ASHWAUBENON - Loren Prince paid his season ticket deposit for Green Bay's new soccer team before any of the details were announced.

The Green Bay resident didn't need to hear them. Soccer is coming in May 2019 and that was enough.

"I'm very excited to have soccer come to Green Bay," he said. "It will be a great example of what soccer can do for this community."

On Saturday, Madison-based Big Top Events announced a League 2 team of the United Soccer League will share Green Bay Bullfrogs' new stadium in Ashwaubenon. The team will play about 20 games each season, including 10 at Capital Credit Union Park.

Big Top will also run a USL League 1 team in Madison beginning in 2019.

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Peter Wilt, managing director of both the Madison and Green Bay teams, previously was the Chicago Fire's first general manager and led an effort to bring a Major League Soccer franchise to Milwaukee in the 2000s.

USL League 2 currently has 74 teams and continues to expand throughout the United States and Canada. Green Bay's team will be grouped into the Heartland Conference of the Central Division. It will find rivals in Chicago, Des Moines, St. Louis, Indianapolis and Thunder Bay, Ontario.

USL League 2 teams consist of top level college soccer players who have goals of playing professionally after college. League 2 alumni include current U.S. Men's National Team midfielder Graham Zusi and retired Major League Soccer and national team striker Brian Ching.

"A lot of guys in MLS have taken this route to enhance their game and keep growing," Kamler said. "You will get to see them beforehand, see them develop up close."

Former MLS All Star Brian Kamler of De Pere will coach the Green Bay team, which Big Top officials said will be named based on fan input, including a public vote, in the coming weeks.

"We're going to get the team name soon," Wilt said. "We will be seeking the public's input for both a name and the team's colors and for finding ways to connect the team with the community."

Tickets for the May to August season range from $8-$45 for single games and $75 to $425 for season tickets.

Big Top Events Chief Operating Officer Conor Caloia said the strong soccer pedigree of the management shows the group is serious about expanding soccer in Green Bay now and statewide in coming years.

"We're taking soccer very seriously," Caloia said. "We want to be at the top of the league from the start."

Close to three dozen soccer fans showed up at Green Bay Distillery Saturday morning to watch an English Premier League match before getting the news about league soccer's arrival in Green Bay.

"The fan base will be important to the team," General Manager Dannon Anderson said. "We'll be excited to see you out at our games."

Jason Weier, who played soccer at Bay Port High School and the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, said the time is right to bring a team to northeast Wisconsin.

"I think the area's been calling for it. The support for club teams around the area shows they love the sport," Weier said. "It obviously will not be MLS caliber, but it will be something to help young players here build and grow and expand. There's so much opportunity for soccer. I hope this takes off."