Detroit City FC CEO: 'We are committed to paying a living wage'

Detroit City FC’s much-hyped transition from amateur to professional this season means many things for Detroit and professional soccer across the US. It means more matches per season, more travel across the country, more improvements to the stadium, and more money needed to fund all this - including to pay players – for the first time in the club’s history.

Since its founding in 2012, “Le Rouge” has filled its ranks with unpaid NCAA players in their offseason. Now, as the team looks to establish the new, 10-team NPSL Pro League with this fall’s Founder’s Cup, DCFC will see new heights (and new challenges) as it confronts a daunting budget.

CEO and co-founder Sean Mann isn’t concerned.

"We are committed to paying a living wage," he told Crain’s last week in a story that detailed how DCFC plans to fund the transition.

DCFC will compensate their 26 professional players about $20,000 plus housing and some meals this season. Most of the funding will come from the increase in revenue that will accompany more matches, Mann told Crain’s.

This year, DCFC is set for 16 home matches, compared to 13 last season.

The games are expected to be well attended as DCFC has sold thousands of season tickets and boasts steadily increasing attendance figures. Not to mention there increasingly global fanbase, even attracting British rockers Mumford & Sons for a kick-around last week while in town for a Detroit performance at Little Caesar's arena.

Thanks to the @MumfordAndSons crew for stopping by @CityFieldhouse and @CityClubhouse for a kick around and pints to celebrate their tour! #DCTID pic.twitter.com/u1RWerGAHT

— Detroit City FC (@DetroitCityFC) March 28, 2019

DCFC will also play three international friendly matches at Hamtramck’s Keyworth Stadium, but details are not out yet.

Also set to offset increased expenditures is DCFC’s new VIP section. The section will feature four refurbished shipping containers, each divided into three suites that can accommodate 16 people. The suites can be rented for $10,000 per season or $800 for one match.

The club is also looking to sell naming rights for the containers to local businesses.

Mann told Crain’s: "For us, it's a fun tie-in to the rail yard and the aesthetic of Keyworth and the surrounding neighborhood."

Will Feuer is an intern at Metro Times.

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