New Mexico Runners are ready to bring arena soccer to the Duke City

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) - Another soccer team is setting up shop in New Mexico.

The New Mexico Runners is an arena soccer team that will play its first season in Rio Rancho at the Santa Ana Star Center.

Runners President and CEO, Andres Trujillo, said the team will be fast-paced, community-centered and affordable. "We want this to be about affordability," said Trujillo. "Everybody from all demographics can come to these games to have fun, to enjoy what New Mexico sports have to offer." 

Single-game tickets will go for $10 dollars. Season tickets will cost $63 dollars.

The Runners will play a 12 game schedule with half of those contest at home. "I'm very excited about what this opportunity brings to the Star Center," said Rio Rancho Mayor Greg Hull. "To bring a heightened awareness to this facility, bring a heightened awareness to what we are trying to accomplish in Rio Rancho as it pertains to families and quality of life."

The Runners will compete in Major Arena Soccer League 2.

At the moment ten teams are a part of the league. The Runners hope to stock their team with local talent. "We want to have soccer stars from Cleveland high school," said Trujillo. "We want to have soccer stars from Rio Rancho high school. We want to have soccer players from UNM. So we are really looking to pull players locally, keep sports local."

The Runners are the second soccer program in June to announce that they are coming to New Mexico.

The USL, earlier this month, also announced a team that will play in Albuquerque. "You know I don't look at it as competition," said Trujillo. "I just look at it as growing the soccer market, okay, growing the soccer sport here in New Mexico. Of course, our season runs December through March. So we wrap up in March. The USL starts in March so really what it creates is a seamless transition."