“Historic moment for our league”

Ballard FC becomes the tenth club worldwide to join Common Goal

Ballard FC, a semi-professional men’s soccer club based out of Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood, has joined Common Goal. The move makes the club the first USL League Two team, the second from the United States, and the tenth worldwide to take the 1% pledge. The Pacific Northwest side joins clubs around the globe including FC Nordsaelland, Werder Bremen, Sporting Gijon, and Oakland Roots who are pioneering a new era of club culture. 

The growing coalition of clubs leads the way in positioning teams as valuable parts of their communities beyond the field. They are helping change the conversation, showing how the relationship between fans and clubs can be mutually beneficial – it is not just up to fans to support clubs but also up to clubs to support their community.   

Ballard FC, along with its non-profit Ballard FC Foundation, will contribute 1% of all revenue to Common Goal. This includes merchandise, concessions, ticketing, sponsorships and more. For the team’s inaugural Common Goal year, it’s putting 1% to Play Proud to help create safe spaces and stadiums for the LGBTQ+ community. 

“This collaboration represents a historic moment for our league and a significant step forward for Ballard FC as we look to keep making a difference in our local community and beyond,” said Ballard FC Co-founder Chris Kaimmer.  

“Play Proud aligns perfectly with Ballard FC’s stance that soccer should be accessible and inclusive for everyone.” 

The first initiative that Ballard FC and Common Goal will collaborate on is Ballard FC’s 2023 Pride Night match on Saturday, July 8th against Cultures United FC. The teams do not play in the same league, but have created an annual friendly match tradition built around social impact. Pride Night will feature organizations from the LGBTQ+ community before and during the match, and fans will have the opportunity to learn more about the club’s inclusion efforts.  

After the match, Ballard FC and Common Goal will co-host a Play Proud workshop to provide youth soccer coaches and administrators with training and resources to create inclusive spaces in soccer. 

Sebastian Diaz, Executive Director of Cultures United FC, sees the unique nature of the relationship between the two clubs. "We are so honored to have found not only a working relationship but also a close partnership that is not very common between crosstown teams,” said Sebastian.  

“The commitment of Ballard FC does not stay in words, but they demonstrate in actions what helping your neighbors is all about.  

“We believe in the innovative approach they are taking to create community and doing it in a welcoming and inclusive manner with their membership in Common Goal and support for initiatives like Play Proud.  

“Ballard FC are really all about bringing the community together, and that is something we have immense respect for." 

As a hyperlocal soccer club, Ballard FC will focus its initial efforts in the greater Seattle area and over time, grow their impact regionally, nationally, and internationally through the Common Goal movement. 

“Ballard FC is leading with purpose," said Common Goal USA’s Executive Director Lilli Barrett-O’Keefe. "The club has put social impact at the forefront since their origin. We look forward to creating environmental and social change across Ballard and the wider-Seattle community for years to come.”