Team President Costa Papista explains the history and significance of the name and logo for Flint's new semi-pro soccer team. Mike Naddeo | Flintside

FLINT, Michigan — The 2019 National Championship Flint City Bucks will return to their now-hallowed Atwood Stadium to face off against Great Lakes Division newcomers, Grand Rapids FC.

The much-anticipated match will happen on Saturday, May. 16.

For fans who can’t stand to wait that long, the Bucks will host a friendly match in on Saturday, May 9 and a Michigan Milk Cup quarter-final on Tuesday, May 12. Both matches will be held at Kettering’s Atwood Stadium. The opponent for the May 9 match will be announced in the coming week.

The Michigan Milk Cup features 12 top Michigan based teams in single-elimination brackets leading to a championship match on June 30, 2020. The Bucks were named co-champions of the Milk Cup along with Oakland County FC after severe weather caused their match to be canceled.

Towards the end of May, the Bucks will be hosting the USASA Hank Steinbrecher Cup. The national four-team championship features the top amateur clubs in the U.S. Last season, the Bucks won this prestigious award for the third time in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Two semifinals matches will be held on Friday, May 29 followed by the final on Sunday, May 31.

The Bucks will have a full season as well as many new opponents. Grand Rapids FC is only one of the five new clubs to join the Great Lakes Division. The others include AFC Ann Arbor, Louisville City FC, Oakland County FC and South Bend Lions FC. Chicago FC United and West Virginia Alliance FC have been relocated to other divisions for geographical balance.

“ It is going to be a balanced schedule for everyone but perhaps the most difficult division from top to bottom that we have ever seen. Every game is going to be a real battle this year,” said Flint City Bucks Chairman and 2019 USL 2 co-executive of the year Dan Duggan.

The USL 2 playoffs will begin on July 17 and 18 with the Central Conference semifinal and final. These matches will be followed by National semifinals held on July, 25. The USL 2 National The final will be played on Saturday, Aug. 1.

Tickets to watch the Flint City Bucks, as well as parking passes, can be purchased on the Bucks' website or on Ticketmaster.