Get ready Detroit, professional soccer returns to the City on March 21st.
Thursday, NISA announced the first two dates for Detroit City FC with Le Rouge beginning their 2020 campaign out in California against the Los Angeles Force on February 28 at 10 pm ET. The Oakland Roots will then bring out their dead on March 21 as City opens up their home schedule from Keyworth Stadium in Hamtramck with the kickoff time still to be determined.
With the full season schedule set to be revealed later in January featuring its full roster of clubs, the NISA Spring 2020 season will mark the inaugural single table competition format for NISA with East meets West competition kicking off the season. The Spring 2020 season will culminate in a Playoffs and Finals series. The format for the Playoffs will feature two semifinals based on club finish in the Spring season; (Cal United Strikers vs. #4 seed, #2 seed vs. #3 seed).
In addition to making the jump to the pro ranks, Detroit City FC will also participate in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup which set a modern-era record with 100 teams set to compete. The Tournament to crown U.S. Soccer’s National Champions will begin on March 24 as MLS, USL Championship, NISA, USL League One, USL League Two, NPSL, and local qualifiers will be pitted against each other.
U.S. Soccer’s Open Cup Committee has confirmed a modern-era record 100 clubs for participation and the process for determining matchups for the 2020 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, U.S. Soccer’s National Championship, following the Dec. 31 professional team confirmation deadline. The 107th edition of the history-filled annual tournament kicks off March 24 with a record number of pro teams joining the country’s best amateur sides to compete for the most important trophy offered by U.S. Soccer to its member clubs.
As far as the rest of the NISA spring schedule goes, look out for that in the coming weeks.