Monterey Bay F.C. 2 to play majority of home games at Rabobank Stadium

SEASIDE, Calif. (KION-TV)- UPDATE ON MARCH 13, 2023 AT 9:54 a.m.- On Monday morning, Monterey Bay F.C. announced that Monterey Bay F.C. 2 would be playing the majority of their home games at Rabobank Stadium.

Rabobank Stadium will be hosting four of those home games, with two of those home games taking place at Cardinale Stadium.

Monterey Bay F.C. 2 will have two open tryout dates at Alisal High School. The first date will be Sunday, March 26, with the second and final date being Sunday, April 2. Both tryout dates will be from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. The tryout format will consist of 11v11 games, with the schedule to be announced to registrants on the Wednesday before each tryout date.

Registration will open at 6 p.m. and costs $50, t-shirt included. Players must be 16 years or older. You can register right here.

Monterey Bay F.C. 2 hosting three weeks of pre-tryout clinics in Salinas

UPDATE ON FEB. 24, 2023, AT 2:32 p.m.- Monterey Bay F.C. announced that MBFC2 would host three pre-tryout clinics for aspiring young players at Alisal High School ahead of the development club’s first season in USL League Two this summer.

Schedule:

• Week 1 – March 7 & March 9
• Week 2 – March 14 & March 16
• Week 3 – March 21 & March 23

The tryouts will be held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Each tryout will be held by MBFC2 Head Coach Ramiro Corrales and will be limited to 20 participants per week. 

Each weekly session is $40 to register. Participants must be 16 years or older.

For more information, click here.

ORIGINAL STORY

If you are a Salinas soccer fan, you can rejoice on Monday.

Monterey Bay F.C. announced that they would have a developmental club called Monterey Bay F.C. 2. MBCFC2 will be based in Salinas and begin league play in the Southwest Division of USL League Two this year summer.

The team told KION that the stadium where they will be playing their home games at is to be determined. League play begins in early May and runs through mid-July, with each team playing 14 matches.

Head Coach and Sporting Director Frank Yallop said this is a monumental announcement for the organization, which has been looking for a developmental team.

“It is a fantastic opportunity for the region to have an amateur team that creates a clearer path to the first team,” Yallop said. "Aspiring young players in the area can play for MBFC2 with an eye towards our USL Championship side."

Salinas, native and current Union assistant coach Ramiro Corrales, will be serving as the head coach for Monterey Bay F.C. 2. Corrales is excited to mentor some of these soccer players who grew up in his hometown.

"Overall, this team will benefit the first team because I’ll be looking for that diamond in the rough, so to speak," Corrales said. "Whether that's in Salinas, Watsonville, wherever that might be, we’re always looking for young players who can help the first team down the line."

The club said that the developmental club is the first step in the overall growth and expansion of the Crisp and Kelp.

“USL League Two offers fantastic playing opportunities for our young players in the area, and we are excited to extend our MBFC programs and resources to those players,” Monterey Bay F.C. Club Development Officer Neil Diaz said.

More information about MBFC2 will be released soon. Open tryout dates will be released soon.