San Diego Loyal Soccer Club, co-founded by U.S. men’s national team legend Landon Donovan, is facing a poignant conclusion as it announced its decision to discontinue operations. The club, a part of the USL Championship, will mark its final season in professional soccer this year due to the inability to secure a suitable home stadium solution.

Since its inception in 2020, the club has strived to reignite professional soccer’s presence in San Diego. However, the pursuit has been marred by the challenge of securing a permanent home ground. Despite valiant efforts to explore feasible options along the coastline, including academy facilities, training centers, and a stadium, the club has ultimately been unable to secure a sustainable future.

Club Chairman Andrew Vassiliadis expressed his sentiments in a video message, reminiscing about the journey that began four years ago. “Four years ago, Landon Donovan, myself, and our group of investors started on a journey to bring professional soccer back to San Diego. I’m very proud of what we’ve accomplished in the first three seasons,” he remarked.

The decision to halt operations was not taken lightly and follows six months of dedicated exploration. Vassiliadis, along with President Ricardo Campos and their team, scoured every possible option spanning from Oceanside to the border. Despite their exhaustive efforts, the unfortunate reality emerged: the current season will be the last for San Diego Loyal.

RIP SDL!