The new San Diego MLS team has announced the hiring of Ricardo Campos as Executive Vice President of club operations.

He will begin on September 18 and oversee the brand, community, retail, and facility operations for the club, according to a press release from the new MLS franchise.

“It is an absolute honor to join the team at San Diego MLS,” said Campos. “I’m thankful for the opportunity to join the team and be a part of building a football club that is a reflection of this uniquely diverse community in San Diego. The ability to help shape a club is something very unique, even more once I’ve gotten to know about the club’s vision and the ownership group. I am excited about the future of football in San Diego and what we will accomplish together.”

Campos previously was Club President for San Diego Loyal SC since August 2021, but the club has recently announced that they would fold and cease operations at the end of the 2023 USL season because they could not find a new stadium nor academy location in the Southern California area to continue operations according to Chairman Andrew Vassiliadis. 

“It has been an honor to work alongside such talented and caring individuals at the club,” said Campos. “I was always driven by the passion of our supporters, season ticket holders, partners, team members, and players who have lived our mission to ‘Grow Loyalty’ every day. The past four years are an experience I will forever cherish because I have grown so much as a professional and, most importantly, as a human being.”

Campos was the first employee ever hired by the Loyal and will continue to consult for the team through the end of the season. 

Prior to his time with the Loyal, Campos was the Chief Operating Officer for 1904 FC, a start-up NASL team in San Diego at the time, which has since become Albion San Diego and worked in the MLS as the New York Red Bulls Technical Director.

The MLS club already hired a mainstay in the San Diego soccer community by bringing on Jerry Jimenez as Manager of Supporter Relations. Jimenez is well-liked in many soccer circles, having been the Supporters Group Liason with San Diego Wave FC and, before that, worked part-time with the San Diego Sockers as Director of Social Media and Fan Engagement.

In other news regarding the new MLS San Diego team, according to the 2 Balls and a Mic podcast, a reputable outlet for soccer news in San Diego, the team will be named San Diego FC, and expect an official announcement from the team for crest, primary color and name at a supporters rally on October 20, 2023. 

Multiple people at the team, including CEO Tom Penn, have hinted that the club will choose red as one of the primary colors to match the red in Snapdragon Stadium and colors used by the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation. 

Abraham Zepeda

Abraham Zepeda is a bilingual Chula Vista Native covering the Tijuana Xolos for EVT. He spent the summer of 2022 covering San Diego Loyal SC and San Diego Wave FC. He is also currently a student at the University of Oregon pursuing a degree in journalism.