- March 11, 2026
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Pieces of a drum kit were arranged at the lowest row of section 301. A snare drum, rack tom and two floor toms constituted a humble, yet noisy band.
The fans playing them provided a steady pulse to the on-field action at Premier Sports Campus. With each pounding of the drumheads, they chanted "Par-A-Dise."
One man went up to the stands on all four sides bordering the turf. He commanded everyone's attention, hoping to lead them in the wave.
His unrelenting enthusiasm drew mixed reactions, but for the most part, succeeded in persuading others to join in.
These are the signs of a soccer-loving community that has long dreamt of a professional team to call its own.
The people of Sarasota and Manatee counties saw that dream realized March 7 as the Sarasota Paradise debuted in USL League One with a 1-0 loss to AC Boise. After three seasons of amateur play in USL League Two, the club played its first pro match.
"It's always positive when you've got a pro team coming in," said Steve Gent, recreational director for FC Sarasota. "It increases the visibility of actual soccer in the community, and that's a good thing."
Over a year had passed since the Paradise announced their move to USL League One on Feb. 19, 2025. Fans who waited out those many months to finally see the team in action had to wait even longer than expected.
Lightning in the area delayed kickoff from 7:30 p.m. to 9:10 p.m., and as a result, the game didn't end until after 11 p.m. Drizzle persisted throughout the night.
But most of those in attendance remained in their rain-soaked seats, donning umbrellas to witness a major moment in this region's history of the sport.
"It was a testament to what people are craving and what they want to be part of," said Felipe Rojas, head of marketing for the Paradise. "This is a special moment for our city. It's a beautiful thing to see professional soccer here."
Lakewood Ranch's Premier Sports Campus has been the team's home since the 2025 season. Inevitably, its presence there will boost soccer in Manatee County.
That reach won't be restricted to county lines, though. It will transcend them entirely.
Sarasota residents have as much of a right to call this team theirs as Lakewood Ranch residents do.
The club's roots trace back to Sarasota High School's Cleland Stadium, where its first two seasons in USL League Two were played. It averaged 500 fans per game and maxed out at 1,038 there before drawing its record attendance of 2,791 on March 7.
From the beginning, the Paradise presented an opportunity for athletes and coaches to watch soccer in their own backyard at a higher level than high school.
Rojas knows all about that.
After moving to Sarasota from Colombia at 5 years old, he eventually played for Riverview High, graduating in 2016. He also played for the Paradise in 2023 and 2024, serving as team captain for the latter season.
"What this area and community was missing was a pro soccer team — honestly, to unite the youth soccer teams as well," Rojas said. "We definitely saw that in our home opener."
USL League One isn't on the same level as USL Championship, where the Tampa Bay Rowdies compete, or MLS, where Orlando City SC and Inter Miami both play. But that doesn't mean the Paradise aren't entertaining to watch.
Professional soccer is just that — professional. Coach Mika Elovaara has assembled a roster full of young talent, which should persuade Sarasota residents to get on I-75 north to Lakewood Ranch.
Winning, of course, is the ultimate magnet. If the Paradise start piling on victories, their pull in Sarasota County will only be stronger.
The quality of their on-field product surprised Armand Dikranian, Sarasota Christian girls soccer coach, when he attended a match last season.
"I was impressed that they played a pretty exciting brand," Dikranian said. "It was a pretty cool experience that was better than was expected, that's for sure."
He also said the Paradise came up in conversations with his own team once or twice this past season. And he coaches girls — the chatter among boys is likely louder.
They won't exactly idolize players from the pro club right now. It needs to become more established first.
For aspiring youngsters to see professionals locally, though, is a powerful thing.
"Up until now, it's always been a town where we developed some players well," Dikranian said. "A sustained, professional club here now will allow us to hopefully keep the talent that we develop and home-grow some good players here."
They may play in Lakewood Ranch, but make no mistake, the Sarasota Paradise will be true to their name.
The team's impact will be felt in this soccer community, too.
