kalamazoo football club

What kalamazoo football club does

Kalamazoo Football Club is an independently owned, community-focused semi-professional soccer organization founded in 2016 and based in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The club fields two competitive teams: a men's side that competes in USL League Two (Great Lakes Division), where it has won two division championships (2021, 2022), and a women's team launched in 2022 that competes in the USL W League. Home matches are played at Mayor's Riverfront Park in Kalamazoo, with 11 home games per season.

The core product portfolio is centered on live soccer entertainment, segmented into ticketing (individual game tickets, Individual Season Pass, Friends + Family Season Pass with merchandise discounts of 10-15%), team apparel and merchandise (hats, training tops, shirts, scarves, polos, quarter zips) distributed both at games and through retail partner SoccerZone in Portage, and community specials and events. A defining element of the offering is the community engagement model: $1 from every ticket sold is donated to a rotating local charity, and the club maintains partnerships with local businesses (Erbelli's Pizza, KZOO Tire, Bronson Sports Medicine, College Hunks Hauling Junk, The Ample Pantry, Good Works Tractor Co.), financial sponsors (Zhang Financial as a major sponsor since 2022; Sturgis Bank & Trust), and youth development partner TKO Premier SC.

Revenue mechanics are transaction- and subscription-based (gate receipts and annual season passes) combined with one-time apparel sales and sponsorship contributions. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via online and at-game ticket sales, the club website, email/newsletter, social media, local press, and community event partnerships. The operation is small (1-10 employees), privately held, and led by Owner/President Dave Shufelt with a lean management team including Director of Operations & Media Alex Elliott, Women's Team General Manager/Coach Todd Wells, and event staff. No external funding rounds or institutional investors are disclosed.

Name

kalamazoo football club

Legal name

Kalamazoo Football Club

Website

https://kalamazoofc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Kalamazoo Football Club is an independently owned, community-focused semi-professional soccer organization in Kalamazoo, Michigan, fielding men's (USL League 2) and women's (USL W League) teams and generating revenue from tickets, season passes, merchandise, and local sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Semi-Professional Soccer

NAICS

Sports Teams and Clubs (711211)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Association Football (Soccer) Leagues (MPAKAAAA)

Keywords

• Semi-professional soccer
• Soccer game tickets
• Season ticket passes
• Team apparel merchandise
• USL League 2

Headquarters

HQ city

Grand Portage

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, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from individual game tickets and season passes sold online and at the stadium. The club donates $1 per ticket to rotating local charities.
2. Merchandise and Apparel: Sale of team apparel including hats, training tops, shirts, scarves, polo shirts, quarter zips available at games and at SoccerZone in Portage.
3. Season Passes: Individual and Friends + Family season pass packages providing entry to all regular season matches with discounts on merchandise.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Kalamazoo Football Club operates a men's semi-professional soccer team in USL League 2 and a women's semi-professional soccer team in the USL W League, both based in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The club's sellable offerings include individual game tickets, Individual and Friends + Family season passes, team apparel and merchandise (hats, training tops, shirts, scarves, polos, quarter zips), and community-focused specials and events. The men's team has won the Great Lakes Division Championship twice (2021, 2022), and the women's team finished second in 2023 in its second season.

Product overview

Kalamazoo Football Club is a semi-professional soccer organization offering two competitive teams: a men's team in USL League Two and a women's team in the USL W League. The club operates as a unified product portfolio centered on live soccer entertainment, supplemented by ticketing services (individual game tickets and season passes), merchandise/apparel sales, and community engagement events. Revenue generation combines ticket sales, season passes (Individual and Friends + Family tiers), and merchandise, with a community-first model that donates $1 per ticket to rotating local charities. Founded in 2016, the club provides high-level soccer gameplay while supporting the Kalamazoo community through charitable initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Men's Soccer Team Semi-professional men's soccer team competing in the USL League Two (USL2) Great Lakes Division, representing Kalamazoo against regional opponents. The men's team has won the Great Lakes Division Championship twice (2021, 2022).
• Women's Soccer Team Semi-professional women's soccer team competing in the USL W League (USLW), providing pre-professional soccer opportunities for female athletes in the Kalamazoo community. The team finished second in the Great Lakes Division in 2023 (its second season).
• Game Tickets Individual match tickets for men's and women's home games, available online or at the game venue. Youth pricing is available at reduced rates. The club donates $1 from every ticket sold to a rotating local charity.
• Individual Season Pass Annual season pass providing entry for one person plus one guest to all regular season club matches, free access to all live-streamed matches, 10% discount on team store products, and first access to exclusive events.
• Friends + Family Season Pass Annual family season pass including four entries to each match, 16 single-match guest passes (four per pass), entry to all regular season home matches, 15% discount on store products, and exclusive early access to special events.
• Team Apparel and Merchandise Club merchandise including hats, training tops, shirts, scarves, polo shirts, and quarter zips, available for purchase at home games and at the SoccerZone retail location in Portage.
• Community Specials and Events Discount opportunities, deals, and community engagement events hosted by the club, with a stated mission to support underrepresented communities and provide charitable giving through ticket sales.

Quantifiable outcome

• Donates $1 per ticket to local charities
• +2 more outcomes

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

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Erbelli's PizzaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal pizza restaurant partnership with Kalamazoo FC through logo display on website partners page.
• KZOO Tire CompanyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal tire company partnership displayed on website partners page.
• TKO Premier SCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSoccer club partnership focused on youth soccer development and talent pipeline.
• Kalamazoo Sportswear and RegaliaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal sportswear provider partnership for team merchandise.
• Good Works Tractor Co.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal business partnership displayed on website partners page.
• SoccerZonecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrimary merchandise retail partner located in Portage. Apparel sold at SoccerZone location and at home games.
• Bronson Sports MedicineminorOthersHealthcare provider partnership for sports medicine services.
• College Hunks Hauling JunkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal service business partnership displayed on website partners page.
• The Ample PantryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal food/dining partnership displayed on website partners page.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• AFC Ann Arbor: Michigan-based semi-professional soccer club with a community-focused identity. Peer to Kalamazoo FC in tier, geography, and grassroots, fan-owned operating philosophy.
• Flint City Bucks: USL League 2 men's semi-professional soccer club based in Michigan. Direct peer to Kalamazoo FC in tier, league, regional geography, and community-focused operating model.
• Dayton Dutch Lions FC: Ohio-based USL League 2 club with operations historically spanning men's and women's programs. Comparable in tier, league, and dual-gender semi-professional structure to Kalamazoo FC.
• Toledo Villa FC: USL League 2 club based in Toledo, Ohio, competing in the same Great Lakes Division as Kalamazoo FC. Direct on-field peer with similar semi-professional structure and ticket/merch revenue model.
• Cleveland Force SC: USL League 2 Great Lakes Division club. Direct regional competitor to Kalamazoo FC with similar semi-professional, community-driven operating model.
• Midwest United FC: Michigan-based soccer organization with semi-professional teams. Comparable to Kalamazoo FC in regional footprint and operating tier.
• Oakland County FC: Michigan-based semi-professional soccer club that has competed in USL League 2. Comparable to Kalamazoo FC in operating tier, regional footprint, and direct-to-consumer ticketing model.

Broad incumbents

• Detroit City FC: Larger and more established Detroit-based soccer club with a passionate community-owned model. Comparable to Kalamazoo FC in community-first identity and Michigan fan base, but operates at a higher profile and tier.

Others

• TKO Premier SC: Michigan youth soccer organization identified as a talent-pipeline partner of Kalamazoo FC. Comparable as a regional soccer ecosystem participant and feeder for future semi-professional talent.

Regional players

• Lansing Ignite FC: Michigan-based professional soccer club that previously competed in USL League One. Regional peer to Kalamazoo FC, sharing Michigan market fan base and soccer-specific operating model, though at a higher tier.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kalamazoo-football-club

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 kalamazoo football club