Tombstone
Born: September 16, 2015 – United Soccer League expansion franchise
Folded: November 6, 2020
First Match: March 25, 2017 (L 2-0 vs. Orange County SC)
Last Match: October 17, 2020 (2-2, Lose 5-4 on penalty kicks vs. Phoenix Rising FC)
USL Cup Championships: None
Stadium
Marketing
Team Colors:
Ownership & Affiliation
Owner: Herbert Simon
Major League Soccer Affiliation: San Jose Earthquakes
Background
Reno 1868 FC was a 2nd Division pro soccer club affiliated on the technical side with the San Jose Earthquakes of Major League Soccer and operated on the business side by the front office staff of Minor League Baseball’s Reno Aces of the Pacific Coast League. 1868 played out of Greater Nevada Field, the Aces’ 9,000-seat baseball stadium.
Long-time Earthquakes midfielder and, later, assistant coach Ian Russell managed 1868 for all four seasons of existence. The team acquitted itself very well in competition posting winning records and advancing to the USL Cup playoffs every year.
Jamaican forward Brian Brown was Reno’s all-time leading scorer, netting 27 strikes over three seasons with the club from 2017 to 2019.
The COVID-19 pandemic severely disrupted 1868’s final season in 2020. After 1868 opened on the road with a 3-1 loss to Tacoma Defiance on March 6th, the USL followed the rest of the U.S. sporting community into shutdown. Reno did not play again until July 19th and saw its schedule reduced from 34 matches to just 16.
Public gathering restrictions imposed by Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak prevented any fans from attending of 1868’s eight regular season home matches at Greater Nevada Field. Small contingents of fewer than one thousand fans were allowed to attend the team’s two home playoff matches.
Three weeks after Reno 1868’s season ending playoff loss to Phoenix Rising FC, team officials announced the club would cease operations. The Reno Aces baseball team, however, remains in business.
Trivia
The team name ‘1868’ derived from the year that the city of Reno was founded. 1868 FC beat out two other exceptionally shopworn finalists – Reno FC and Reno United – in a Name-The-Team contest conducted during the winter of 2015-16.1Murray, Chris. “”New USL soccer team named ‘Reno 1868 FC'”. The Gazette Journal (Reno, NV). February 5, 2016.The team was known colloquially as ‘ Los Azules’.
Battle Born Brigade and Douglas Alley Renegades were 1868 FC’s largest supporters’ groups.
1868 FC and Reno Aces owner Herbert Simon of Indianapolis was also the long-time owner of the NBA’s Indiana Pacers and WNBA’s Indiana Fever. Simon originally purchased the Pacers in 1983.
Reno 1868 FC Video
1868 host San Antonio FC at Greater Nevada Field on August 12th, 2017.
Downloads
6-1-2019 Reno 1868 FC vs. Las Vegas Lights FC Program
6-1-2019 Reno 1868 FC vs. Las Vegas Lights FC Program
10-17-2020 1868 FC vs. Phoenix Rising Program
Links
United Soccer Leagues Media Guides
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