San Diego Loyal SC will cease to be at the end of the 2023 season it was made known on Thursday morning. In a video message to fans and supporters of the club, chairman Andrew Vassiliadis explained why the decision was made along with thanking the fans for their support since the team announced it would be joining the USL Championship in 2020.

“I believe together, in these last four years, we have set a new standard of what it means to be a professional soccer team in this city and be a reflection of our community and I’m proud of that.”

The message also points to future question and answer sessions that will be held with those who would like to know more about the specifics regarding why the decision to cease operations came about and any other matters that are of importance with exact dates and locations yet to be determined.

San Diego Loyal played its first match at Torero Stadium on Feb. 20, 2020, in a 1-0 victory over Panamanian team Costa del Este as part of its preseason schedule. Its first regular season match came two weeks later in a 1-1 home draw versus Las Vegas Lights where midfielder Charlie Adams scored in the 15th minute following that up with its first victory as a club over Tacoma Defiance by a score of 2-1 on March 11.

San Diego sits tied for fourth place in the Western Conference with 37 points, which is the same as the Oakland Roots. The Loyal have made the playoffs the last two seasons and became a household name nationwide after taking a stand for social justice and equality in the final regular season game of its rookie season despite costing the team, which was led by head coach Landon Donovan at the time, any chance to make the playoffs.