TAMPA, Fla. – Penn FC announced Monay that it has received approval from the United Soccer League to join USL League One for the 2020 season.

The team has begun to pursue a potential soccer-specific stadium development in the region. The club also announced it will vacate its current facility by year’s end and forego league participation in 2019.

“We’re incredibly disappointed not to take part in the 2019 season,” Penn FC owner Eric Pettis said. “However, we remain wholly committed to finding a solution to our stadium situation and ensuring that we can continue to bring high-level professional soccer to our fans in the region. We look forward to launching a new era of Penn FC in 2020.”

The club, founded in 2003 as the Harrisburg City Islanders and re-branded as Penn FC this past offseason, is one of only three alongside Orlando City SC and the Swope Park Rangers to have reached the USL Cup on two occasions in the league’s modern era.

The team claimed the USL Second Division championship in 2007 and regularly found success in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, reaching the Quarterfinals on four occasions.

“The lack of a serviceable stadium solution has presented a tremendous challenge for Penn FC,” USL president Jake Edwards said. “Our league has grown and matured to a point where having a strong venue that allows for proper scheduling, a quality in-stadium experience and better opportunities on both the business and technical sides is absolutely essential. With that said, we have great faith in Eric and his team and look forward to welcoming them back in 2020.”

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.