PHOTO CREDIT: Club Tijuana
San Diego, California – once nicknamed “America’s Finest City” – is a city overlooked by MLS and even lower division leagues like USL and NASL despite its rich soccer culture. The city is even in jeopardy of losing two of its biggest icons; the San Diego Chargers and Comic-Con.
The Chargers have made clear its intentions of moving out to Los Angeles if a new stadium deal can’t be reached, and the world famous comic convention could also be looking at bigger, better, and more modern venues like LA or Las Vegas.
But while the the above look to move out of America’s Finest City, one team is stepping up to win the hearts over of the San Diego people. Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles (Xolos) want to be San Diego’s team.
Tijuana is a young but very established club.
Success has come natural to the border town soccer team. In 2007 it was founded. By 2011 it had won promotion into Mexico’s first division league Liga MX and by 2012 it had been crowned champions of the Liga MX. In 2013 the Xolos had remarkable performances in prestigious international competitions; quarter-finalist in the 2013 Copa Libertadores and semifinalist in the 2013/14 CONCACAF Champions League.
No San Diego sports franchise has been able to bring home a national trophy. The closest San Diego has gotten was a 1994 Superbowl appearance by the Chargers and two World Series appearances by the San Diego Padres in 1984 and 1998.
It is estimated by club officials that over a quarter of the usually sell-out crowds at the Estadio Caliente during the Xolos league matches cross the border from the USA; approximately 30%. That kind of fan support is the reason why Club Tijuana has made it a priority to reach out to the under-served sports market of San Diego – and to do so in English.
On Monday San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer hosted Club Tijuana executive and players in his downtown office.
“We are not two separate cities, San Diego/Tijuana” said Mayor Faulconer to members of the media present. “We are one region, and the Xolos are the team of the region.”
Four of Club Tijuana’s players players as well as the Deputy General Manager Roberto Cornejo presented the Mayor with an official team jersey personalized with his name and the number “619” (San Diego’s area code).
All four players present at the meeting with the Mayor have ties to San Diego and its surrounding cities as well as all being members of the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) at various age categories. Joe Corona is a Sweetwater High (National City) graduate. Paul Arriola and Alejandro Guido graduated from Mater Dei High (Chula Vista), while Arce was born in Chula Vista.
