As a veteran of the business side of soccer in North America, new Reno 1868 FC General Manager Andy Smith is definitely pleased with where the club stands as it prepares for its inaugural season in the USL in 2017.

The club has its official name, crest and uniforms for the upcoming season. It has unveiled a partnership with the San Jose Earthquakes that will see the two organizations collaborate closely, and it has hosted a pair of games this summer to get a feel for what next year will bring.

“Having all those things in place at this early stage is, I really think, a learned lesson from seeing all of the teams that have had success in launching their teams, doing it right,” said Smith recently. “Time is definitely something that’s on our side, but we know every day is a day we can’t get back, so we’re making the most of it.”

Since Reno was awarded a USL franchise last year, Smith had been keeping an eye on its progress. While the process of earning his new position was an elongated one after he first contacted the club in March – thanks in part to the completion of the partnership with San Jose – Smith remained in close contact as the building blocks were put in place.

Now he’s looking forward to working with both 1868 FC President Eric Edelstein and his team in Reno, and the Earthquakes technical staff to build a side that will fulfill the dual purpose of providing San Jose’s players the chance to reach their potential, and a side that can compete strongly in the USL on the field.