In May, Rhode Island FC debuted in its new 10,500-seat soccer-specific stadium — something Brett Johnson envisioned when he purchased USL rights to the Rhode Island market six years ago.

Centreville Bank Stadium sits on the banks of the Seekonk River, well known to Johnson from his collegiate rowing days while at Brown University.

The New York City-raised Johnson moved to California after undergraduate studies and eventually merged his increasing soccer enchantment with his business career, which included his founding of the private equity fund Benevolent Capital in 2005.

In 2015, he co-founded Phoenix Rising FC, which became a USL Championship success story. In 2018, Johnson founded Fortuitous Partners, a sports-anchored real estate development and investment firm. In 2021, Johnson was part of the American consortium that took ownership of Ipswich Town.

We spoke to the Rhode Island FC chairman and co-founder amid its second USL Championship season about his soccer ventures on both sides of the Atlantic — and of how he foresees the future of American pro soccer with USL’s promotion/relegation plans on the horizon.

SOCCER AMERICA: What’s your personal soccer history?

BRETT JOHNSON: It started for me when I lived in London in my late 20s and was traveling around the world. I had a front row seat to “the world’s second religion,” which is football. That planted a seed for me. I felt that, at some point, the United States could rival that passion for the game and also be more competitive on the pitch.

The women have always been fantastic on the global stage, but I believe that U.S. men can also be one of the top national teams in the world. In summary, I played at a very mediocre level in school, but I have always loved the sport and really fell in love with it while traveling around the world.

SA: Between the teams you have ownership in, how frequently are you able to attend games? How avidly do you follow games on TV/streaming? Is it fun and/or stressful watching them?

BRETT JOHNSON: It is a real joy for me, my family and friends. I very rarely miss streaming a match, and I wake up early on Saturdays to watch Ipswich Town. During the summer months, I am on the East Coast and attend all the Rhode Island FC games in person.

I have a tendency, whether I am watching in person or whether I am watching via livestream, I rarely sit down. I like to pace and watch. My kids will start counting out loud when I sit down, because they know it will only be about 10 seconds before I stand up.

SA: Can you reflect on founding Rhode Island FC to its stadium opening this season?

BRETT JOHNSON: I say with total humility that I am very proud of taking the initiative to bring a team here when I heard that the Pawtucket Red Sox were leaving the state of Rhode Island. I very quickly bought the rights to the USL in the state, and I have to give large credit to my partner, Dan Kroeber, and by extension, our entire ownership group, and the State of Rhode Island and City of Pawtucket, to make this project and bring the beautiful game here a reality

It was not easy, but the state deserves this stadium and this team. The greatest satisfaction is when I get the pleasure of going to our games, especially now, in our brand-new world-class stadium, and seeing the way it is impacting lives, jobs, and creating social and economic impact. Most importantly the way it brings the community together, giving them something of their own. Again, with total humility, it is probably one of the things I am most proud of in my professional career.

Rhode Island FC played its first game in Centreville Bank Stadium on May 3. (Photos: Rhode Island FC)

SA: When you started the RIFC project you hooked up with Michael Parkhurst, the Rhode Island product who went on to star in MLS and earn 25 U.S. caps …