FC Tucson names Amanda Powers, formerly of Albuquerque club, as first-ever team president

FC Tucson announced Tuesday that it has hired its first-ever team president — and Amanda Powers happens to be the second female president in U.S. men’s professional soccer history.

Powers comes to Tucson after her run as start-up chief operating officer for New Mexico United, a United Soccer League Championship team based in Albuquerque.

Powers’ hiring comes just weeks after FC Tucson announced the hiring of John Galas as the club’s new head coach. Galas, who served as an assistant coach in 2019, is FC Tucson’s fifth head coach since the club was founded in 2010.

Under Powers’ leadership, New Mexico United led the league in attendance, ticket and merchandise sales, FC Tucson said in a news release. Powers said she was excited to get started.

“I love this game, I love this city, and I’m honored and excited to use soccer as a vehicle to build community and to honor the unique heritage that makes Tucson special,” Powers said, adding that FC Tucson is not trying to re-create New Mexico United’s success but rather “find that same authentic spirit and build a team and game experience around that, for us, by us.”

Bobby Dulle, the general manager of Phoenix Rising FC, Tucson’s parent club, said Powers brings the right level of dedication to the club and a unique skill set that will serve the Men in Black well.

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“Her background in marketing and community activism, coupled with her business acumen and league-specific experience, are exactly what this club needs,” he said.

Added Powers: “We’re thinking big, and when you think big, the world gets bigger.”

FC Tucson said Powers will start by building the club’s fan base and creating community coalitions. In the upcoming weeks, she’ll outline her campaign for the 2020 season in terms of tickets, promotions, enhanced game-day experience and FC Tucson’s commitment to youth and women’s soccer. New Mexico United led its league in attendance last season, averaging 12,693 fans per game. A total of 215,575 fans poured into Isotopes Park for the club’s 17 home games.

Powers used to sit on the USL Board of Governors and has served as an adviser and franchise builder for USL Championship ownership groups across the country. The San Diego native and Drury University graduate has a background in international economics, which has afforded her the ability to advise teams on stadium feasibility, market strategies and building foundations that meet the needs of professional sports teams, the release said.

Few women have run major men’s professional sports teams over the years. Amy Trask ran the NFL’s Oakland Raiders from 1997-2013, Susan O’Malley ran the Washington Bullets/Wizards from 1991-2007, and Jeanne Bonk has been the Los Angeles Chargers’ president and chief operating officer since 2016. In England, Karren Brady was managing director of Birmingham City FC from 1993-2009, and has been vice-chairman of West Ham United FC since 2010.