Own Westchester County's only professional soccer club 

Westchester Soccer Club was recently awarded a USL1 professional soccer franchise in Westchester County, NY.  The USL is one of the fastest growing soccer leagues in the world, and WSC's inaugural game is scheduled for March 8, 2025.

WSC has the largest population base in the division—2x the next-largest geography in USL1.  Even excluding the 8 million residents of nearby Manhattan, Westchester has approximately 5 million people that live within a 30-minute drive to the stadium, resulting in one of the most densely populated regions in the nation. 

The NYC Metro area is known for being soccer-obsessed, and the sport is increasingly gaining momentum in advance of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Big ambitions and media expansion

As professional soccer continues to proliferate across the US, the USL has recently announced that it will create a new league above the USL Championship tier, to compete directly with Major League Soccer (MLS).  As an example of the USL's growing popularity, the USL Championship Final drew more television viewers than the MLS Cup Final in 2024.

For the 2025 season, WSC will have two nationally-televised games on CBS Sports Network.  All WSC home games and a majority of away games will also be broadcast on MSG Networks, which reaches over 4 million homes (and approximately 15 million people) across New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania.

Additionally, the USL's current television and streaming agreements end after the 2026 season, making it the only US soccer league that can negotiate new media rights after the momentum of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.  To note, MLS signed a $2.5 billion media contract with Apple TV in 2024, proving the insatiable consumer demand for TV viewing and streaming of US soccer.

Home of one of the region's leading youth soccer academies

Westchester County has one of the highest participation rates in youth soccer in the United States. Westchester SC owns one of the leading youth soccer academies in the area, providing a durable profit stream, as well as a development pipeline for the pro team and the potential for profitable player transfers to other clubs.

WSC estimates that there are more than 4,000 academy participants across the Westchester region, representing an academy market size in excess of $15 million per year.  Including travel and recreational soccer programs, spending on youth soccer in the region may exceed $30 million annually.

Aspiring to the highest levels of soccer 

Westchester SC plans on tapping into its passionate fan base, fostering strong community ties, and building a top-tier franchise in American soccer.

Westchester SC is also positioning itself to take advantage of the potential introduction of promotion and relegation in the USL system. The club’s strategy includes building a team capable of earning promotion to higher division tiers, which could significantly increase revenue and ultimately, the club's value.

Head coach Dave Carton comes to WSC after a successful tenure with USL1 club Charlotte Independence, where he was instrumental in leading the team to multiple playoff appearances and the League One Championship game in 2023.

"Westchester is the standout expansion team in League One"

"...Still, it’s Westchester that looks the most convincing. Former New York Red Bulls star – and European transfer target – Kemar Lawrence set the tone as Westchester’s first-ever signing. Bona fide Championship starter (and native New Yorker) Conor McGlynn soon followed, and right back Stephen Payne, arguably the best player at his position in the league, was next up..."

-- John Morrissey, Backheeled, January 2, 2025

New city-owned stadium ready for expansion 

Westchester County is a geographic hub between NYC, Connecticut and New Jersey, providing easy access to densely-populated urban areas and upstate New York.  Importantly, Westchester is a popular place to raise a family— and soccer is a top sports choice for many of these children.

Westchester SC will play at The Stadium at Memorial Field in Mt. Vernon, a state-of-the-art facility built in September 2022. The stadium has a current capacity of 4,000 seats and 500 standing-room spots. The stadium offers significant space for customization and the potential for increased seating capacity with modest capital expenditure. This includes enhancing the stadium to provide a premium game-day experience for fans. 

Deep experience in entrepreneurship and soccer

Westchester SC is led by a diverse team with decades of accomplishments across industries, including professionals from finance, sports and entertainment.

Mitch Baruchowitz is the Majority Owner and CEO of Westchester SC.  He is the founder and Managing Partner of Merida Capital, a private equity fund that has invested in 70 portfolio companies across four funds.  He has more than 25 years of business experience in highly regulated industries, and over fifteen years of private investment experience.  Mitch has founded several companies that have each had exits of more than $100 million.  Mitch holds a B.A. in History from Brandeis University and a J.D. from Boston University School of Law.

Tyler Adams, the 2022 U.S. Soccer Player of the year, US Men’s National Team Captain and current AFC Bournemouth star has joined WSC's ownership group.  Adams, a Red Bulls Academy product and Dutchess County, NY native, will become one of the first active professional players to take an ownership stake in a professional club, and he is expected to be involved with numerous aspects of WSC's business.

Sara Whalen Hess is the WSC’s Head of Player Development. She played for the US Women's National Team from 1997 to 2000, where she won an Olympic silver medal.  Hess was also a founding player of the Women’s United Soccer Association.

New York Jets quarterback Tyrod Taylor recently joined the ownership group of WSC. Renowned for his leadership on and off the field, Taylor brings a wealth of experience and a winning mentality to Westchester SC. His journey through the NFL has been marked by notable achievements, including a Super Bowl title with the Baltimore Ravens in 2012 and a Pro Bowl selection in 2015.

Partnering with leading organizations across the region

WSC has secured Northwell Health, New York State’s leading health care provider and largest private employer, as its main jersey sponsor through the 2026 season.

In addition, Westchester SC has also partnered with the following organizations:

Breezemont Day Camp -- Official Youth Camp Partner

SCORE Physical Therapy & Recovery -- Official Therapy and Recovery Partner

Leros Transportation Group -- Official Transportation Partner

Healthfirst -- Official Health Insurance Partner