients, and local bars participating in the Pub Partners watch-party network.

The club's product portfolio is anchored on live match-day soccer, supplemented by season-ticket packages, group tickets, single-game tickets (sold through SeatGeek), student-rush pricing, and a mobile app (iOS/Android) that handles ticketing and news distribution. Merchandise is sold through the official Capelli Sport-powered team store, and the club also operates a digital ticketing system via SportsEngine. Community-facing products include the TerRIFC Kids Club (free for children 12 and under, presented with Providence Children's Museum and Community Libraries of Providence), the Youth Soccer Partnership program, and Pub Partners watch-party venues. Stadium inventory is being extended into non-match events such as college football (URI 2026 home games) and entertainment programming.

Rhode Island FC monetizes through four primary streams: direct-to-consumer ticket sales (transaction/subscription via single-game and season-ticket models), kit and venue sponsorships (Breeze Airways front-of-kit, Centreville Bank sleeve and stadium naming rights, Rhode Island Energy upper back), merchandise sales, and corporate hospitality. The stadium was financed in part through approximately $50M in municipal debt facilitated by Rosemawr Management. The go-to-market motion is direct-to-consumer via the club website, mobile app, SeatGeek, stadium box office, and a multi-channel community partnership network; corporate hospitality is sold through a direct enterprise sales motion.

Name

Rhode Island FC

Legal name

Rhode Island FC

Website

https://rhodeislandfc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2024

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Rhode Island FC is a privately held USL Championship professional soccer club founded in 2024 and based at Centreville Bank Stadium in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. It sells tickets, merchandise, and corporate hospitality to Rhode Island sports fans while operating community youth programs and a pub partner network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Soccer Club

NAICS

Sports Teams and Clubs (711211), Spectator Sports (71121)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Team Sports Clubs (Football/Soccer, Basketball, Baseball, Hockey, Rugby, Cricket, etc.) (MPAKABAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Team Sports Matches (Club & National) (MPAGAMAB)

Keywords

• Professional soccer club
• USL Championship
• Sports ticketing
• Team merchandise
• Corporate hospitality

Headquarters

HQ city

Pawtucket

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from single-game tickets, season tickets, group tickets, partial plans, and ticket/merch packs sold directly to fans attending home games at Centreville Bank Stadium in Pawtucket, RI.
2. Kit Sponsorship: Kit sponsorship revenue from branded uniforms including Breeze Airways (front-of-kit), Centreville Bank (sleeve), and Rhode Island Energy (upper back).
3. Merchandise Sales: Revenue from official merchandise through the Rhode Island FC Team Store powered by Capelli Sport, including 15% discount for TerRIFC Kids Club members.
4. Stadium Investment: Rhode Island FC's new 10,500-seat stadium at Centreville Bank Stadium was financed partially through municipal debt investment, with Rosemawr Management generating approximately 40% returns on their investment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Rhode Island FC operates a professional soccer club competing in the USL Championship, hosting home matches at Centreville Bank Stadium in Pawtucket, RI. The club sells single-game, season, and group tickets (distributed via SeatGeek and direct channels), official Capelli Sport-branded merchandise, and corporate hospitality packages, while operating community programs including the TerRIFC Kids Club, Youth Soccer Partnerships, and a Pub Partners watch-party network.

Product overview

Rhode Island FC is a professional soccer club competing in the USL Championship that operates as a sports entertainment organization centered on its home venue, Centreville Bank Stadium in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. The club's core product is live professional soccer events, supplemented by community programs like the TerRIFC Kids Club, youth soccer partnerships, corporate hospitality offerings, and a pub partners watch party network. Additional offerings include season tickets, group tickets, single-game tickets, digital ticketing via SportsEngine, an official mobile app, and official merchandise sold through a Capelli Sport-powered team store. The portfolio also extends to hosting diverse entertainment events at the stadium including concerts and comedy shows.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• USL Championship Match Tickets Single-game tickets to Rhode Island FC's USL Championship home matches at Centreville Bank Stadium in Pawtucket, RI, distributed through the SeatGeek marketplace for individual fans.
• Season Tickets Full-season ticket packages granting access to all Rhode Island FC USL Championship home games at Centreville Bank Stadium, including potential playoff games.
• Group Tickets Discounted ticket packages for groups attending Rhode Island FC home games, including options for corporate groups, youth organizations, and general gatherings.
• Official Team Merchandise Official Rhode Island FC branded apparel, accessories, and fan gear sold online through the team store powered by Capelli Sport, including kits and supporter merchandise.
• Corporate Hospitality Packages Premium corporate entertainment experiences at Centreville Bank Stadium including suite rentals, VIP seating, and business networking opportunities for corporate partners and clients.
• Stadium Entertainment Events Diversified live entertainment programming at Centreville Bank Stadium beyond USL Championship soccer, including comedy shows, music festivals, and college football games (such as University of Rhode Island home games during 2026).

Quantifiable outcome

• 40% return on stadium investment for municipal debt investors
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Breeze AirwayscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBreeze Airways serves as Rhode Island FC's front-of-kit sponsor, providing primary jersey visibility and air travel partnership benefits for the club.
• Centreville BankcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCentreville Bank is the sleeve sponsor and naming rights partner for Centreville Bank Stadium. The bank is a key financial partner supporting the stadium and club operations.
• Rhode Island EnergycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerRhode Island Energy sponsors the upper back portion of the jersey and serves as a presenting sponsor for postgame fireworks shows.
• Capelli SportcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCapelli Sport is the official kit manufacturer providing uniforms and equipment. The team store is powered by Capelli Sport.
• Ortho Rhode IslandsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerOrtho Rhode Island is an anchor partner providing healthcare-related sponsorship and community support.
• Providence Children's MuseumsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresenting partner of TerRIFC Kids Club, providing museum events, activities, and summer programs for children. Brings interactive play stations to home games and hosts Chip mascot appearances.
• Community Libraries of ProvidencesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresenting partner of TerRIFC Kids Club and TerRIFC Kids Read & Play initiative, promoting literacy through summer reading programs at nine neighborhood libraries.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Sacramento Republic FC: USL Championship club with MLS expansion aspirations and well-funded ownership. Comparable as a benchmark for premium USL Championship commercial performance and stadium economics.
• Louisville City FC: Flagship USL Championship club with deep fanbase, soccer-specific stadium, and multiple on-field titles. Closest analog for what a successful mature USL franchise looks like operationally.
• Hartford Athletic: USL Championship Eastern Conference club based in Hartford, CT (~70 miles from Pawtucket). Closest geographic peer, sharing the southern New England sports market with overlapping corporate sponsor pools.
• Detroit City FC: USL Championship club with cult fanbase, supporter-owned origins, and stadium plans. Comparable to RIFC as a community-rooted USL franchise with strong attendance momentum.
• Tampa Bay Rowdies: Historic USL Championship club in Tampa Bay with soccer-specific Al Lang Stadium. Comparable as an established second-tier franchise with diversified matchday and sponsorship revenue.
• Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC: USL Championship Eastern Conference club with strong community ties and soccer-specific stadium in Highmark Stadium. Comparable as a mid-sized-market, fan-oriented USL franchise.
• Phoenix Rising FC: Well-capitalized USL Championship club in Phoenix with soccer-specific stadium and high sponsorship rates. Comparable as a model for USL franchise commercial scaling.
• Indy Eleven: USL Championship club with soccer-specific stadium and long second-tier history. Comparable as a mid-market USL franchise with mature commercial operations.
• Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC: USL Championship club that defeated RIFC 3-0 in the 2024 Final. Direct on-field rival and comparable as a competing second-tier franchise with similar team age.

Broad incumbents

• New England Revolution: MLS club based in Foxborough, MA, the only major professional soccer presence in the broader New England region. Defines the top-tier competitive ceiling and potential aspirational benchmark for RIFC's long-term trajectory.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/rhodeislandfc
• Facebookfacebook.com/RhodeIslandFC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rhodeislandfc
• Instagraminstagram.com/rhodeislandfc
• TikToktiktok.com/@rhodeislandfc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rhode Island FC