George Sipple, and Shawn Windsor

Detroit Free Press

Detroit City FC announced today that it will distribute $107,000 in revenue-sharing checks to 492 investors who participated in a grassroots campaign last fall and winter to rehabilitate Keyworth Stadium in Hamtramck.

The soccer club, which formerly played at Detroit Cass Tech High School, aimed to raise $400,000-750,000 and wound up raising $725,500.

The club's goal has been to return 35% of investors' money in a four-to-eight-year period. Because its revenue is expected to be 17% higher than projected this year, investors will be paid back slightly more than the planned 10.4% internal rate of return this time.

Rehab of the 80-year-old Keyworth Stadium included structural improvements to the grandstands, locker rooms, restrooms and lighting. Supporters helped with clean-up, painted the bleachers and did outreach work throughout Hamtramck neighborhoods.

A total of 52,550 fans attended DCFC’s 10 home matches this season, a 48% increase in attendance from 2015.

“It’s been a remarkable year in terms of the growth of DCFC," club co-owner Todd Kropp said in a released statement. “We set extremely ambitious goals for 2016, and with all the supporters who once again rallied behind us, we proved that a club that has close ties to its community can be a huge success.

“Although we met or exceeded most of our targets for 2016, we are not going to get complacent. We’re already looking at how we can reach an even wider audience for 2017.”

Co-owner Alex Wright recently told the Free Press that the club is looking into improving the fan experience for next season. Among the possibilities in could be vendors bringing food and beverages to seated fans and also adding seating in the concession area.

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