Kitsap Soccer Club announced November 17th

The day for officially announcing the birth of the Kitsap Soccer Club through United Soccer League offices is set for Monday, November 17th.

We have learned in advance that the club colors will be blue and white, with yellow accents, and that the club will wear blue and white 'hoop' jerseys (horizontal stripes).

Kitsap Soccer Club will become the second currently-operating professional soccer club in the Puget Sound region along with Seattle Sounders FC of Major League Soccer. Both clubs will play their first seasons in 2009. Kitsap will begin life in the PDL, short for "Premier Development League," and will have an instant rivalry with Tacoma Tide FC, just half an hour away. The blue and white hoops will pay their players, making them professional, while most of the PDL clubs use college talent.

Kitsap will play at Bremerton's Memorial Stadium. While the pitch is deep, lush grass, the field dimensions will be a challenge for visitors. The pitch is a long and narrow one.

Owner Robin Waite and KSC's Ben Pecora have been busy lining up sponsors, finalizing facility details for Bremerton's Memorial Stadium, and dealing with the USL in last-minute odds and ends before the club can officially be presented.

Robin and Ben have also been overseeing the name the team contest. Based on recent hints from the Kitsap front office, it appears that "Pumas" has taken the lead over "Paladins" as the club name, though of course we won't know that officially until next Monday.

Is it only a coincidence that a puma was captured a few weeks ago just blocks away from the club office after living in the woods near Bremerton for years? Is it just happenstance that the blue and white 'hooped' jerseys Kitsap will wear will almost certainly come from supplier Puma?

Is the cat out of the bag?

More details on the announcement from the club:

"We have just concluded a "name the team" contest and will make a public announcement next Monday, the 17th. In bringing a professional sports franchise to the peninsula - we believe for the first time ever - we are not only creating unprecedented awareness for our region, we also firmly believe that we are initiating such important things as jobs creation, development - and adding an exciting entertainment option for the people of Kitsap. I hope you will be an important part of our plans - now and in the future - as we initiate and launch several important ventures.

We plan to make the announcement Monday, Nov. 17 at ten a.m. at either the stadium, pending the weather of course, or at our office at 4020 Wheaton Way in East Bremerton. It is our hope that the whole of the ceremony will last not more than an hour.

Media will be invited, along with Congressman Dicks, the Mayors of all Kitsap cities, other community leaders and of course, the contest finalists."