The United Soccer League’s Division III expansion team will make an official visit to Statesboro, Georgia, on Tuesday to meet with South Georgia Tormenta FC Owner and President Darin Van Tassell as part of the club’s continued efforts to join USL's third-division league.

The new league, which will begin play in 2019, will provide new markets with a proven professional soccer experience built upon a sustainable financial model. Statesboro joins the ranks of 13 other cities which have hosted league officials and is among the more than 50 markets across the United States in discussions with USL Division III.

“The ownership of Tormenta FC continues to elevate their operation and their own expectations as they build the next phase of their club,” Short told USLD3.com. “It is amazing to see how far the club has progressed since our initial PDL announcement several years ago to where they are today. During the league’s visit, we will also be able to visit the potential site of their stadium project, which will raise the bar for soccer stadium development in Division III.”

Tormenta FC currently competes in the Premier Development League – the top amateur league in North America – and plays its home matches at Erk Russell Athletic Park on the campus of Georgia Southern University. The club has performed at a high level on and off the field since beginning play, garnering the 2016 New Franchise of the Year award for multiple factors, including operational excellence and high-quality standards.

After revealing their interest in exploring a potential move to the new third-division league in May, the team revealed early renderings of a possible soccer-specific venue on June 30.

“The prospects of professional soccer being played in a brand-new soccer stadium are thrilling,” Van Tassell told USLD3.com. “Sports are woven into the very fabric of the collective identity of Statesboro and this part of the United States. At its best, sport creates constant hope and forges relationships and breaks down barriers – and those are powerful forces for all communities to celebrate.”