Orange County Soccer Club (OCSC) is actively seeking new investors as it embarks on an ambitious expansion initiative, according to owner James Keston. The club aims to secure between $10 million and $15 million to significantly enhance its operations and infrastructure within Orange County.
Keston outlined plans to transform the 10-year-old franchise into what he termed "a world-class organization." This vision includes expanding the club's stadium, establishing a larger youth academy, and ultimately launching a professional women’s team. Keston noted that the club has "in many ways been a startup for the last decade or so," expressing a long-term goal for OCSC to endure for 50 or 100 years, rather than just its initial decade.
The club has begun discussions with potential partners to build upon its existing foundation in Orange County and has engaged Polar Sun Ventures as an advisor in this process. This strategic move coincides with increased visibility for OCSC. The club has benefited from heightened attention stemming from the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup and the U.S. Men’s National Team’s training sessions held at Great Park’s Championship Soccer Stadium, which serves as OCSC's home field. Keston characterized these events as "a great thing for us and a great thing for Irvine."
OCSC recently concluded a record-breaking season, drawing the three largest crowds in its history. This included two consecutive sellouts at its 6,500-seat venue, following a 30% increase in stadium capacity earlier in the year. The club reported a 10% rise in single-game ticket sales, while early renewals and new sales for 2027 season tickets have climbed approximately 30% compared to the same period last year.
As Orange County’s sole professional soccer team, OCSC was among the 12 founding members of the United Soccer League (USL). The USL has since grown into a 25-team development circuit, frequently serving as a pathway for players advancing to Major League Soccer (MLS) and international clubs.
A significant catalyst behind the club's capital raise is its positioning for the USL’s planned launch of a new Division One men’s league, USL Premier, in 2028. This new league is targeting 20 teams and will anchor a new three-division system, introducing promotion and relegation to American men’s professional soccer for the first time. OCSC currently competes in the Western Conference of the USL Championship, which is the second tier of U.S. soccer, below MLS.
Keston emphasized the excitement surrounding this development, stating that OCSC "certainly want to be in that conversation." A key component of meeting the requirements for the new league, according to Keston, is stadium size. The club's initial plans involve increasing its current stadium capacity to 8,000 seats, with the potential to further expand to 10,000. Concurrently, efforts are also underway to establish a professional women’s team for Orange County.