AV Alta FC
| Full name | AV Alta Football Club |
|---|---|
| Founded | October 4, 2023; 2 years ago (2023年10月04日) |
| Stadium | Lancaster Municipal Stadium |
| Capacity | 6,000 |
| Owner(s) | J David Harden John Smelzer Bob Roback |
| President | John Smelzer |
| Head coach | Brian Kleiban |
| League | USL League One |
| 2025 | USL League One, 9th of 14 |
| Website | avaltafc.com |
| Current season | |
AV Alta Football Club, commonly referred to as AV Alta FC or Alta, is an American professional soccer team based in Lancaster, California. First announced in 2023, the team plays in the USL League One since 2025. Their home field is Lancaster Municipal Stadium, also known as "The Hangar".
History
[edit ]On October 4, 2023, the United Soccer League announced that the city of Lancaster, California, had been awarded a USL League One expansion team which would start play in the 2025 season. John Smelzer, an entrepreneur who worked with the United States Soccer Federation for the 1994 FIFA World Cup, was announced as founder and president.[1]
On May 16, 2024, Brian Kleiban was announced as the team's inaugural head coach. Kleiban had held coaching roles with FC Barcelona, Los Angeles FC and Chivas USA.[2]
The club's name — AV Alta FC — and logo were unveiled on May 17, 2024.[3] Former U.S. international and Major League Soccer player Miguel Ibarra, who hails from the area, was announced as the club's first player on December 9, 2024.[4]
In their first match in club history, the club lost to the South Georgia Tormenta FC 2–0 away.[5] However, in their inaugural match in both the U.S. Open Cup and at the Lancaster Municipal Stadium, AV Alta won 3–1 over the Ventura County Fusion, with Jerry Desdunes scoring the first goal in club history.[6]
Club identity, crest and colors
[edit ]The club's official name, crest and colors were unveiled in front of thousands of fans in Lancaster on May 17, 2024.[7] "AV" is a common local nickname for the Antelope Valley, while "Alta" is meant to allude to the region's location in the high desert, its ties to the aerospace industry, and to Alta California, the region's name prior to California statehood.
The club's official colors are referred to as Joshua Green and Desert Sand, the former in reference to the abundant Joshua trees in the area. The shape of the crest is meant to resemble a California poppy, while the angled font of the "AV" at the center of the crest was inspired by angular shape of the B2 stealth bomber.
Stadium
[edit ]The team play at Lancaster Municipal Stadium, also known as "The Hangar", a former minor league ballpark that was home to the Lancaster JetHawks until 2020.[8] The stadium was reconfigured for soccer use by adding seating in the former outfield at a cost of 17ドル million, and has a total of 5,300 seats, including a safe standing supporters' terrace on the north side.[4]
Current roster
[edit ]- As of March 16, 2026
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Record
[edit ]Year-by-year
[edit ]| Season | USL League One | Playoffs | U.S. Open Cup | Top Scorer 1 | G | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts | Pos | |||||
| 2025 | 30 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 42 | 47 | 36 | 9th | Did not qualify | Round of 32 | United States Eduardo Blancas | 11 |
^ 1. Top Scorer includes all goals scored in regular season, league playoffs, U.S. Open Cup, and other competitive continental matches.
Honors
[edit ]Player honors
[edit ]| Year | Player | Country | Position | Honor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Eduardo Blancas | United States United States | Midfield | All-League Second Team |
References
[edit ]- ^ "USL Antelope Valley announces plans to bring professional soccer to Lancaster, Calif". USL League One. October 4, 2023. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
- ^ "USL Antelope Valley Announces Brian Kleiban as the Club's First Head Coach". AV Alta FC. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
- ^ Caiuch, Eduard (May 18, 2024). "AV Alta FC, equipo de tercera división en USL, busca llenar un vacío en Antelope Valley". Los Angeles Times en Español (in Spanish). Retrieved May 20, 2024.
- ^ a b Baxter, Kevin (December 9, 2024). "Showcasing a homegrown star will be part of AV Alta's ambitious launch plans". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved December 13, 2024.
- ^ Savannah Tribune (March 19, 2025). "Match Recap: Tormenta FC Downs AV Alta FC 2-0 - The Savannah Tribune" . Retrieved March 21, 2025.
- ^ "2025 US Open Cup Round 1: AV ALTA FC beat Ventura County Fusion in club's inaugural match". thecup.us. March 20, 2025. Retrieved March 21, 2025.
- ^ "AV ALTA FC hosts Thousands in Downtown Block Party as it Revealed its Crest and Name". AV ALTA FC. June 20, 2024. Retrieved November 5, 2025.
- ^ Baxter, Kevin (October 1, 2023). "How a pro soccer team hopes to create a new identity in the Antelope Valley". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
