The team is expected to play home games at Ron Poe Stadium beginning in May, owner and managing partner Michael “Hitch” Hitchcock said.
The overview
The Historic McKinney Soccer Group debuted branding for the new team and launched a merchandise shop during an Oct. 23 celebration at Tupps Brewery. The branding was revealed after more than 1,000 local soccer fans voted for their favorite team name and logo, Hitchcock said during a brief presentation.
“When we decided we were going to launch this team, we said, we're keeping this all about Historic Downtown McKinney,” he said. “This is all about each and every one of you.”
The team is expected to start recruiting coaches and players in the upcoming months before a match schedule is expected to be revealed in January. McKinney Chupacabras are expected to play their first match in May, Hitchcock said.
Zooming out
The Historic McKinney Soccer Group announced the team was coming to McKinney in September. Hitchcock, who owns the ProRel Soccer Shop in downtown McKinney, also owns 18 soccer teams around the world.
Hitchcock decided to launch a team in McKinney where he lives and works with his wife, Jamie Hitchcock. He wanted the community to play a part in naming the team, selecting the team jersey and providing input on different game day promotions.
McKinney Chupacabras will be all about supporting the local community, Hitchcock said.
“We're going to promote the local events that make McKinney great,” he said. “We're going to promote the local businesses that we take a lot of pride in promoting. This is support local, 100%.”
Quote of note
McKinney Assistant City Manager Barry Shelton said when Hitchcock presented the idea for a soccer team, it fit really well with the city’s mission to build a strong community.
“It actually fits really really well into that because it’s going to give us something to come together and collectively cheer for,” Shelton said.
What’s next?
The team is expected to recruit a head coach and two assistant coaches. McKinney Chupacabras will feature a roster of 30 players, Hitchcock said. Ownership is expected to announce what league the team will join in the coming months.
More information about the team, including season tickets, merchandise and sponsorship opportunities can be found at www.historicmckinneysoccer.com.
