AC Boise USL launch rides record crowds and a Basque-flavored plan
AC Boise has opened its first USL League One season with record demand, local owners and a Spanish influence shaping its long-term pitch.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
3 min read
AC Boise USL fever has arrived fast in Idaho: CBS Sports reports the expansion club drew more than 6,700 season-ticket deposits before its first match and put 7,211 fans in the seats for its April 4 home opener against Spokane Velocity.
The first-year USL League One team, officially Athletic Club Boise, is trying to turn that burst of curiosity into something sturdier. According to CBS Sports, the project is built around local ties, a European-style identity and a push to make professional soccer feel native to Boise rather than dropped into town.
Seattle Reign defender Sofia Huerta, an Idaho native and AC Boise co-owner, told CBS Sports that helping bring a club to Boise could sit near the top of her career achievements, alongside representing her country. Huerta is also identified by CBS Sports as the NWSL’s all-time assists leader.
Co-founder and club CEO Brad Stith, who is also from the area, told CBS Sports that the club’s long-term health depends on the people involved, community support, giving back locally and clear communication. Stith has worked on USL expansion bids and previously spent time with the Portland Trail Blazers, according to the report.
What is AC Boise in the USL?
AC Boise is a first-season professional soccer club in USL League One, the third-tier league in the United Soccer League system. CBS Sports reports the team was awarded in 2024 and is coached by Nate Miller.
The club’s first signing was midfielder Blake Bodily, who arrived with Major League Soccer experience. Bodily told CBS Sports the club had talked up its strong ticket demand before the season, but the opener still surpassed what he expected once the crowd actually showed up.
Why does AC Boise have a Spanish influence?
The club’s name and identity nod toward Europe, with a local reason behind it. CBS Sports points to Boise’s Basque community and its connection to Spanish sides including Athletic Club Bilbao, Real Sociedad and Eibar.
That link has already shown up in Boise soccer history. Athletic Club Bilbao played Club Tijuana in a 2015 friendly in the city that drew more than 20,000 fans, according to CBS Sports. The event also raised money for the Idaho Youth Soccer Association and the Boys and Girls Club of Ada County, where Stith serves on the board.
Argia Beristain, CEO of the Boise State University Foundation, told CBS Sports that Idaho’s smaller player pool makes local development especially important. She compared that approach to the Basque model, where clubs must invest heavily in their own system and players.
How are AC Boise fans building a club culture?
The loudest sign of that culture is the River Guard, the supporters group founded by Ryan Pritchett. He told CBS Sports the group began with only a few songs and printed cards for fans, but has grown to the point where supporters now jump in almost immediately when a chant starts.
Pritchett previously spent time around Seattle Sounders fan culture, according to CBS Sports. Players and coaches have credited the Boise crowd with helping fuel the team’s early momentum.
The club is also looking beyond one strong launch. CBS Sports reports the USL plans to introduce promotion and relegation in 2028, meaning winning teams can be rewarded with a move up the league structure.
USL League One president Lee O’Neill told CBS Sports that the model gives cities such as Boise a way to test themselves against larger markets. Bodily said he sees AC Boise becoming one of the USL’s top clubs and eventually competing in the league’s highest division.
AC Boise’s July 17 match against Portland Hearts of Pine was listed by CBS Sports for 9:30 p.m. ET at Athletic Club Boise Soccer Stadium, with coverage on CBS Sports Network.
This story draws on original reporting from CBS Sports.