Why San Diego FC Treats Its Academy Like a Capital Investment

San Diego FC is only a few years old, but COO Bill Miles and his team are already taking an ambitious approach to building a modern soccer club. In this episode, Bill shares why San Diego FC is betting on a long-term, academy-first model, what makes the club’s ownership structure so distinctive, and why San Diego is uniquely positioned to become one of the most important soccer markets in the United States.You’ll also hear what it takes to build a fan base from scratch, how technology and AI can help clubs create a stronger view of the customer, and why the future of ticketing is going to look a lot more personalized.In this episode, you’ll hear:How a Native American tribe and global private equity ownership is shaping the club's long-term visionWhy San Diego FC believes removing pay-to-play is critical to developing elite talentHow Bill is building an academy-first development pipeline instead of relying on expensive star signingsWhat it takes to launch an MLS club from scratch and turn it into a civic brand How AI and experience-based ticketing are redefining fan engagement and revenue strategyResources and Links:Connect with Bill Miles on LinkedIn.Learn more about Next League on our website and LinkedIn. We are leading sports organizations into the digital future.Dave’s book is available now! Get your copy of The Business of Sports Technology: How To Make Smart Decisions That Drive Your Organization Forward.