by Matt Wright
Lakeland resident, Brian Haines, can now add professional soccer team owner to his resume. Mr. Haines’ day job is helping run Pyramid Electric, where he serves as Vice-President, but as a soccer enthusiast he could not pass up the opportunity to become involved in the Mid-South professional soccer team as a minority owner of the Memphis Americans. The Americans will have men’s and women’s teams in the National Indoor Soccer League (NISL) and games will be played at the Landers Center in Southaven, MS.
If the name sounds familiar it’s because this is the second go-around for the Memphis Americans in the Memphis area. The organization also played in the indoor soccer league from 1981-1984 at the Mid-South Coliseum. As fate should have it, Mr. Haines’ grandfather did the electrical wiring work on the Mid-South Coliseum when it was constructed. The company at that time was known as Haines Electric Company. Now Mr. Haines says he and the co-owner of the Americans, Andrew Haines (no relation), might use the Coliseum for indoor practice space and for team offices. “We’re researching the opportunities to bring life back to the Mid-South Coliseum,” said Mr. Haines.
Brian said his involvement in the team simply started as a soccer fan. He said, “I found out about the NISL and the Americans from a soccer teammate who was an Americans fan back in the 1980’s and one of the Junior Americans playing goalie, Richard Bute. Upon doing some research, I discovered that another Haines (Andrew) was behind a similar venture that my father had engaged in some 40 years earlier in bringing professional indoor soccer to Memphis. I completed an interest form on the team website and Andrew replied, inviting me to the press conference to be held at the Landers Center in Southaven.” But Mr. Haines said attending as a fan quickly turned into something more substantial. “After engaging my hero of the field and the faith, soccer legend and former Memphis Americans general manager, and player/coach, Kyle Rote, Jr., I attended the press conference. My father and our family business, Pyramid Electric, agreed to engage in a partnership with the team,” Mr. Haines said.
Brian, his wife Shannon, and his son Isaiah have lived in Woodbridge in Lakeland since 2001. He’s been heavily involved in the Lakeland community, working years ago to help publish Citywatch, which was a pre-cursor to Lakeland Currents. He also served as Chairman of an organization called COLA, which stood for Council of Lakeland Associations. Because of his love for Lakeland, he likes to direct anyone in the area to the tryout dates for the Memphis Americans. Those tryouts are scheduled for late June and he would love to see a Lakeland resident make the cut. “I am constantly referring folks to the tryouts section on the Memphis American’s website. Our goal is to invest in the community and include as much local talent as possible for both the men’s and women’s teams. We have a bunch of notable folks who are interested and engaged in soccer within Lakeland.” Mr. Haines said.
“In fact, we developed a team named the “Lakeland Americans” (for the Lakeland parks and rec adult soccer league) which includes one of our very own commissioners, Mr. Jim Atkinson!” Mr. Haines added.
The Memphis Americans plan to play twelve home games, along with 12 away games in the southeastern region for both the men’s and women’s teams. Games will be played this winter.
