Sarasota Paradise is an American soccer club based in
Sarasota, Florida, competing in the South Florida Division of
USL League Two. They began play in the
2023 season.
The club is owned by Audigr Group Inc., a joint venture between entrepreneurs Marcus Walfridson and Kenneth Bethune.[1] It plays at Charlie Cleland Stadium at Ihrig Field, on the campus of
Sarasota High School. The club currently has no established
supporters' group, but plans to form one ahead of the 2024 season.[2]
History
It was first announced on October 27, 2022, that a team in Sarasota would be joining USL League Two for the upcoming 2023 season, simply known at the time as Sarasota USL. Owned by operated by Sarasota Professional Soccer LLC with support from Audigr Group Inc., the clubs' branding and identity was to be decided through a Name the Team contest, with the results announced January 2023.[3]
Club branding was announced by owner Marcus Wilfridson on January 14, 2023.[4]
Sarasota Paradise made their league debut on May 20, 2023, a 1–0 loss away at Miami AC.[5] They made their home debut on June 3, 2023, defeating
FC Miami City 2–1 in front of a crowd of nearly 500 spectators.[6] The team finished 4th in the South Florida Division, 6 points behind division winners
Weston FC. Defender Hosei Kojima was selected to the 2023 USL League Two Team of the Year.[7][8]
On July 13, 2023, Walfridson announced his hopes for the club to turn professional and join
USL League One in either 2025 or 2026.[9]
Stadium
Sarasota Paradise play their home matches at Charlie Cleland Stadium at Ihrig Field, located on the campus of
Sarasota High School, just south of downtown Sarasota.
Kai Tamashiro
Karson Kendall
Hosei Kijima
Charlie Farrar
