San Diego’s newest venue, Snapdragon Stadium has thus far acted most frequently as the center of women’s soccer. The San Diego Wave Futbol Club have sold out multiple times and broken NWSL attendance records as part of a very successful expansion club in the league. Now, a new soccer-specific tenant could enter the mix making scheduling for the women’s club even more challenging.

According to reporting from Mark Zeigler of the San Diego Union-Tribune, an MLS expansion club could be playing in Mission Valley as early as 2025. Though, that could leave the other tenants like San Diego Wave and San Diego Legion in an interesting position jockeying for priority from Snapdragon leadership.

“We will be at the table as a club to be a part of those conversations. We’re already having limitations to when we can play and when we can’t so we need to be at the forefront of those conversations to make sure that we are a priority on the list of Snapdragon and that we can have games when we need them when the schedule fits our NWSL schedule too,” head coach Casey Stoney said. “I am sure as a club we will be at the forefront of those discussions and make sure that women’s teams game starts are protected.”

The Wave have already had scheduling issues this season according to Stoney. Following a 3-1 home defeat against Orlando Pride, Stoney and the Wave were about to begin an uncommon three-game road trip. Stoney said it was because the venue was unavailable. There was a Jimmy Buffet concert on Saturday, May 6, meanwhile the Wave played a nationally televised game on CBS the same day in the nation’s capital.

Snapdragon Stadium is owned by San Diego State University, so no matter who joins, SDSU football will likely be at the top of the priority list for the school. Though, even their future schedule is unclear as rumors swirl about potential conference realignment for SDSU to move away from the Mountain West Conference.

The MLS club has still not officially been announced and even after a club announcement things could change. For instance, Sacramento, California was set to be the location of an MLS expansion club owned by Ronald Burkle, but Burke eventually pulled out. Instead, Burke invested in women’s soccer in what would become the San Diego Wave.

The new MLS club also brings into question where the city’s USL Championship club, San Diego Loyal fit into the picture. Leadership within the Loyal have previously said there have been conversations with the new group, but now appear to be a competitor.

Chairman and Owner of the Loyal, Andrew Vassiliadis, released a statement about the new group on what it could mean to the club, most notably saying, “We aren’t going anywhere.”

Statement from SD Loyal Chairman and Owner, Andrew Vassiliadis. #StayLoyal pic.twitter.com/5JooUfwOQx

— San Diego Loyal (@SanDiegoLoyal) May 10, 2023

The Loyal and Wave previously shared the University of San Diego’s Torero Stadium before Snapdragon Stadium officially opened in September 2022. The two teams already have matches on conflicting dates that local soccer fans must choose between. The two play at the same time while one may be home while the other is away and both have conflicting home matches three more times during the 2023 season.

It is unclear when more information about the MLS club will become available, but a rumored announcement could come as soon as mid-May, according to the SDUT.

San Diego Loyal will play at home for the only time this month against Rio Grande Valley FC on May 13, and the Wave return to Snapdragon Stadium on May 26 to face the reigning NWSL champion Portland Thorns.