Jesters Unveiled In New Orleans.
“The Jesters will represent the highest level of soccer in the Gulf Coast region,” said Stumpf as she addressed the press and a group of local business supporters. “The team’s focus will be to produce a competitive team as well as to heighten awareness and understanding of the world’s most popular sport in this area. Our primary goal is to have a positive impact on the community, through the team and through the sport of soccer.”
The Jesters will debut in New Orleans during their first home match on May 16, 2009. The team’s league play will run from May to July with possible championship play in early August. The Jesters’ schedule will be comprised of competition with teams in Atlanta, Nashville and Orlando, to name a few. Home games will be played in the newly-renovated Pan American Stadium in City Park. It will mark the return of PDL soccer to the facility since the destruction of Hurricane Katrina.
“We look forward to playing in a stadium that was originally built with soccer in mind,” said Jesters’ Head Coach Kenny Farrell, former Head Coach of the New Orleans Shell Shockers and PDL Coach of the Year. “The past has proven that every team needs to have a suitable stadium in order to be successful, similar to every congregation needing to have a proper church.”
The New Orleans Jesters will compete in the Southeast Division of the United Soccer Leagues’ PDL. Local soccer standout Brandon Chagnard is one of the players expected to play for the Jesters.
“I am excited about being given the opportunity to play elite soccer in my home town,” stated Chagnard. “I look forward to the new team making a positive impact on local soccer and on local players.”
In addition to league matches, the Jesters will host youth camps and clinics primarily during the summer months. The team will also be participating in numerous community events and fans are encouraged to request players for appearances at local schools, clubs or churches.
“The team has a great slate of summer camps that it will host at soccer facilities all across the area,” said Ben Callon, Director of Operations for the Jesters. “We (the team) have gotten a great response from the local soccer community and we look forward to that enthusiasm spreading throughout the entire gulf region.”