In September, a few weeks before the Greenville Triumph soccer club played the last match of its inaugural season at GE Vernova Park, local sports fans had one more reason to cheer: The sports-industry publication Sports Business Journal named Greenville-Spartanburg the country's number one minor league sports market, highlighting Upstate South Carolina's four professional teams and the many recent investments in sports venues.

Across the country, regional hubs like Greenville are experiencing a boom, thanks to domestic manufacturing growth, rising populations, and a growing interest in local teams that offer accessible tickets, deep local roots, and genuine civic pride, with grassroots soccer proving to be the fastest-growing of them all. Few places embody this spirit of connection like Greenville, home to GE Vernova's 413-acre gas-turbine manufacturing hub.

When the men's Greenville Triumph team, part of USL League One, played its first game in 2019, followed by its sister team, the women's Greenville Liberty, local fans showed their pride, following the clubs as they bounced around to several temporary venues. That changed in 2026, when both teams moved into a permanent, state-of-the-art home in Mauldin, just southwest of downtown Greenville.

The $27.5 million, 4,300-seat venue hosted its first event in early June with a sold-out 1-0 Triumph victory over Wisconsin's Forward Madison, and seats were packed all season, driving a 45% surge in attendance over last year. "The stadium has opened up a whole new fan base for us," says Megan Kolak, senior vice president of the Greenville Triumph and Liberty Soccer Club.

For GE Vernova, backing the venue was less about traditional branding and more about investing in the civic fabric of a region where thousands of its employees live, work, and raise families. The park was designed from day one as a year-round gathering space. Events like a Fourth of July fireworks show and Halloween festivities share the schedule with youth sports clinics, educational outreach, and live concerts planned for next year.

"This isn't just a soccer stadium," says Jason Kraeling, a lean leader at GE Vernova's Gas Power business and a member of the Mauldin City Council. "It's really another place for people to come together."

Long-Standing Ties

GE Vernova's stadium sponsorship is an investment in the community it's been part of since 1968, when the company opened its manufacturing facility in Greenville. As Kraeling, who's been with the business for 27 years, puts it, "This is another way to say, 'Hey, this is our home, and we want people to like working here and living here.'"

Plenty of people are choosing to do just that. Greenville County, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, has seen its population jump 11% since 2020, making it a hot spot in the country's fastest-growing state. Newcomers are drawn to - and longtime residents stay for - its mild winters, vibrant cultural and culinary scene, and high quality of life. Adding to the appeal is an abundance of opportunity: Employment in the county soared by 15% between 2020 and 2025.

Greenville has also been an ideal place for advanced manufacturing and renewable energy innovation. The Upstate is home to 29 colleges and universities - including Clemson, the University of South Carolina Upstate, and Greenville Technical College - that serve as a talent pipeline, training skilled engineers, technicians, and business leaders.

"If you think about Greenville, it's known for building big things. Not just in the past or present, but certainly in the future," says John Intile, vice president of engineering for GE Vernova Gas Power. "You've got major technology companies here investing in the workforce but also in the community. As businesses thrive, so does the community."

GE Vernova's planned $160 million investment in Greenville and the addition of more than 650 new jobs will continue to fuel the region's economy. "At GE Vernova, we believe in investing in the cities and communities that our employees call home," CEO Scott Strazik noted when the venue partnership was announced. "Our commitment to the Upstate South Carolina area reflects our dedication to building a brighter future, both on and off the field.

Growing Together

At GE Vernova Park, says Kolak, employees have been eager to support local initiatives in hands-on ways. "The partnership has been amazing since day one," says Kolak. "You can tell they're not just doing it to put their name on something. Whether it's a community event or something at a game … they are very intentional about how they can get behind it and help support it."

She points to the Triumph's Read to Score literacy program for Upstate students in grades K through 8, which GE Vernova joined as a supporting partner, donating STEM kits and school supplies to local classrooms. During preparations for the club's Fan Appreciation Day, GE Vernova teams actively looked for ways to champion other local causes, including embedding the United Way's local fundraising kickoff into match-day activities.

Looking ahead, that collaborative spirit will only expand. The venue plans to welcome fans for the 2027 season with additional seating and premium suites that will push capacity to 6,300. GE Vernova employees will continue filling the stands through an internal game-ticket lottery, while non-soccer community programming takes center stage in the off-season.

"In 2027, we'll have a really good runway of events that are not soccer club-related," says Kolak. "We'll be working with GE Vernova to leverage our relationship both ways, so we can continue to make an impact on the community."

Learn more about GE Vernova Park at https://gevernovapark.com.