BY DAN STICKRADT
Communications Specialist | Web And Content Editor | Director of News |
Social Media Director | Interns and Freelance Coordinator
PH: (248) 884-1051
TW: @LocalSportsFans @MiSoccerNetwork
WATERFORD, Mich. – Three years after tying the very first game in the Midwest Premier League’s short history, Inter Detroit is going all out to promote its brand, team and league for the upcoming season.
Beginning in May, Inter Detroit has agreed to have the professional Michigan Soccer Network staff come out and conduct live broadcasts for at least five on their games. The games will be streamed live on YouTube and various other social media platforms.
“I think it will be great exposure for our club, our league and even MSN,” offered Inter Detroit President Edwin Jiminez. “They have already come out and did a couple of our games in the past. Now, we’ll have at five games on their network. This is a great thing for us.”
Inter Detroit ended up tying Livonia City 1-1 back in May of 2021 and have been one of the top franchises in the pre-professional amateur league, winning a pair of division championships and the overall title last year. There are four divisions in the MPL, including 13 teams from Michigan in the growing league. The MPL also draws from Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Missouri and Iowa and could further expand into other Midwest states in the upcoming years.
There are 37 franchises in the league slated to play in 2024, including the entire Michigan-based Great Lakes Eastern Conference membership of Cedars FC (Dearborn, Mich.), Futsal Factory Academy (Dexter, Mich.), Inter Detroit (Pontiac and Detroit Area, Mich.), Jaguars FC (Novi, Mich.), Liquid Football (Detroit, Mich.), Livonia FC (Livonia, Mich.), Michigan Stars FC (Washington Twp., Mich.), Thundercats FC (Ira Twp, Mich.), Troy United FC (Troy, Mich.) and Ypsi Yetis FC (Ypsilanti, Mich.).
For the first time, Inter Detroit will play its home games this season at Waterford Mott High School, less than 10 minutes form its current Pontiac-based offices. Previously, the team played home games at Riverview Gabriel Richard High School downriver and at various other spot locations. The season will kick off May 4 at Waterford Mott.
“I think a lot of our fan base actually comes from Oakland and Macomb counties, and maybe a little bit of Wayne County,” admitted Jiminez. “So, this is great for us, less of a drive for our staff, players and for most fans. Plus, having some of our games (streamed) live will also help us increase fans.”
Inter Detroit was first organized in 2019 but its inaugural campaign was wiped away due to the Covid lockdowns and restrictions. Inter Detroit began play in 2021 where the club won its division and has remained near the top of the league ever since that inaugural campaign. The roster for the 2024 season is mostly completed, as the club is in negotiations with a few more players to solidify the remaining roster spots. The front office is also busy securing additional sponsorships and advertisers to help with various costs.
“We’re looking forward to it (having the games streamed live) and about our chances to try to win it (the title),” added Jimenez. “I think we should have a really strong squad again this year.”
INTER DETROIT:
President: Edwin Jimenez
Head Coach: Ryan Rowe
Sporting Director: Jorge Medina
Assistant Coach: Luis Jimenez
Technical Staff: AJ Santavy (SoccerIQ), Christian Sipley (SoccerIQ). Kevin Tapchom (Evolution Performance Training)
HOME FIELD FOR 2024: Waterford Mott High School.
CONTACT: Front offices via its website, https://interdetroit.com/contact-us
TEAMS IN THE MIDWEST PREMIER LEAGUE (MEN’S SOCCER)
GREAT LAKES CONFERENCE-WEST DIVISION
1927 SC (Fort Wayne, Ind.)
Holland Rovers (Holland, Mich.)
Indy Boyz FC (Indianapolis, Ind.)
Lansing Common FC (Lansing, Mich.)
Northern Indiana FC (South Bend, Ind.)
Tulip City United SC (Holland, Mich.)
GREAT LAKES CONFERENCE-EAST DIVISION
Cedars FC (Dearborn, Mich.)
Futsal Factory Academy (Dexter, Mich.)
Inter Detroit (Pontiac and Detroit Area, Mich.)
Jaguars FC (Novi, Mich.)
Liquid Football (Detroit, Mich.)
Livonia FC (Livonia, Mich.)
Michigan Stars FC (Washington Twp., Mich.)
Thundercats FC (Ira Twp, Mich.)
Troy United FC (Troy, Mich.)
Ypsi Yetis FC (Ypsilanti, Mich.)
HEARTLAND CONFERENCE
DIVISION 1
Bavarian United (Milwaukee, Wisc.)
Chicago House AC (Chicago, Ill.)
Czarni Jaslo (Chicago, Ill.)
Dekalb United (Dekalb, Ill.)
RWB Adria (Chicago, Ill.)
Steel City FC (Joliet, Ill.)
DIVISION 2
AFC Roscoe (Chicago, Ill.)
Berber City FC (Chicago, Ill.)
Chicago Ghost FC (Chicago, Ill.)
Edgewater Castle FC (Chicago, Ill.)
Green Bay Glory (Green Bay, Wisc.)
Rockford FC (Rockford, Ill.)
Strikers Fox Valley SC (St. Charles, Ill.)
GATEWAY CONFERENCE
AFC Columbia (Columbia, Mo.)
Ajax St. Louis (St. Louis, Mo.)
Cedar Rapids Inferno (Cedar Springs, Iowa)
Club Athletico St. Louis (St. Louis, Mo.)
Junction Football Club (Decatur, Ill.)
Pearl City Soccer Club (Muscatine, Iowa)
Southeast Soccer Academy, Iowa)
St. Louis Stars SC, St. Louis, Mo.
(Have a story suggestion for the Premier Media Group and the Michigan Soccer Network regarding club soccer, high school varsity, amateur soccer, collegiate soccer or professional soccer of teams or players with Michigan ties, contact Communications Specialist/Web and Content Editor/Director of News Dan Stickradt via email at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com, or call 248-884-1051. Dan Stickradt is a 31-year veteran of the Michigan Media circles and recently joined the staff full time in March of 2024. Want to schedule a broadcast game or live show, contact PMG/MSN Director of Broadcasting Jonathan Turner for availability and pricing at jonathan@michigansoccernetwork.com.)
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