First Black-Owned Professional Indoor Soccer Team Resides in Milwaukee

Milwaukee is not all beers and cheese, and whatever other stereotypical view you may have about the city. Milwaukee may be in a state that’s surrounded by farms, but, in a way, the city is like a state of its own. As the cousin of Chicago, Milwaukee is filled with unbelievable talents and wonders.

And, now, Milwaukee is the first city ever to have a Black-owned professional indoor soccer team: Brew City Legends FC. Owner and professional soccer player, Denzel Pettigrew decided to put his career on hold to bring the city something it’s never had before.

Pettigrew said he wanted to bridge the gap between exhibition soccer and professional soccer. Because the difference between Pettigrew and other sport’s owners is Pettigrew doesn’t just go to the suburban (richer) areas, but he also makes sure to stop in the areas that tend to get overlooked, such as 35th and Brown.

“A lot of these kids don’t have role models and that’s where it starts,” he said about inner-city children who need guidance, and he’s using soccer as a way to mend to that issue. “We’re here for Milwaukee, and we represent Milwaukee.”

Pettigrew said there’s a lot of politics in sports, so he’s using his platform to switch up the conversation.

Brew City Legends FC is also Wisconsin’s first professional Futsal team. Now you may be wondering…what is a Futsal team? Well, according to Pettigrew, it’s an indoor soccer (or known as fútbol around the world) that’s played on a hardwood floor and is played between two teams with five players each.

As a 26-year-old Black man, Pettigrew put on his tunnel vision and went for what he wanted.

Pettigrew has been playing soccer for almost 20 years, and his mother has been by his side the entire way. He said he grew up without a father, so they were all they had. And according to his mother, “the word can’t was not used” in their household.

“I don’t really hear the noise,” he said about adversity he may have faced. “My mom keeps me above the water.”

Owner of Brew City Legends FC, Denzel Pettigrew is getting his team in shape with early morning Sunday practice. (Picture by Nyesha Stone)

This will be Brew City Legends FC first year playing and they’ll be participating in PASL (Premier Arena Soccer League and the MLF (Major League Futsal).

“I’m having more fun being a coach than a player,” said Pettigrew. “I love it. I’m blessed [and] I want Brew City Legends to be around a long time.”

Along with being a professional soccer player, owner of the Brew City Legends FC, Pettigrew is also the proud owner of 2Legendary Sports, Incorporated—a personal training company.

What he wants he goes for it.

Pettigrew agrees with his mom in saying that God has gotten him this far.