Future Legends Future: Hailstorm’s Future in Flux Again as Merger With Rapids 2 Falls Through

WINDSOR – The future of Future Legends and Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC is in further doubt. Burgundy Wave can confirm a deal to merge with Colorado Rapids 2 is off. Multiple sources told Burgundy Wave that NoCo were expected to play in MLS NEXT Pro in 2025 as the affiliate of MLS side Colorado Rapids.

It is unclear which side’s branding would have been used. Sources were not sure. But technical operations would have been managed by the MLS club’s staff. KSE had filed a trademark for Mile High SC, with a busy crest that looks like something a Colorado Premier League team would wear. This could have be part of a planned R2 rebrand anyways, though they’ve since announced their kits for 2025. MLS teams have been rebranding their NEXT Pro affiliates recently, moving them to a suburb and having their own name and geographic designation.

Burgundy Wave understands the merged team would have played some home games, if not all, at Future Legends in Windsor. Rapids 2 have released their 2025 schedule and conveniently are on the road the first five games of the year. Previously, the club had not announced if they’d return to the University of Denver’s soccer stadium for home matches. Presumably, they’ll now return to DU with some matches at DICK’s in Commerce City like last year.

Burgundy Wave understands the two sides had agreed to terms but needed NEXT Pro approval. It is not clear at time of publishing if NEXT Pro denied the deal or if something else came up.

Full disclosure, Nick from Linners and Wosers posted about the possibility of this merger first, albeit with fewer details.

Hailstorm and Future Legends came under criticism for several reasons last year. They reportedly had mounting debt and some lawsuits. The facility was mostly open, but construction of the main stadium has now been delayed multiple years. Supply chain issues coming out of the pandemic were a factor. Some permits were supposedly delayed for reasons outside the club’s control. With the 6,500 stadium not open, Hailstorm and the baseball team NoCo Owlz were playing on a turf baseball diamond with some high school-like bleachers. Not great, Bob.

One source told Burgundy Wave that the club weren’t paying their players towards the end of the regular season. USL League One picked up the bill. The league supposedly did not give the club their $100,000 reward for winning the Jägermeister Cup. There was a lawsuit. The USL, who have clubs fold every year due to financial issues, terminated their franchise contract. Future Legends 5 filed for bankruptcy in October to part ways with a financial lender with $10.5 million supposedly being owed. Denver based insolvency advisory firm Cordes & Company were named as the receiver.

Executive Director Casey Katofsky and everyone at the club have been nothing but gracious and professional with our staff. Everything we heard was that the club was not folding. While the Hailstorm name might survive, Jeff Katofsky’s inability to write checks has them out. They were great to me but if Hailstorm sickos want to criticize them, I get it.

If nothing else, Future Legends built a great sports complex for the community in Northern Colorado. Their bubble dome is awesome for year-round multi-sport activities. The Rapids can’t say that.

There’s a lot we still don’t know. What’s happening to the NoCo players who were under contract for 2025? About half the squad from last year has signed elsewhere. Hailstorm have removed the roster page from their website for what that’s worth. There has to be a force majeure clause in the remaining contracts they could trigger their release, making them free agents. Especially if the club hasn’t been paying them. Several of them would be picked up by NEXT Pro or League One teams if it could be on a free transfer.

They played good football last year. The players will be ok, especially those on the younger side. McCain Clarke would be a good project for a few clubs at this level.

Hailstorm Technical Director and Head Coach Éamon Zayed is no longer mentioned on the ownership and front office page. He has two more years on his NoCo contract. Sources told Burgundy Wave he was expected to have a role at the merged club but Erik Bushey would remain R2’s head coach. Maybe he was going to get folded into the Rapids FO or becomes the GM of NoCo/R2 United. This would work great given the recent Rapids restructuring.

Maybe he bides his time. If the players are getting an out because of the circumstances, so should the staff. If anyone deserves to survive Hailstorm folding with a job, it’s him. He has a good relationship with the Rapids top brass. Zayed will land on his feet somewhere in the American pyramid.

The bigger question is what this means for the finances and the facility. Cordes & Company needs to find a buyer, right? This merger could have set things up for Kroenke Sports & Entertainment to buy the land and run the facility. Buying it just so the Rapids have a heated indoor practice field for when it’s cold might have been reason enough to do that. If a KSE team isn’t player there, not sure that happens. KSE has enough going on with the new developments around Ball Arena. This was an opportunity for the Rapids to expand their footprint on some level.

Somebody will buy the land. But will they want the teams as well? Could the city or county do that? Does another owner buy it and keep Future Legends’ original vision? A “fit and proper” new owner would have a clean slate to bring them back to USL. There’s the NPSL. Would NISA swipe right on Hailstorm now? We’ll wait for news later in the year. We will not be holding our breath.

If you told me by 2026, the complex will become publicly owned/run and Hailstorm are a phoenix club in the CPL or NPSL, I wouldn’t be shocked. If you told me Zayed is a Rapids first team assistant or a part of the FO come January, I wouldn’t be surprised at all. If you told me Hailstorm go on a break and are never heard from again like some other USL teams that promise they’d be back next year, I wouldn’t be surprised.

Long live Hailstorm, 2024 Jägermeister Cup champions.

Photo Credit: Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC

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