Steel City FC

What Steel City FC does

Steel City FC is a volunteer-run, semi-professional soccer club headquartered in Joliet, Illinois, serving Chicago's south and southwest suburbs. Founded in 2021, the club operates a four-tier competitive pyramid comprising a Men's First Team (Midwest Premier League), Women's First Team (United Women's Soccer), an NXT U23 development team, and a seasonal Academy for elite high school players. The club's core function is two-fold: providing a pre-professional development pathway for local soccer talent and serving as an affordable, family-oriented community sports entertainment option in the Joliet area.

The club has no proprietary technology platforms; operations rely on third-party tools including the Fanbaseclub ticketing system and a GoDaddy-hosted e-commerce storefront for merchandise. Player acquisition is conducted through open tryouts (Men's and Women's), and the club sells tiered club memberships named after Joliet landmarks — Collins Street Ultra ($50), Iron Circle ($100), and Plank Trail ($200) — along with an out-of-state Ambassador Membership ($35). Match tickets are priced at $4-$10 depending on venue, and merchandise ranges from $5 koozies to $50 hoodies and $45 polos.

Revenue derives from four streams: ticket sales, club memberships, merchandise, and corporate sponsorships. Sponsorship is anchored by Ozinga (presenting partner for four consecutive years) and Ring of Steel partners D'Arcy Buick GMC, Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush, Pursuit Wealth Group, and Richards Supply, supplemented by approximately 13 smaller local business partners across healthcare, automotive, real estate, financial services, and home services. The club has produced six professional player signings and received the first U.S. Soccer solidarity payment from a professional club to a minor league team, signaling an unusual institutional milestone for a community-level club.

Name

Steel City FC

Legal name

Steel City FC

Website

https://steelcityfc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Steel City FC is a volunteer-run semi-professional soccer club based in Joliet, Illinois, operating a four-tier player development pyramid (Academy, NXT U23, Men's and Women's First Teams) for Chicago's south suburbs, with revenue from tickets, memberships, merchandise, and local sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Minor League Soccer

akta.pro primary industry

Local Amateur Clubs & Community Sports Organizations (MPAKACAE)

Keywords

• Semi-professional soccer
• Minor league soccer
• Youth soccer academy
• Player development pathway
• Club membership program

Headquarters

HQ city

Joliet

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from single-match tickets and season passes sold through Fanbaseclub platform. Matches played at Slammers Stadium and other local venues.
2. Club Memberships: Three-tier membership program offering season passes, merchandise discounts, in-game recognition, and exclusive access. Memberships named after Joliet landmarks (Collins Street Ultra $50, Iron Circle $100, Plank Trail $200).
3. Merchandise Sales: Online store selling branded merchandise including T-shirts ($15-25), hoodies ($32.50-50), jerseys, polos ($45), and accessories. Products sold through e-commerce storefront.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Steel City FC is a minor league soccer club based in Joliet, Illinois that fields competitive men's and women's first teams (in the Midwest Premier League and United Women's Soccer League respectively) along with a U23 development side (Steel City NXT) and a youth Academy. It sells match tickets, branded merchandise, multi-tier club memberships, and paid player tryout registrations to fans, families, and aspiring players across Chicago's south and southwest suburbs.

Product overview

Steel City FC is a minor league soccer club based in Joliet, Illinois (Chicago Southland), offering a multi-level soccer platform consisting of Men's First Team (Midwest Premier League), Women's First Team (United Women's Soccer League), Steel City NXT U23 team, and Steel City Academy. The club also operates a merchandise store featuring branded apparel and accessories, and offers tiered club memberships ($50-$200) providing season passes, merchandise discounts, and exclusive benefits. The organization serves as a development pathway for local soccer talent while providing family-friendly entertainment to the community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Men's First Team Season Competition Semi-professional men's soccer team competing in the Midwest Premier League; players are selected through tryouts and represent the club across the regular season schedule.
• Women's First Team Season Competition Semi-professional women's soccer team competing in the United Women's Soccer League; selected players represent the club in regular season fixtures.
• Steel City NXT (U23) Development Squad Under-23 development team providing a competitive bridge between the Steel City Academy and the senior first teams, allowing emerging players regular match minutes at an elevated level.
• Steel City Academy Youth Program Youth development program serving as the entry tier in the club's player pathway, preparing athletes for progression into Steel City NXT and the senior first teams.
• Match Tickets Single-match and season admissions sold to fans via the Fanbaseclub online platform and at the gate at Slammers Stadium, with prices varying by seating zone and by venue (Slammers Stadium, Joliet Junior College, Providence Catholic, and Tinley Park).
• Iron Circle Club Membership Lower-tier annual club membership for fans aged 21-29 that unlocks ticket presale access, an exclusive Iron Circle scarf, and member event invitations.
• Plank Trail Club Membership Mid-tier annual membership (age 30-49) for fans, providing ticket presale access, member merchandise, and invitations to supporter events.
• Collins Street Club Membership Premium annual membership for fans aged 50+ offering presale ticketing privileges, member merchandise, and exclusive event access.
• Ambassador (Out-of-State) Membership Annual remote membership for supporters outside Illinois that includes a Steel City FC scarf and supports the club without granting match access benefits.
• Club Merchandise Store Online storefront selling Steel City FC branded apparel and accessories including T-shirts, hoodies, polos, training jerseys, hats and scarves for supporters.
• Men's Tryout Program Paid player tryout registration for aspiring men's team and NXT (U23) players, including summer 2026 supplemental tryouts; managed through the Playmetrics registration platform.
• Women's Tryout Program Paid player tryout registration for the women's first team and the women's U23 squad, including summer 2026 supplemental tryouts; managed through the Playmetrics registration platform.

Quantifiable outcome

• Six players signed professional contracts since 2021
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• OzingacoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Presenting partner for the fourth consecutive season. Ozinga logo features prominently on the front of Steel City FC's primary match jersey. Ozinga is an iconic Chicago-area business with deep community roots.
• D'Arcy Buick GMCcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Ring of Steel partner for fifth consecutive season. Collaboration on alternate kit 'The Prison Kit' honoring historic Joliet Prison. D'Arcy's Terry D'Arcy was elected mayor of Joliet in 2023.
• Midwest Orthopaedics at RushminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Fifth season supporting Steel City. Rush orthopedic program ranked #1 in Illinois for ninth consecutive year and #5 nationally per US News & World Report.
• Pursuit Wealth GroupminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Ring of Steel partner providing financial analysis and player comparison data for roster development.
• Nikos CateringminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Local Joliet business providing post-game meals for players. Owner Nikos Lippas is a dedicated football fan serving the community.
• State Farm (John Wright)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Local insurance agent partner supporting the club.
• Always Home 247minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Home services partner supporting the club.
• Omega PlumbingminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Local plumbing services partner.
• The Duffy RealtorsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Real estate partner.
• Richards SupplyminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Ring of Steel partner - supplier.
• Rush OrthominorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Healthcare partner providing orthopedic services.
• Summers PHCminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Healthcare partner.
• SCS MetalsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Local metals company partner.
• Tinley Park BobcatsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2025Local youth soccer club partner. Steel City player Jake Bosco comes from the Bobcats program.
• BF TiresminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Tire services partner.
• Cardinal TransportminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Transportation partner.
• BLDukeminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Partner organization.
• Audiophils RecordsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Music/record partner.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Milwaukee Torrent: Wisconsin-based semi-professional soccer club competing in a similar developmental league tier with a comparable operating model targeting a regional Midwestern fan base.
• Minneapolis City SC: Community-supported semi-professional soccer club in the Midwest, operating with a similar volunteer/community ethos and competing in a developmental league structure analogous to MWPL.
• Cleveland Force SC: Midwest semi-professional soccer club with comparable size, league tier, and community-focused operating model serving a similar mid-sized Rust Belt market.
• Chattanooga FC: Community-owned semi-professional soccer club with a well-known fan-driven model and membership/sponsorship revenue approach analogous to Steel City's grassroots operating structure.
• Des Moines Menace: Long-running Midwest pre-professional soccer club in USL League Two with a comparable community-owned, player-development model and similar size/scale to Steel City FC.
• Flint City Bucks: Michigan-based pre-professional soccer club competing in USL League Two with a similar player-development-focused mission and Midwest regional footprint, serving as a development pipeline for professional soccer.
• Chicago House AC: Chicago-based semi-professional soccer club competing in NISA. Most directly comparable peer as both clubs operate in the Chicagoland semi-pro/amateur ecosystem and have player transfer ties (Steel City received the first U.S. solidarity payment from Chicago House AC).

Broad incumbents

• Detroit City FC: More advanced community-owned semi-professional/professional soccer club in Michigan; relevant peer for understanding the upside trajectory a community-driven Midwest club can pursue at greater scale.
• Forward Madison FC: Wisconsin-based USL League One professional club that emerged from a community-driven Midwest soccer base; comparable geographic profile and progressive pathway relevant to Steel City's potential upward trajectory.

Regional players

• Tinley Park Bobcats: Local youth soccer club in Steel City's service area and an explicit channel partner — Steel City players (e.g., Jake Bosco) feed up from the Bobcats youth program, making it the most direct feeder organization.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/steel-city-fc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Steel City FC