It’s finally here. Over four months after an agonizing playoff loss on penalties to Louisville City, it’s time for Memphis 901 FC to once again take the field. This will be the team’s sixth season in the USL Championship. But unlike their previous five seasons in the league, they will not be competing in the Eastern Conference. With two teams from the Western Conference folding and two teams being added to the Eastern Conference, 901 FC will be competing in the Western Conference this year. And because they’re now in the Western Conference, they get to open their 2024 season against the Las Vegas Lights down at AutoZone Park.
While last season may have ended in gut-wrenching fashion, it cannot be overstated just how good of an offseason Memphis 901 FC has had since then. They were able to retain ten players from last season’s team that scored an upset over an MLS team in the US Open Cup, finished fourth in the Eastern Conference, and hosted a home playoff game (the team’s third straight playoff appearance). On top of that, they hired a COO, Jay Mims, to better promote and market the team. The players they have brought in have all stated their desire to both be in Memphis and to win at a high level. But it wasn’t just roster and front office moves that were why this past offseason was so successful. There were quality results in preseason games too.
Memphis 901 FC’s first preseason was on the road in Athens, Georgia against MLS side Atlanta United. Nighte Pickering but the Beale Street Boys up 1-0 after just three minutes. The team fought doggedly before Atlanta’s extra weeks of preseason training finally made a difference as it finished 1-1. Next up for Memphis was another road trip to an MLS team, this time against Nashville SC. Again, it was 901 FC who struck first, this time through Luiz Fernando. But like the first game, this one too finished a 1-1 draw. Their first, and as it turned out only, preseason game in Memphis was over at the Billy Murphy Track & Soccer Stadium on the South Campus of the University of Memphis. The Beale Street Boys struck first again but this time they were up 2-0 at the half before the Tigers were able to pull one back in the second half. It wasn’t enough for them however and the 901 FC was able to pick up their first win of the preseason. Finally, they wrapped their preseason up with another road draw, this one a 1-1 affair against St. Louis City II of MLS Next Pro.
The Las Vegas Lights are a year older than Memphis 901 FC, having begun play in the USL Championship in 2018, but are far less accomplished. This will be their seventh season in the league and they are now on their eighth manager (the most famous of which was former USMNT striker Eric Wynalda) in Dennis Sanchez. They have never qualified for the playoffs and have never advanced past the Third Round of the US Open Cup. But they have a new owner who has proven willing to spend money to upgrade the roster. That new owner is none other than former Toronto Blue Jays superstar Jose Bautista. However, it is worth noting that they have taken their time in putting a roster together, which has made it just a little bit more difficult for Memphis 901 FC to prepare for them (but head coach Stephen Glass mentioned in an interview with Greg Gaston and Eli Savioe on Thursday morning that the team will rely more on their own preparation and characteristics in that type of situation).
When, Where
Date: Saturday, March 9, 2024
Venue: AutoZone Park
City: Memphis, Tennessee
Time: 3pm CT
TV: ESPN+
Tickets: Season tickets and Single game tickets
All-Time Series
Memphis 901 FC leads 1-0-1
Last Meeting
Date: Saturday, April 15, 2023
Venue: AutoZone Park
City: Memphis, Tennessee
Attendance: 3,734
Result: Memphis 901 FC 2-2 Las Vegas Lights
Next Game
Date: Saturday, March 16, 2024
Competition: USL Regular Season
Match-Up: Memphis 901 FC vs. Indy Eleven
Venue: AutoZone Park
City: Memphis, Tennessee
Time: 3pm CT
TV: ESPN+
Tickets: Season tickets and Single game tickets