The Fredericksburg Economic Development Authority took up the business of Fredericksburg City Soccer Club at its Sept. 14 and Oct. 5 meetings. The authority went into closed session on a sponsorship proposal and took no public vote after it returned to open session.
Brett Pierce introduced himself in open session on Oct. 5 as operations director for the club and said he was there to answer questions. The club, also called Fred City, was founded in 2026. Ownership includes former City Council member Jason Graham, Gilberto Baez, Victor Fuster, and Charlie Payne. It announced in September that it will field men’s and women’s teams in USL League Two and the USL W League beginning in 2027, with first games expected in May, likely at the University of Mary Washington’s Battleground Athletic Complex. City Council proclaimed Sept. 23 “Fred City Soccer Club Day” the night before the public announcement, citing sports tourism and community benefits.
The closed-session language for negotiation of a sponsorship proposal with a local amateur sports franchise for an upcoming season was on the Sept. 14 agenda. On Oct. 5 the authority adopted the closed-meeting motion under Virginia Code § 2.2-3711(A)(6), which covers investment of public funds where bargaining is involved and disclosure would hurt the governmental unit’s financial interest. After the closed session, members certified that only the stated business was discussed. Secretary Eugeniy Mikityuk read the certification. The open record shows no vote to approve, deny, or fund a sponsorship, and no dollar amount or term was stated in open session.
A second closed meeting followed on Oct. 5 under § 2.2-3711(A)(8) for consultation with legal counsel on restructuring an existing loan, including a borrower’s request to subordinate the authority’s security interest. That certification also passed. No open-session loan vote followed, and no borrower name was spoken.
Counsel Jackson Key was present. Chair Meredith Schatz presided. The EDA’s budget materials have listed a Sports Tourism Fund line, and the authority runs a separate special-event sponsorship grant program capped at $2,500, but neither is identified in the open materials as the club’s request. The closed-session discussion itself is not public.
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