Calvary FC Stadium Delayed

There is good news and there is bad news from the Virginia Calvary FC.

The good news first! The team is still set to take the field for the first time next year when the spring half of the 2014 North American Soccer League season gets underway.

And now the bad news. The team will not open the season in the new Ashburn stadium that is being constructed near Dulles International Airport.

In a press release, club president and CEO Bob Farren announced a delay in completing the facility, already known as Edelman Financial Field. It is a multi-use 10,000-seat stadium that will also be home to the minor league baseball Loudoun Hounds.

It is likely that the Virginia Calvary FC will have to find an alternate home stadium on a temporary basis for the spring half of the season. A press release indicated that the stadium would not be ready until the third quarter of 2014, which is about the time the fall half of the NASL season gets underway.

“We have seen tremendous progress on a number of fronts,” read Farren’s release. “However, I regret having to announce that the stadium construction will not be completed until third quarter 2014.

“We continue to appreciate the support of our fans throughout the process and we look forward to the opening of the stadium upon the completion of construction.”

No specific reasons were given for the delay, but projects the size of this one often face delays in construction.

“We plan on opening the stadium in time for a portion of the 2014 season,” Farren added in the release. “We will keep the community as informed as possible on these plans.”

The organization of the team and business structure, including evaluation and signing players, is headed up by former D.C. United goalkeeper and coach Mark Simpson. Simpson serves the dual role as Technical Director and General Manager.

The stadium was approved last April by the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, and ground was broken in June.