Bethlehem Steel FC Announce Inaugural Broadcast Team
March 1, 2016 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Philadelphia Union II News Release
CHESTER, Pa. - Bethlehem Steel FC announced the club's broadcasting team for the inaugural 2016 season today. Dave Leno will serve as the play-by-play announcer and will be joined in the booth by color analyst, and former Union midfielder, Matt Kassel. Leno and Kassel will broadcast all 15 home matches from Goodman Stadium. Official broadcast network information will be announced at a later date.
"We've really set a high standard for video production and we couldn't be happier with the talent we've assembled to be the voice of our club," Bethlehem Steel FC Managing Director Rich Searls said. "Dave and Matt are perfect compliments for each other and we're especially excited about the enthusiasm each of them have for both the sport in general and for our team. We're very confident in the type of viewing experience we're going to offer our fans."
A native of Richboro, Pa., Leno will assume Steel FC play-by-play duties where he already amassed numerous years of experience. He is currently wrapping up his fourth season announcing ESPN college basketball, appearing on ESPN3, ESPNews and ESPNU this year. In addition to those duties, Leno has worked with ONE World Sports and the Big Ten Network, broadcasting college and professional soccer matches. He's a versatile on-air talent who has worked for several TV networks, having called college football, Japanese baseball, USA Field Hockey, volleyball and tennis on both radio and TV. Leno is a graduate of Indiana University-Bloomington's School of Journalism. At Indiana, he appeared on national television at just 21 years old on the Big Ten Network, calling college field hockey and soccer.
At 26 years old, Kassel will make his broadcasting debut after a four-year professional career in MLS and USL. He played in five matches for the Philadelphia Union during the 2013 season and has also spent time with New York Red Bulls where he signed as a Homegrown Player prior to the 2011 season. Kassel last played for Arizona United SC in 2014, where he played in 26 games and scored two goals while serving as team captain. He attended the University of Maryland where he won a national championship in 2008 and was later a First Team All-American selection in 2010. He also spent time on the U.S. Youth National circuit, playing for the U.S. U15s, U18s and U20s.
Bethlehem Steel FC will start their inaugural season on Friday, March 25, at FC Montreal and will officially open their doors at Lehigh University's Goodman Stadium the following week on Sunday, April 3 against FC Cincinnati with a 3 p.m. scheduled kickoff.
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