Off the field, 1868 FC performed strongly as well, enamoring itself with Reno’s local sports fans as the players became immersed in the community away from the field. Those opportunities became more numerous as the season went on, as Edelstein and his team – already well-versed in the business of baseball with the successful Reno Aces – learned plenty about the ways they could connect 1868 FC to the community.

“It took a little bit of time, and then we also realized there was so much more opportunity for the players to become a real piece of the fabric of your community because they aren’t playing every single day,” said Edelstein. “They coached youth teams in the evenings and were out amongst the people, and there was a really great ‘cool factor’ that our soccer team was part of our community, and they were around and involved all season.”

As 1868 FC prepares for its second season in the USL, the numbers continue to look positive for the team off the field, with a large majority of the club’s season-ticket base having renewed and the energy around the club continuing to build with some new rivalries – primarily with fellow Nevada club Las Vegas Lights FC – to engage in this season.

On the field, Russell has had some gaps to fill in his squad, but after the manner which he and General Manager Andy Smith have gone about their business over the past two offseasons, Edelstein has become a major admirer of 1868 FC’s on-field leader.

“Everybody’s a product of their background,” said Edelstein. “Ian’s background as an assistant coach with an MLS team that didn’t have a deep scouting department previously – they’re building that right now – you realize Ian was essentially watching a boatload of film for a decade to try and find players for the Earthquakes, so he absolutely understood the talent that was out there and what translated and what didn’t, and what kind of players he wanted to play his style. I felt like there was almost no learning curve, he got an opportunity, here’s the number you’ve got to work with, go get your team, he had absolute confidence in who he wanted to get, what his values were on there, really forward-thinking for someone who had never been charged with doing that.

“To this day, the level of confidence he has in his own ability to select talent and evaluate talent and grow talent, it’s just incredible. He’s been a great asset, and he loves Reno. He moved his family, bought a house, he’s really dialed in that this is going to be a long-term partnership, and his role in helping the Earthquakes win an MLS Cup is going to be delivering them players from the USL side.”