Championship push significantly boosting local fan interest in RIFC

BRETT JOHNSON, center, co-chairman and principal of Fortuitous Partners, celebrates with Rhode Island FC players and fans after the club advanced to the United Soccer League Championship Final, which will be played Saturday in Colorado Springs, Colo. / COURTESY RHODE ISLAND FC

In just 11 words, Fortuitous Partners LLC Co-Chairman and Principal Brett Johnson threw the gauntlet down on Rhode Island FC’s performance expectations when he introduced the new professional soccer team’s name in November 2022. “Our team is going to compete for championships from day one,” Johnson told the crowd at the Blackstone Valley.