Maricopa City Council recognized a new professional soccer club that has been utilizing Copper Sky Regional Park and has now signed a local player.
“I’m happy to have been signed with FC Arizona and excited for the season,” said Aaron Mendez, a 2012 graduate of Maricopa High School.
FC Arizona is based in Mesa but has had camps and other activities in Maricopa.
“We worked really hard at trying to establish a professional soccer team here in Maricopa, and we had some challenges that we ran into, and it didn’t happen the first time,” Mayor Christian Price said. “But you know what they say – if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.”
FC Arizona’s head coach, Aidan Davison, played pro soccer in Northern Ireland. He addressed the council at Tuesday’s meeting. “I’m working on my Arizona accent as we speak,” he said.
The team is set to debut this year and play its home games at Mesa Community College.
“It’s about helping the local product and elevating them to the next level,” Davison said.
![A blue square highlights the area of the proposed affordable housing development and "Restaurant Row" sitting south of city hall and the Maricopa Police Department. Preliminary architectural drawings were not yet available. [City of Maricopa]](https://www.inmaricopa.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/041724-affordable-housing-project-restaurant-row-100x70.jpg "Affordable apartments planned near ‘Restaurant Row’")
