Wayne State University and Detroit City Football Club today announced a new partnership through which Wayne State becomes DCFC’s exclusive higher education partner.
As part of the partnership, current and future WSU students can access an internship program with Detroit City FC, a professional soccer team that plays its home games at Keyworth Stadium in Hamtramck.
The men’s team competes in the USL Championship, and is currently in third place in the league with 13 wins, 9 draws, and 8 losses (48 points). Detroit City FC’s next home game is on Oct. 5 at 4 p.m. against Charleston Battery (Charleston, S.C.).
The program extends Wayne State’s College to Career commitment by offering hands-on experience in areas such as sports management, marketing, and event coordination.
“Many of our students and faculty choose Wayne State because of our unique relationship with Detroit,” Kimberly Andrews Espy, president of Wayne State. “The growth of Detroit City FC is one of the best stories in American sports, and now our university and students will benefit from it.”
As part of the collaboration, the Wayne State University logo will adorn the top back of Detroit City FC’s men’s and women’s jerseys, symbolizing an alliance that will engage current and prospective students, faculty, and staff. The WSU logo also will be on jerseys of Detroit-area youth teams.
“Whether it’s through DCFC’s youth academy and indoor soccer facility in Detroit, or Wayne State’s financial aid offerings and academic support programs, both of our organizations offer young people and other members of our community access to opportunity,” says Sean Mann, co-owner and CEO of DCFC, which has an indoor practice facility called Detroit City Fieldhouse along East Lafayette Street, just west of Mount Elliott Street. “I’m excited to see what we can accomplish together on the same team.”
The collaboration also benefits Wayne State students, faculty, and staff who will enjoy special ticket discounts for DCFC matches. The new Wayne State University-branded jerseys will debut at Detroit City FC’s first match of the 2025 season.
Wayne State University is an urban research institution offering 375 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to nearly 24,000 students.
Detroit City FC, founded in 2012, is in the process of developing a 15,000-seat stadium to be built at Michigan Avenue and 20th Street, four blocks west of Michigan Central. Set to break ground in the spring, the stadium is scheduled to be ready for the 2027 season.
DBusiness magazine’s cover story on Detroit City FC in the September/October 2024 issue is available on newsstands now, and here.
