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OKC Energy FC

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Oklahoma City Energy Football Club, or simply Energy FC, is an American professional soccer club based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The club is a member of the USL Championship, the second division of the American soccer league system. Although having not officially ceased operations, the club is on a hiatus and has relieved head coach Leigh Veidman of his duties, having canceled their seasons until a planned 2027 return. The club cites its inability to meet league requirements for field conditions.

OKC Energy FC
Full nameOklahoma City Energy Football Club
FoundedJuly 2, 2013; 11 years ago (2013-07-02)
StadiumTBD
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Capacity7,500
OwnerEcho
PresidentChristian Kanady
Head coachVacant
LeagueUSL Championship
Websitehttps://energyfc.com/
Current season

History

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Oklahoma City businessman Robert "Bob" Funk, Jr., was awarded a United Soccer League franchise on July 2, 2013, and in November, the club announced its name would be Oklahoma City Energy FC. The ownership group, Prodigal LLC, formerly Express sports, which operated the Oklahoma City Barons of the American Hockey League and formerly oversaw the Oklahoma City Dodgers (formerly Oklahoma/Oklahoma City Redhawks.) baseball team of the Pacific Coast League and the owned Oklahoma City Blazers of the Central Hockey League.[1] Recently retired Sporting Kansas City goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen was named Energy FC head coach for the inaugural season. Tim McLaughlin, founder of Fields & Futures, joined the club as an ownership partner prior to the start of the 2014 season. Energy FC won their first match away to Orange County Blues FC on April 5 and played their first home match against Orlando City SC on April 26 at Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School's Pribil Stadium. The season ended with a 10th place finish – four points short of a playoff spot and averaging 3,702 in attendance for home matches. The club moved to the newly-renovated Taft Stadium for the 2015 season and finished second in the Western Conference, making the playoffs for the first time. Energy FC advanced to the Western Conference Final, where they lost to LA Galaxy II.

For the inaugural (2014) season only, all games were broadcast on KXXY-FM radio with former Oklahoma sports personality Jack Damrill. For the 2016 and 2017 season Energy FC games were on local television on KSBI on Cox Cable Oklahoma channel 7 and simulcasted on Cox digital HD channels 707. Currently the Oklahoma City Energy FC has no radio or television deal in place.

In 2016, the team finished 7th in the Western Conference and advanced to the Western Conference semifinals. Energy FC also advanced to the fourth round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup after defeating cross-town rival Rayo OKC 2–1 in extra time. That year also saw Energy FC host Club Deportivo Guadalajara in a friendly match played in front of 6,687 fans at Taft Stadium. Energy FC made the playoffs for a third consecutive season in 2017 after finishing 6th in the Western Conference. Back-to-back road wins earned the team a berth in the Conference Final for the second time in three years. Energy FC lost the match to Swope Park Rangers in a penalty shootout that saw both sides attempting 10 shots each, with the deciding goals coming down to each teams' goalkeepers. That year also saw the club host another international friendly, against 2017 Champions League winners CF Pachuca.

Prior to the 2018 season, Steve Cooke was named head coach of the club, a year after serving as interim head coach at MLS side Colorado Rapids. Energy FC narrowly missed the USL Playoffs competing for a spot until the final month of the season. Cooke was succeeded by John Pascarella in 2019. On June 4, 2021, following a winless start to the 2021 USL Championship season, Pascarella and the OKC Energy mutually agreed to part ways.[2]

Although having not officially ceased operations, the club is currently not fielding a roster and has relieved head coach Leigh Veidman,[3] having canceled their 2022 and 2023 seasons. The club cites inability to meet league requirements for field conditions.[4]

Stadium

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For the 2014 season, home games began being played at Pribil Stadium on the campus of Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School and introduced their team kits and logo.[5][6][7] In 2015, the club moved to Historic Taft Stadium following extensive renovations made to that facility.[8]

New stadium

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On December 10, 2019, Oklahoma City voters approved MAPS 4, a sales tax extension planned to fund 16 major projects over 8 years. MAPS 4 allocates $37 million towards the construction of a multipurpose stadium that would serve as the new home field for the Energy.[9] As of October 2021, the city government is working to determine a final site and design for the stadium.[10]

Club culture

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Supporters

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OKC Energy have five recognized supporters groups: The Grid,[11] La Furia Verde, OKC Breakers, Northend United, and Main St. Greens.[12]

Rivalries

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OKC Energy's main rivals are FC Tulsa, with both teams being located in Oklahoma. The teams compete in the Black Gold Derby. The supporters group of both teams established a trophy, a 4-foot wrench painted with the colors of each team on either side, which is awarded to the regular season winner of the derby.[13] OKC lead the series against Tulsa in all competitions with a record of 10–8–5 (W-D-L). OKC have secured the wrench four years out of the seven that the rivalry has been in existence, in 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2019.

Affiliated teams

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The club was formally associated with FC Dallas of Major League Soccer from 2015 through 2018.[14][15] They were affiliated with Sporting Kansas City from 2014 through 2015.[16]

Sponsorship

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Local, family-owned First Fidelity Bank became the inaugural jersey sponsor in 2014.[17]

Period Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
2014–2016   Admiral First Fidelity Bank
2017–2019   Under Armour
2020–present   Adidas

Year-by-year

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Year Division League Regular season Playoffs U.S. Open Cup Avg. attendance
2014 3 USL Pro 10th Did not qualify Third round 3,784
2015 3 USL 2nd, Western Conference finals Fourth round 4,635
2016 3 USL 7th, Western Conference semifinals Fourth round 4,950
2017 2 USL 6th, Western Conference finals Fourth round 4,293
2018 2 USL 10th, Western Did not qualify Second round 4,298
2019 2 USLC 15th, Western Did not qualify Fourth round 4,442
2020 2 USLC 17th, Western
5th, Group D 		Did not qualify Cancelled N/A
2021 2 USLC 5th, Atlantic Division Did not qualify Cancelled 2,265
2022 Did not play[18]
2023
2024

Head coaches

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  • Includes USL regular season, USL playoffs, U.S. Open Cup
Coach Nationality Start End Games Win Draw Loss Win %
Jimmy Nielsen   Denmark December 20, 2013 November 16, 2017 136 54 38 44 039.71
Steve Cooke   England December 20, 2017 October 22, 2019 72 23 18 31 031.94
John Pascarella   United States November 22, 2019 June 4, 2021 23 1 11 11 004.35
Leigh Veidman   England June 4, 2021 January 30, 2023 25 8 9 8 032.00
Total 256 86 76 94 033.59

Top goalscorers

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  • Includes USL regular season, USL playoffs, U.S. Open Cup
As of October 10, 2021
# Name Career Goals
1   Danni König 2015–2017 27
2   Alex Dixon 2017–2018 20
3   Kyle Greig 2014–2015 19
4   Deshorn Brown 2018–2019 17
5   Michael Thomas 2014–2016 12
  Villyan Bijev 2021 12
7   Wojciech Wojcik 2016–2017 11
  José Angulo 2017–2018 11
  Miguel González 2017–2018 11
10   Sebastian Dalgaard 2015–2016 9
  Christian Volesky 2018 9

References

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  1. ^ "Oklahoma City to Join USL PRO in 2014". United Soccer Leagues (USL). July 2, 2013. Archived from the original on July 5, 2013. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
  2. ^ "ENERGY FC AND JOHN PASCARELLA PART WAYS". EnergyFC.com. 4 June 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  3. ^ "Battery Announce Complete Coaching Staff for 2023 Season". OurSports Central. 2023-01-30. Retrieved 2023-01-31.
  4. ^ KOCO Staff (2022-11-19). "OKC Energy FC extend hiatus due to USL's field requirements, team officials announce". KOCO. Retrieved 2023-01-17.
  5. ^ "OKLAHOMA CITY ENERGY FC". Oklahoma City Energy FC. November 14, 2013. Retrieved November 14, 2013.
  6. ^ "OKC Energy Unveil Name, Colors". United Soccer Leagues (USL). November 14, 2013. Retrieved November 15, 2013.
  7. ^ "Pro soccer: City's new USL Pro soccer team will be called Energy". Daily Oklahoman. November 14, 2013. Retrieved November 15, 2013.
  8. ^ "KÖNIG'S LATE GOAL LIFTS ENERGY FC PAST SEATTLE". www.energyfc.com. Retrieved 2015-06-29.
  9. ^ City of Oklahoma City. "RESOLUTION OF INTENT OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OKLAHOMA CITY SETTING FORTH A NEW MAPS PROGRAM TO BE KNOWN AS "MAPS 4"".
  10. ^ "Oklahoma City Mayor Holt and MAPs program manager David Todd share MAPs 4 stadium ideas". 6 October 2021.
  11. ^ "The Grid". Energy FC. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
  12. ^ "Energy FC Feeds Off Support in Open Cup Thriller". 2 June 2016.
  13. ^ Czubinski, Grant (June 3, 2016). "Black Gold Derby Brings Added Heat in Oklahoma". United Soccer League. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
  14. ^ "FC Dallas announces USL affiliation with Oklahoma City Energy FC". FC Dallas. January 11, 2016. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
  15. ^ "Energy FC, FC Dallas Announce New Partnership". United Soccer League (USL). January 11, 2016. Archived from the original on February 16, 2016. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
  16. ^ "Sporting Kansas City announces USL team, ends affiliation with Oklahoma City Energy FC". The Oklahoman. October 21, 2015. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
  17. ^ "OKC Energy FC lands jersey sponsor". Soccer America Daily. Mar 13, 2014. USL PRO expansion team OKC Energy FC has landed First Fidelity Bank as a founding partner and jersey sponsor for its inaugural season.
  18. ^ Fc, Energy (December 3, 2021). "Energy FC To Suspend Play In 2022, Resume In 2023". OKC Energy FC. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
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