Welcome to “We are Common.” Every week, we will be introducing you to the people that make up Lansing Common FC. Since this is a community-owned team, this is your chance to learn about all of those who literally make Lansing Common FC what it is. We will start by introducing you to our board members, who were elected in January. Since then, they have been hard at work, getting this team ready to play soccer in 2021.
Today we are featuring Member-At-Large Scott Oberlander.
How long have you lived in the Lansing area, and what do you enjoy most about it?
I moved to the Lansing area when I started college at Michigan State in 2008. But didn’t fall in love with the city until 2014 when I moved back to Lansing for a job. That’s when I started exploring and experiencing everything the city has to offer. I love how diverse our city is and all of the cool people I have been able to meet. I also love all the unique local restaurants, breweries, and shops we have. It has everything you need while still feeling like a small town.
What was the moment or team that got you invested in Lansing soccer?
I followed Lansing United from afar but never got involved with them, which was one of my biggest regrets. So when Ignite was announced, I knew I wanted to get involved early. I joined the Assembly Line and became a season ticket holder. I also helped produce a weekly podcast called Capital Combustion that covered the team. Then over the course of the season, I fell in love with the soccer community here in Lansing. From chanting for 90+mins together at matches to the watch parties at Ozone’s for road games. I was hooked, and it also helped that coach Nate Miller put together a great group of guys that you couldn’t help but be proud of, win or lose. They represented our city proudly, and I remember telling some people before the playoff game that I never felt more connected to a team than I did this one. After we lost that playoff game, I’ll be honest, I got a little teary-eyed because it marked the end of one of the most fun summers I ever had. I hugged and thanked some of the players after the game for their amazing season. I also told them I looked forward to seeing them back next season. Little did I know that was the last game Ignite would play.
What professional or personal experiences have you brought to the board that have helped you contribute?
I work for a video production company called Render Studios, which is based in Old Town. So I have brought those creative skills to the table. I also love problem-solving and learning new things, which I had to do when building our website and online store, neither of those I had ever done before.
What is something important that the team needs to do to be as successful as we want it to be?
From the start, I have always said for this club to be successful we need to focus community first and soccer second. So if we can bring people together and can contribute to making our community a better place for everyone, we will be a success. If we can put a winning team on the field too, even better.
Where do you see Lansing Common FC in 5 years?
I see Lansing Common FC become a significant part of the community. Not only has a matchday attraction but in building a better community as well. Whether that’s supporting racial & social justice, LGBTQIA+ equality, or sponsoring kids so they can play youth soccer. The list is endless on what we can achieve when we put the community first. I also hope in five years, I can look up and see a sold-out crowd that truly represents the great city I call home.
Starting next week, we will begin to highlight non-board members for this series. If you want to volunteer to be featured, please contact us at info@lansingcommonfc.com.
