HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral)—A semi-pro soccer team, RGV Red Crowns Soccer Club, is preparing to take over a baseball diamond and revitalize it into a soccer field.

The city of Harlingen and the team are working together to bring back a community hub and a promising future for young athletes.

The name is based on the red-crowned parrot that is commonly spotted in the Rio Grande Valley.

President Jamal Fayyad said the team is ready to make a beloved Harlingen ballpark its new home.

“I see a future,” said Fayyad as the city workers dug out the diamond and mound. “I’m excited because when we told people we were playing here, again we are talking about the educated fan base, they were like soccer does not belong on a baseball field.”

At Harlingen Field, it’s been years since fans cheered a Valley team off the bleachers, but Fayyad said that will all change in just a few months.

“The north end here that will be one goal, and right across the lockers that will be the other goal,” said Fayyad as he stood above the fresh dirt on the field. He adds that fans will be able to get a unique view from at home goal.

The team’s president said the vision is to form a team that will bring a promising future for young college athletes. The focus is on players from across the Valley, and Fayyad said players from foreign countries have already shown interest in being part of the Red Crowns.

Meanwhile, Harlingen Mayor Norma Sepulveda said this will bring a community hub in the city back to life and stimulate the economy.

“This is going to be an economic driver,” said Sepulveda. “We are going to have opportunities to fill out hotels, have people visit small businesses, and have the opportunity to expose Harlingen to the rest of the state.”

Saaring Rama the owner of Country Inn and Suites along the expressway, agrees.

“In our hospitality industry, we love to promote tourism,” said Rama “Sports is huge, so we hope this starts a different trend in Harlingen for us.”

The Red Crowns are looking to start their season sometime in early summer according to Fayyad. He said it would be affordable for Valley families.

 

“We want to make it affordable, from our season tickets to our game-by-game basis,” said Fayyad. “We want everyone to feel invited, feel included and we don’t ever want to be in a situation where we price the people out.”