Joe Erwin reveals full plans for $39M county-owned Greenville Triumph stadium in Mauldin

It would seat more than 8,000 fans, bring sports tournaments from across the region and be home to the Greenville Triumph Soccer Club. That's the proposal for a new stadium in Greenville County from team owner and chairman Joe Erwin.

The $38.6 million stadium in Mauldin would be owned by Greenville County, blend with the architectural style of nearby BridgeWay Station and bring $270 million in economic development in its first decade of use, Erwin said.

"This will be transformative, not just for Mauldin, but for the Upstate as a whole," said Mauldin Mayor Terry Merritt.

Highlights of the proposal projected to have $270 million in economic impact in 10 years:

• $38.6 million stadium

• 6 acres near I-385 at BridgeWay Station in Mauldin

• 8,100 seats

• 150+ events every year

• Triumph maintains facility and pays $350,000 annual lease for 30 years

Mauldin City Council unanimously approved a resolution to begin negotiations on "Project Kick," as the project was dubbed, at its Tuesday night meeting, and Greenville County Council's Finance Committee heard from Erwin himself at its Thursday meeting. The committee voted to hold the project to give council time to ask more questions before recommending it to full council.

The negotiations are to hammer out the details of what entity is responsible for funding which portions of the stadium project, including supplying utilities, construction, management and upkeep.

While it might not be the funding vehicle that Mauldin and Greenville County choose, using hospitality taxes would be a win-win for everyone involved, according to Erwin, the well-known local entrepreneur. That's because it would apply hospitality-tax money in the intended manner — bringing in more tourism — while creating a regional recreational draw and giving the Triumph a permanent home, Erwin said.

Phil Hughes to donate land. Most stadium events wouldn't be soccer

Erwin was thinking about a permanent stadium even as he was paying to upfit the field at Legacy Early College to host the Triumph's games. While he enjoyed supporting the school, it wasn't a sustainable model for the team, for finances or fans, he said.

The $350,000 annual lease that's part of the proposed agreement is more than most USL League One teams pay, he said, but it's less than the costs at the K-12 charter school.

Not only would the stadium be home to the men's and recently created women's Triumph teams, it could host youth soccer playoffs, concerts, festivals and any sport played on a rectangular field.

Previous: Greenville Triumph could make Mauldin SC the soccer team's new home in Greenville County

"We see, by the end of year two, 150 events a year," Erwin said. "About a third of those events will be soccer."

BridgeWay Station developer Phil Hughes has committed to donating six acres of land to the Triumph, and that land would in turn be donated to Greenville County, Erwin said. The Triumph would provide the seating and other specific items for the stadium's use, totaling $18.25 million of the project's estimated $38.6 million cost.

Yet-to-be-named stadium in Greenville County could have games in 2023

Assuming "Project Kick" keeps its trajectory, construction could begin in April of this year.

With a projected 12-month buildout, games could be played at the yet-to-be-named stadium in 2023, Erwin said.

Seating capacity will be approximately 8,100 — about 2,000 more than the Greenville Drive's setup at Fluor Field and twice the seating at Legacy — with the option to expand as needed. Phase two could bring the total to 12,000 seats.

County Council could decide it wants to jump straight to phase two.

Imagine high school soccer rivalries and state championships playing out with thousands of fans watching in person and on TV, Erwin said.

"That academy funnel produces so much youth play," Erwin said of youth soccer in the Upstate, "and how much would youth teams like to walk out onto a professional soccer field and play some of their league tournaments?"

After all, a professional soccer stadium is essentially a TV set and USL League One's first broadcasted game aired from Greenville when the Triumph hosted Union Omaha on May 16.

The Clemson University Regional Economic Analysis Laboratory estimated more than $270 million in economic impact during the stadium's first decade. That is in addition to 350 to 400 jobs created, Erwin said.

Why Mauldin? Why now? Young team looks to grow support of growing sport

A heat map of ticket sales for Greenville Triumph games pointed right at Mauldin, Erwin said, so why not bring the game to the people who are mostly likely to come?

The Greenville Triumph Soccer Club was founded in 2018 and is entering its fourth season, and the club added a women’s team this year. The Triumph were crowned league champions in 2020 and lost in the title game last season.

The team's temporary home had several sell-outs of its 4,100-person stadium at Legacy Early College at full and reduced capacity during the COVID-stricken seasons.

The Triumph is third in the USL League One attendance rankings, Erwin said, mainly due to other teams having larger stadiums.

He began the hunt for stadium sites years ago, but finding the right acreage with the right access was tricky. Of the more than 40 parcels team officials examined, the site at BridgeWay Station became the winner due to its proximity to not only interstate travelers but the Swamp Rabbit Trail that will connect via a pedestrian bridge over Interstate 385.

The pedestrian bridge is set to begin construction in March, and it's expected to be finished within 18 months — roughly coinciding with the stadium proposal.

Research and feedback showed that Triumph fans want to make a day of the games — have a family meal before and go out for a drink or a game of bowling after.

Not only will the various eateries at BridgeWay provide that, but Mauldin is committed to its portion of the Swamp Rabbit Trail, Erwin said, providing multiple modality options once the pedestrian bridge is in place.

Development: Mauldin approves $5 million plan for Swamp Rabbit Trail bridge over I-385

Traffic congestion might be an issue with downtown stadiums or during rush hour in the Golden Strip, but games and tournaments aren't typically played during peak traffic times.

And soccer is on the upswing in the state, not just professionally.

There are more than 9,000 soccer players in the Upstate, and one in three children play soccer, Erwin said. The new stadium could be a hub for families, young professionals and college athletes alike.

With support for professional sports evident by the Upstate's love of the Greenville Drive, Erwin said he wants a similar model with affordable entertainment and easy access for the entire region.

He insists he's not doing it on the county's dime. The project shouldn't require a tax increase and creates a revenue stream for Greenville County and Mauldin alike.

"(The stadium) starts producing economic impact from day one," Erwin said. "I'm not looking for a handout; I'm looking for a chance to succeed."

This is a developing story. Check back for more.

– Caitlin Herrington, local reporter and lover of alliteration, covers government and growth in the Golden Strip. Get in touch with her at cherrington@greenvillenews.com, support her work by subscribing and follow her on Twitter @GVLnewsCat.

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Team owner says Greenville Triumph soccer stadium to be owned by county