Dayton Dutch Lions FC
EIN: # for-profit LLC · Tax status: 501(c)(3) nonprofit
Overview
Founded in 2009 by Erik Tammer and Mike Mossel, Dayton Dutch Lions FC is the flagship club of the Dutch Lions Capital Group network. Based in Dayton, Ohio (West Carrollton). The club operates men’s and women’s semi-professional teams and a youth academy built on the Dutch development philosophy with a partnership with Dutch Eredivisie club FC Twente.
The club is also notable as the incubator for FC Cincinnati — Dutch Lions co-founded and initially held minority ownership of FC Cincinnati, which achieved MLS expansion in 2018.
Financials
No public financial data. Operates as an LLC, not a nonprofit. Dr. Suresh Gupta and DOC (Dayton Outpatient Center) have invested more than $500K in turf field infrastructure at West Carrollton High School. (MEDIUM)
Teams & Players
- Men’s Team: USL League Two (4th tier). Competes in Valley Division. Stadium: Dayton Outpatient Center Stadium at West Carrollton High School (capacity ~3,500).
- Women’s Team: WPSL (2nd tier women’s). Developed since 2011.
- Youth Academy: Programs for ages 8-18. Three tiers: Junior Academy, Development Academy, Premier Academy. Historically ~200 players (may be outdated). Trains 3-4x/week for competitive age groups (U13-U19).
- Head Coach: Dan Griest
- Partners with Ohio Galaxies FC for youth talent development.
League Affiliations
- USL League Two (men’s)
- WPSL (women’s)
- Buckeye Premier Youth Soccer League
- Miami Valley Youth Soccer League
- Midwest Regional League
- Ohio Valley Premier League (OVPL)
- USL Super Y League
No ECNL, MLS NEXT, or Girls Academy affiliation.
Facilities
Primary venue: Dayton Outpatient Center Stadium at West Carrollton High School, West Carrollton, OH. Capacity ~3,500. Turf field funded by $500K+ investment from Dr. Gupta / DOC.
Leadership
- Dr. Suresh Gupta, MD — Majority owner (since 2015; minority owner since 2012). Born in New Delhi, India; trained at Mount Sinai Medical Center; operates Dayton Outpatient Center.
- Dan Griest — Head Coach
- 5 River Investments — Former minority owner (2012)
College Placement
No specific data available.
Competitive Position
The primary competitive club in the Dayton market (~800K MSA population). Small scale (~200 players) relative to Columbus and Cincinnati clubs. The Dayton market appears significantly underserved for elite-pathway youth soccer — no ECNL, MLS NEXT, or GA programs in the immediate metro.
Investment Thesis
Low-priority standalone target due to small scale and lack of elite pathway affiliation. Relevant as part of a broader Ohio platform strategy. The Dayton metro’s underserved status could represent a greenfield expansion opportunity. The Dutch Lions franchise model may complicate acquisition — need to understand licensing terms with DLCG.
Open Questions
- Current player count (200 figure may be outdated)?
- Is the FC Twente partnership still active and meaningful?
- What are the terms of the Dutch Lions brand license? Would acquisition require separating from the DLCG network?
- Revenue and operating costs?
- Lease terms at West Carrollton High School?