will mccarty / nashville soccer club

While planning international soccer matches at Nissan Stadium in Nashville as an executive at Soccer United Marketing, Court Jeske saw firsthand how well the sport resonated in the city. Tennessee did not have a professional soccer team at that time — something Jeske helped change in a big way.

While advising a fledgling ownership group that was hoping to launch a USL club in Nashville, he was asked if he knew of any potential CEO candidates. 

“I said I was happy to give them some names, but I would also like to put my name in the hat,” Jeske said. “It’s always been a dream of mine to start a professional franchise from the ground up, and to do it in the sport I love, in a market that is as dynamic as Nashville would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. 

Jeske became one of Nashville SC’s first employees when he was named CEO in October 2016.

The club debuts in USL this season and has sold 6,200 season tickets, a record for a USL club in its inaugural season. It expects most games at 8,200-seat First Tennessee Park to be sold out. It has secured partnerships with Under Armour and Nissan, which will be its jersey-front sponsor, and has signed a TV deal with a local station. Because of increased demand from fans, the club’s first match has been moved to Nissan Stadium.

Local businessman John Ingram further energized the fan base when he acquired a majority stake in the club earlier in 2017 and led an effort that landed an MLS expansion spot for the city in December.

“I tell people all the time, we’re no different than Manchester United in terms of representing our city in the world’s game,” Jeske said. “We might be 125 years behind, but with the help of Nashville and the community, I think we can catch up quickly.”

— Ian Thomas