Forward Madison FC will kick off its home slate of USL League One games on May 15 against North Carolina FC, the club announced in a press release Tuesday. The Flamingos will not decide a home location for the 2021 season until they learn more about potential capacities for the 2021 season.
“We are hopeful we will return to Breese Stevens Field for the 2021 Forward Madison season,” Owner & COO Conor Caloia said in a statement. “However, the current health orders allow for a maximum capacity of 500 fans, which does not create a viable business situation to return to Breese. Therefore, no decision on a stadium location for 2021 will be made until the next health orders go into effect on April 7.”
In an email to Madison365, Caloia said the club does not have a set minimum number of allowable fans that it needs to see in whatever new order is issued in April.
“We will interpret the order and apply it to our venue. At that time we will determine if it is financially viable to return to Breese,” he said.
He also said it is possible that the club could play the first few home games outside of Dane County and still return to Breese Stevens Field later in the summer.
“We are anxiously awaiting each order in hopes of additional loosening to allow for a viable and safe environment at Breese,” he said.
The club played all of its home games at Hart Park in Wauwatosa last season due to health restrictions in Dane County.
USL League One announced earlier this year that its teams will play a 28-game season with a flexible start date, allowing some matches to kick off as early as April 10. Forward Madison will play its first game May 8, when it travels to Arizona to take on FC Tucson.
