PAPILLION, Neb. (July 6, 2023) – Union Omaha and Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, in conjunction with Special Olympics Nebraska and Special Olympics Colorado, announced today the continuation of the Unified Soccer Series. The Unified Soccer Series is the first of its kind within the United Soccer League (USL) and will consist of two matches, one in Omaha, Neb. and one in Colorado Springs, Co. featuring Special Olympics Unified teams from both states. The matches, scheduled for July 8 in Omaha and August 9 in Colorado Springs, will be played at Werner Park and Weidner Field, respectively. Tickets for the July 8 match can be purchased here.
The match at Weidner Field will put the Unified Series in the national spotlight, taking place during the 2023 USL Summer Showcase, which includes the USL’s annual mid-season meetings where over 200 executives from the USL’s professional and pre-professional clubs will visit Colorado Springs.
The Special Olympics Unified Sports program focuses on promoting social inclusion through shared sports training and competition experiences and joins people with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team. Teams are currently being established through each state’s Special Olympics program.
“When I first started talking to Special Olympics Nebraska about a possible Unified team, the goal was always to expand the concept to other USL markets and get our athletes as many matches in big stadiums in front of big crowds as possible,” Union Omaha General Manager Peter Marlette said. “These matches with Colorado Springs are the next step in this process. It was exciting to speak with Colorado Springs about this series earlier in the year. Neither of us realized it originally, but Colorado Springs was building a Unified team and simultaneously working towards the same goal we were.
“While we can’t wait to host them at Werner Park, the opportunity to showcase Unified teams to the entire USL ecosystem on August 9th at Weidner Field during the USL Summer Showcase is an incredible opportunity for Union Omaha and our Unified athletes,” Marlette said.
“It’s very exciting to see how far the Switchbacks FC Unified Program has come along, since its inception in 2021,” Colorado Springs Business Development Manager Jon Taylor said. “The match-up between both clubs is the next step in our progress to make Unified Soccer a staple for the USL. We are excited for the road trip to Omaha in July and then showcasing Unified Programming on August 9th at the USL Summer Showcase. This Unified Team is the true meaning of inclusion.”
“We are very excited to continue the Unified Soccer Series with Special Olympics Colorado and the Switchbacks FC,” Special Olympics Nebraska Vice President of Program Nate Parks said. “We share the same ideals and goals and can’t wait to showcase each Unified team’s talented athletes both in Omaha and in Colorado Springs. This is the start of something bigger, and we couldn’t be more appreciative of this great opportunity for our athletes to compete on a stage like this with such passionate fan bases.”
“The Special Olympics Colorado Switchbacks Unified Soccer team is excited and honored to be traveling to Omaha,” Special Olympics Colorado Southeast Regional Manager Kyle Kemper said. “While our athletes have a competitive spirit they also love making and building friendships. This game is a chance for competition, fun, and friendship.”
For more information or to reach media contacts for each respective organization, please utilize the list below:
- Union Omaha: Morgan Hobbs, Marketing Coordinator; morganh@unionomaha.com
- Colorado Springs Switchbacks: Jon Taylor, Business Development Manager; jtaylor@switchbacksfc.com
- Special Olympics Nebraska: Amanda Mancuso, Development & Media Manager; amancuso@sone.org
- Special Olympics Colorado: Kyle Kemper; Southeast Regional Manager; kkemper@specialolympicsco.org
About Union Omaha
Union Omaha, the 2021 USL League One Champion, is the only professional soccer team in the state of Nebraska. USL League One is a United States Soccer Federation-sanctioned professional men’s soccer league that occupies the third tier of the American soccer landscape, below USL Championship (tier two) and Major League Soccer (tier one). Union Omaha plays its home matches at Werner Park in Sarpy County, also home to the Omaha Storm Chasers of Minor League Baseball. The team is led by General Manager Peter Marlette in the front office and by Head Coach Dominic Casciato on the field.
About Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
The Colorado Springs Switchbacks Football Club is a professional soccer team based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The team is a member of the USL Championship, the second tier of the American soccer pyramid and one of the most successful professional soccer leagues in the world, reaching a population of more than 84 million across North America. The Switchbacks began play in 2015 and in May of 2021, unveiled the new Weidner Field, an 8,000-seat soccer stadium featuring three luxury club levels, concessions developed by 6035 Hospitality, and state of the art LED viewing screens. All matches are broadcast on ESPN (Plus or Linear Channels) and home matches are available locally on Fox 21 SOCOCW and Xtra Sports 1300.
About Special Olympics Nebraska
Special Olympics Nebraska is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization, which was founded in 1972. The mission of Special Olympics Nebraska mission is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills, and friendships with their families, and other Special Olympics athletes and the community.
About Special Olympics Colorado
Special Olympics was founded in 1969 on the belief that people with intellectual disabilities can, with proper instruction and encouragement, learn, enjoy and benefit from participation in individual and team sports. Through the power of sports, people with intellectual disabilities discover new strengths and abilities, skills and success. Our athletes find joy, confidence, and fulfillment — on the playing field and in life. They also inspire people in their communities and elsewhere to open their hearts to a wider world of human talents and potential.