All our local sports teams rely on business sponsorships. If you’d like to learn about the opportunities, contact the teams directly.
Kick It
Sonoma County Sol FC, a founding member of the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL; 4th division US Soccer), has been building a solid reputation with North Bay fans since 2004. Made up of mostly local players, ages 16 to 35, it’s had great success over the years, winning the NPSL National Championship in 2009 and earning NPSL’s runner-up spot in both 2005 and 2013. The Sol currently sits at the top of its conference and recently qualified for a spot in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup for the first time since 2010.Sonoma County Sol FC is a 501(c)3 nonprofit with a number of business and community sponsors, including Sports City, Santa Rosa Junior College, KOA Petaluma and more. This year, it’s partnered with local youth soccer clubs throughout Sonoma County in a ticket presale fund-raising campaign that benefits all teams involved. The Sol will also conduct its successful youth soccer camps in Sonoma, Petaluma, Santa Rosa and Windsor this summer.
“Through these partnerships, youth players begin to understand the path up the ranks in US Soccer,” says Zach Lawrence, team general manager. “These partnerships and programs have put us in front of more than 2,500 youth soccer players this year, many of whom now see the Sol as the top of the soccer pyramid in the North Bay—a great next step after club or college soccer.”
Sol plays most home games at Rancho Cotate High School’s Cougar Stadium in Rohnert Park, with tickets priced at a reasonable $12.50 for adults and $7.50 for kids (3 and under are free). Check the schedule at www.sonomasol.com and come support the local team.
Play Ball
Baseball is America’s pastime, so even though we have two very good major league teams (including the current world champions) within driving distance, North Bay fans are also embracing minor league outfits based in the area. The Sonoma Stompers (pictured here) and San Rafael Pacifics, both part of the Pacific Association league, have been building their fan bases and entertaining crowds since being established (in 2014 and 2012, respectively).The league is small—only four teams—but expansion hopes are high, says Stompers owner Eric Gullotta, who bought the team in January after enjoying its inaugural season with family, friends and clients (he’s an attorney and his wife is a realtor). “We want to build relationships with cities and tap into existing fan bases,” he says.
The Stompers’ roster is made up of players at all stages of their careers, and Gullotta uses Sabermetrics (remember “Moneyball”?) to identify potential players. “Some are working their way up through the divisions, hoping to catch major league attention. Others are rehabbing from an injury or looking to finish out their careers strongly.” In 2014, Stompers centerfielder Jayce Ray was named league MVP (he’s now playing for the Wichita Wingnuts in a higher league).
Stompers home games at Arnold Field draw enthusiastic crowds, with ticket prices starting at only $4 (bleacher seats with access to the beer garden); $22 gets you to the on-field lounge, with bistro-style food service.
To support Sonoma Stompers, go to stompersbaseball.com; if the Pacifics are your team, go to www.pacificsbaseball.com. The teams will face each other several times in the coming months; check either website for the schedule.
Gridiron Glory
Established in 2014, Napa Valley Vipers are bringing semi-pro football to North Bay fans. Home games are played at Napa Memorial Stadium (Napa) and Hannah Boys Center (Sonoma). Part of the United Football Alliance (UFA), the team plays every Saturday, March through June, and is looking for sponsors to support its becoming a traveling team during the fall season. It will hold open tryouts for the spring season in late August (and in June/July, if the traveling season takes off).“Our goal is to give playing time to those who may have been less fortunate,” says Vipers owner Ivan Versic. “Maybe they didn’t make the grades to make it to college, or maybe life’s hardships kept them from continuing their dream to play football. We have older guys playing because they still feel they can. We have guys fresh out of high school looking to pursue the next level.”
Ticket prices are $10 per adult and $6 for seniors and active military (kids 10 and under are free). As the team becomes more established, plans are underway for players to “be a bigger part of the community,” says Versic, including visiting schools and hospitals, and volunteering for local organizations.
“When all else fails, you put on that helmet and pads, join your teammates and play hard. At the end of the game, win or lose, we leave with a smile, knowing we got to do something we all love: football!”
