“If you build it, they will come” is a quote made famous from the fictional movie “Field of Dreams,” but for South Georgia Tormenta FC, those words rang true in 2022.
The first four games played at the new Tormenta Stadium in Statesboro, Georgia, proved to many that if you make the investment and put in the work, fans, titles and lifelong memories will come.
With the first-ever game at the new venue operating at reduced maximum capacity and the USL League One Final on Nov. 6 operating with a sold-out crowd, Tormenta FC delivered to its fans and the city of Statesboro its first-ever professional title in history, with Tormenta Stadium proving to be an essential part of the title-winning season.
The Bolt Kit Curse
2022 was a season that saw Tormenta FC play in two Statesboro stadiums for the first time in club history, with the majority of the season being played on the campus of Georgia Southern University at Erk Russell Park. Despite being a great venue to host professional soccer, the team struggled to earn wins at Erk Russell Park. While on the road, South Georgia seemed unstoppable, defeating nearly every team it visited during the first few matches of the season, including in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
The word on the street was the Tormenta FC home jersey, The Bolt Kit, was cursed – with the team never to win a game at home. It seemed almost impossible not to believe as even in the one game lost on the road to open the season in Fort Lauderdale, the team was proudly wearing The Bolt Kit. Winning was not the only issue at home, as scoring goals was just not happening in Statesboro. It took three months for a goal to be scored at Erk Russell Park. Finally, however, the first goal sparked a multitude of goals, which led to the historic 5-5 comeback against the Greenville Triumph and, eventually, the first win of the season at home after four months of play.
New Beginnings
The intention was to start play at Tormenta Stadium during the summer; however, the playing surface needed some time to settle into the South Georgia climate. With the team in a solid position and playoffs seemingly achievable, the decision to transition to Tormenta Stadium and play the first game of October against the Richmond Kickers at the new venue was set. Two weeks after public confirmation, the stadium was playable and ready to host its first-ever game, despite only Phase One of the entire development project being completed.
The importance of believing in the players representing the institution was instrumental to the success of 2022. Fuad Adeniyi, a late addition to the roster, wrote his name in the Tormenta FC history books as the first-ever goal scorer at Tormenta Stadium. Adeniyi was recruited to play in Tormenta FC 2 after being scouted while playing amateur soccer in Atlanta earlier in the season. Following several successful games with Tormenta FC 2, Adeniyi signed his coveted professional contract and will now forever be in the Tormenta FC history books.
The first win at Tormenta Stadium came against the Chattanooga Red Wolves in the final regular season match of the season, which also finally secured Tormenta FC a spot in the USL League One Playoffs and hosting privileges for the first round match, making it the first playoff game Tormenta FC has hosted in its professional history.
Tormenta Stadium became a historic site after one month, hosting the city’s first professional playoff game. A 2-1 win against the Charlotte Independence earned them a spot in the semifinals of the playoffs, where they would meet rivals Greenville Triumph. Tormenta FC easily handled the Triumph for the fifth consecutive time in Greenville, South Carolina, and with results benefiting the South Georgia club in the other semifinal, Tormenta Stadium was in line to host the USL League One Final.
Only one month after the inaugural match at Tormenta Stadium, the venue hosted the title, which was broadcasted nationally on ESPN2. In front of a sell-out crowd of 3,045 fans, South Georgia raised the League One trophy at home, wearing The Bolt Kit, which has now been retired following the conclusion of a historic season.
In 2022, Tormenta Nation only had two months of memories with Tormenta Stadium. However, in 2023, more memories are to be made as the USL W League champions will debut in the new home venue, as well as the always-talented Tormenta FC 2 squad. As for the professional team, it will have its first full season as defending champions with a strong core of players set to return in the hopes of adding a second star to the badge for the organization.
