Make an FC Naples Soccer Match Part of Your Visit
Make an FC Naples Soccer Match Part of Your Visit to Florida’s Paradise Coast
Florida’s Paradise Coast has an exciting new activity for visitors to put on their don’t-miss lists. The year 2025 marks the inaugural season for FC Naples, the newest franchise in the United Soccer League. The club plays its games at the Paradise Coast Sports Complex, located just outside downtown Naples.
With the debut of FC Naples — and a season that runs from early March to late October — Florida’s Paradise Coast adds a professional spectator sport to its already vibrant mix of participation sports, including youth travel soccer, lacrosse, football and other tournaments. Many of these tournaments are held on the eight fields of the 200-acre Sports Complex.
There’s nothing like the excitement surrounding a new team like FC Naples, especially when it’s the first professional sports franchise in town. Visitors have the opportunity to join locals and experience the excitement of a rising franchise – all while seeing top-tier athletes play what soccer legend Pelé called “the beautiful game.” The United Soccer League includes clubs in small- to mid-sized markets like Chattanooga, Tennessee; Richmond, Virginia; Portland, Maine; Spokane, Washington, and others. The competition on the pitch is nothing less than fierce.
The Paradise Coast Sports Complex Stadium has 3,500 fixed seats (many of them shaded) and can hold up to 5,000 people. In its first season, the team has drawn more than 4,000 fans per match, making the contests bustle with energy while retaining an up-close feel for spectators. With major-league sporting events in big cities pricing out a lot of families, FC Naples games are affordable. The average ticket price runs around $25, and there are suites available. As a bonus, parking is only $10, unless you want to find a spot in the Blue Lot, which is free.
The matches start at 7:00 or 7:30 p.m., but by all means come early. A pre-game party kicks off at 5:00 on the adjacent Great Lawn and The Cove outdoor bar and food truck pavilion. The Cove, which sits by a small lake (complete with a beach), offers food and drink, plus cornole, ping-pong, bocce ball and other games. A live DJ revs up the crowd.
Attending an FC Naples match is a terrific activity for visiting sports fans and those looking to mix in a new experience to go along with lounging on the beach or at the hotel pool, dining in our destination’s remarkable array of restaurants, or engaging in the myriad attractions and family-friendly adventures that Florida’s Paradise Coast has to offer. If you or your children play soccer, an FC Naples game is an experience you won’t soon forget.
If you’re planning a game-day trip, why not pencil in an overnight stay at one of the many hotels and luxury resorts on the Paradise Coast? An excellent place to start is Great Wolf Lodge. It’s definitely not your average family resort. Just steps away from the PCSC, the vast complex includes 500 suites, plus a 100,000-square foot indoor waterpark with the water set at a comfortable 84 degrees year-round. Guests have unlimited access.
The resort, which opened in September 2024, also features a giant adventure park with a rope course, mini-golf, zipline, bowling, an arcade room that’s open 24 hours, a virtual reality experience, and more.
As you know, the weather is gorgeous on Florida’s Paradise Coast, so Great Wolf Lodge also provides a seasonal outdoor pool and the Grand Lagoon water park. To feed hungry families, the resort features five themed restaurants and bars.
If you prefer something more refined, the Paradise Coast Sports Complex is just a short drive to such luxury waterfront resorts as The Ritz Carlton, Naples, LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort, Naples Grand Beach Resort and others. Another choice is the posh Inn on Fifth in the heart of downtown Naples’ dining and shopping district. If you’re looking for something a bit more secluded, there’s always the luxury beach resorts on Marco Island — including the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort and the Hilton Marco Island Beach Resort & Spa — which are less than 20 miles south of PCSC.
So if you’re planning a visit to Florida’s Paradise Coast, check the FC Naples schedule. If they’re playing while you’re in town, purchase your tickets and make your way to the Paradise Coast Sports Complex. You’re sure to get a kick out of it.