NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman noted that past teams have been “fully launched in 90-120 days, so she isn’t worried about the short build-up to a new season” for its newest expansion team Bay FC, according to Alex Simon of the San Jose MERCURY NEWS. Berman said, “They have the runway to do it, they have the resources to do it, and they have the right priorities. I’m very confident that they’re focused on the right thing.” The club “didn’t specify which of the six logos it unveiled on Thursday was its primary insignia," with a "mixture of its three colors used as the logo or background.” Many pieces of merchandise are already “available on the team’s website” including “T-shirts, sweatshirts, a hat and youth apparel.” It is a “noticeable difference from other women’s sports,” where there has been a “long struggle to create products fans want to purchase.” The team “still hasn’t finalized where it will play,” though its “likely home is PayPal Park in San Jose.” Bay FC investor Alan Waxman said that the club “hopes to announce where it will be training this month,” though he “strongly suggested” that it will be Santa Clara Univ. He also said that the club is “still looking for anyone with 30 acres to build its own world-class training facility.” Waxman: “It is our aspiration to have our stadium.” Waxman said that the club's hiring process will “start with a new CEO officially joining the organization on June 12, though who it is remains unnamed for now” (San Jose MERCURY NEWS, 6/1).
MEET & GREET: In S.F., Marisa Ingemi reported Bay FC is hosting an event from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday at Presidio’s Main Post Lawn in San Francisco where the community can “meet members of the organization, including all four founders and investors” Waxman and Sheryl Sandberg. Fans also will have the chance to “buy the first merchandise with the team’s branding” (S.F. CHRONICLE, 6/1).
