OUR NEXT INITIATIVE: PROJECT ASCEND
Leveling the playing field this Spring, Fan Owned Club is launching #ProjectAscend, where we will give six graduating women's college soccer players the chance to continue playing the sport they love in the beautiful Austrian Alps.
Our sport-and-mission-driven initiative to become the preeminent destination for women to extend their professional aspirations through soccer is guided by a former NCAA Division I All-Star that never had an opportunity to play professionally, they will help our squad vie for their first-ever promotion to the second league.
With a new crest to unite us, a best-in-class training facility and one of the first stadiums built specifically for a women’s sports team, Fan Owned Club is ready to write the next chapter with help from those who want to move women and the game forward.
After turning around the Men's program, we are focused on creating more equity and opportunity on the way to building a regional powerhouse program, chronicling and sharing the experiences of these amazing women as they go on the journey of a lifetime.
OUR FIRST CLUB
FC Pinzgau Saalfelden were formed in 2007 after the merging of the town's two top football clubs 1. Saalfeldner SK (founded in 1947) and ESV Saalfelden (founded in 1952) into one unified force. Rising up from the lower divisions, the Mountainous Pine Blues currently compete as one of 62 teams in Austria’s third tier, known as the Regionalliga.
The club play at the stunning Saalfelden Arena with the dramatic backdrop of the Alps making it one of the most beautiful venues for soccer in Europe.
One of the ten members of the competitive Salzburg Regional League ("Regionalliga Salzburg"), the league rewards the top two finishers with a place in an exciting six team play-off for promotion to the nationwide 2. Liga; a 16 team league, one tier below the Admiral Bundesliga.
With a mantra of introducing exciting young loanees, alongside a core of experienced local Austrian talent, Fan Owned Club’s involvement in FCPS has pushed the club into becoming a promotion favorite.
PINZGAU PEDIGREE
Over the last years, former Pinzgau players who've played under former Sporting Director Christian Ziege's tutelage have returned to their respective clubs rejuvenated and revitalizing their professional careers.
MLS' Real Salt Lake's Pablo Ruiz and Andrew Brody significantly contributed to their run in the Western Conference playoffs, with Andrew being named 2022 RSL Defensive Player of the Year.
Josh Heard led Pacific FC to the Canadian Premier League title.
Alfusainey Jatta won the Latvian Cup and League title.
Sota Kitahara signed his first professional contract with the Seattle Sounders and Alfonso Ocampo-Chávez joined Austin FC.
Between these relationships with sporting clubs in North America and now a strategic partnership with Shooting Stars in Ghana, we will continue to attract players and talents to the region, creating more enthusiasm along our path towards promotion to the second division.
In June of 2019, Fan Owned Club began jointly managing FCPS before finalizing the purchase of the LLC (GmbH)
that operates FC Pinzgau Saalfelden and makes all Club-related decisions in December 2019.
Similar to club ownership in Germany, the Austrian Federation requires a non-profit entity (Verein) to hold the actual license to compete. The Verein is controlled by six members, all of whom hold significant ownership within Fan Owned Club.
WHY JOIN FAN OWNED CLUB NOW?
It's no secret that our passionate fans are the cornerstone of everything we do, but our aspirations reach far beyond just the clubhouse.
There has never been a more interesting time in the history of sports - where fan engagement, interaction and experiences are all blending together to form a single connection.
Fan Owned Club aspires to be the central project that brings it all together behind our unique Fan + Owner experience including insider access, influence on operations and the opportunity for profit when things go well.
There are three main pillars we're building out as we expand our model:
Productizing Fan + Owner Experience
We are building a platform to consistently deliver and scale the Fan Owner experience, starting with the launch of our mobile experience app in 2023. Later, to enhance equity and liquidity, we plan to establish a token-based economy backed by our Fans and Fan Owners.
Grow Support Beyond Current Fan Base
In 2023, we enter the growing women’s soccer market by bringing players from the United States to help promote our current squad up from the third division, launch the region's first Women’s Academy and establish Fan Owned Club as a destination for women’s soccer in Austria.
Partner and Acquire More Soccer Clubs
There are hundreds of lower division clubs that are looking to deepen their relationship with their fan base and broaden beyond their local community - specifically what we have accomplished with FC Pinzgau.
We are actively perusing opportunities in valuing the next clubs to apply our proven playbook all across the world.
Along with our current Fan Owners, we are already well underway on our journey to develop Austria’s FC Pinzgau Saalfelden into a recognized global club, giving international players, coaches and executives an entry point into European football, and in the process, making Pinzgau a recognizable name across North America, Europe and beyond.
When people think of FC Pinzgau, we want them to think “FCPS, the Fan Owned Club!”