The Laredo Chamber of Commerce is proud to spotlight one of our longtime members and community leaders — the Laredo Heat Soccer Club, now celebrating its 21st season. Founded in 2004, the team began by playing at Veterans Stadium and has since grown into a staple of the Laredo sports scene. Today, they call PEG Energy Stadium home — a facility they are proud to have built as part of their long-term vision for soccer in Laredo.
We had the opportunity to connect with JJ Vela, General Manager, and Johnny Ibarra, Head Coach of both the USL2 and youth academy teams.
The club’s story is deeply rooted in giving back. Just one year after joining the United Soccer Leagues, they launched their tuition-free youth academy — providing local kids with access to high-level training without the burden of cost, something few organizations at the youth level are able to do.
JJ shared how rewarding it is to now operate out of their own stadium, rather than moving operations between various venues across the city. Coach Ibarra added that having facilities that compare to professional teams across the U.S. is a dream come true for the organization and the youth they serve.
The Laredo Heat will host two upcoming home games at PEG Energy Stadium, located right across from the Laredo Airport:
Saturday, May 17
Saturday, May 31
These games promise a fun, family-friendly environment with exciting soccer, Tito’s Snacks and 550 Pizzeria food trucks, and halftime festivities organized by their marketing team for fans and kids alike.
We thank JJ Vela, Coach Ibarra, and the entire team — including their partners at the Vaswani Group — for their continued support of the Chamber and their lasting impact on the Laredo community.
Laredo Chamber of Commerce
5702 McPherson Rd Suite 8B, Laredo TX 78041
Office Hours – 8:30AM – 5:30PM
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