Beaumont's indoor soccer team has a new owner

FILE - Texas Strikers midfielder Rico Keeling, center, practices passing excursuses during Wednesday nights practice at Cris Quinn Indoor Soccer Complex Beaumont is home to the semi professional soccer team the Texas Strikers that competes in the Professional Arena Soccer League. Michael Rivera/@michaelrivera88 less FILE - Texas Strikers midfielder Rico Keeling, center, practices passing excursuses during Wednesday nights practice at Cris Quinn Indoor Soccer Complex Beaumont is home to the semi professional soccer team ... more Image 1 of / 34 Caption Close Beaumont's indoor soccer team has a new owner 1 / 34 Back to Gallery

Thomas Guerriero explained that this time will be different because he understands the culture of Beaumont.

Guerriero's purchase of Beaumont's struggling indoor soccer team, the Texas Strikers, went public Thursday at Ford Arena.

"In every professional sports league, people think it's easy to start a team and run it. It's not that easy," Guerriero said. "You have to understand there's a science and where you're going. We understand this city. Obviously I don't sound like I'm from here, but we've done enough homework that we know what we're in for and we're excited to give the city something they haven't seen."

Guerriero is the President and CEO of the Florida-based, publicly traded company, Oxford City Football Club, Inc., which owns three soccer teams in England and now one in the United States with the addition of the Strikers. The team's new name is Oxford City FC of Texas.

The Strikers arrived two years ago and after a pair of losing seasons with sagging attendance, appeared to be heading to the graveyard of failed pro teams in Beaumont.

Guerriero acquired the team on July 22 for what he said was a "significant cost" in a decision that was three years in the making. He said Beaumont was the best city in the country to start a team because of its projected growth, warm climate and passion for sports.

To draw crowds, Guerriero said he is providing a combination of sports and entertainment, including shows before games, at halftime and after them. The team's first home game on Nov. 8, will feature a performance from a Journey tribute band.

"Our focus is to have the community understand that on a Saturday night, if there's something to do, it's going to be right here at Ford Arena," Guerriero said.

The team's home schedule includes eight games, all on Saturday, spanning from November to February. Guerriero said this will not conflict with high school or college football games since his team will bring in a different culture.

Oxford City FC of Texas shifts to a larger league than what the Strikers were playing in. Beaumont now represents one of 23 squads in the Major Arena Soccer League, which includes teams from larger markets like Baltimore, Dallas and Las Vegas.

Open tryouts are scheduled for Sept. 20-21 at Ford Park and will cost participants $150.

Guerriero has tapped Strikers' coach Topper Cogan to lead the Oxford City team.

Cogan said he is glad the team has new leadership.

For the past two years, Cogan has had to do virtually everything himself. But under a new team name and bolstered staff, including a director of operations, director of scouting and general manager, Cogan said he can concentrate on soccer.

"I get to focus on coaching on the field instead of washing uniforms after games," he said.

AZaleaon@BeaumontEnterprise.com

Twitter.com/avi_zaleon