After a week of speculation, the Lansing Ignite professional soccer team has announced that it will cease operations, effective immediately.
In a statement issued on Twitter, Ignite’s leadership says they did not believe there was “a viable path forward due to numerous economic factors.”
Owner Tom Dickson says in the statement that the team “left no stone unturned” looking for ways to continue beyond 2019.
Lansing Mayor Andy Schor expressed disappointment in a news release, saying the city had worked hard with management, the stadium and other stakeholders to build the team.
Last Monday, Ignite player Marshall Hollingsworth said on social media that players had been told of the team’s demise at a meeting with club president Nick Greuser and general manager Jeremy Sampson. Team officials had declined to confirm the news until today.
