The Shadow
Richmond, Virginia (VR) – Richmond community leaders, spearheaded by the Richmond Kickers and The 288 Group, have invited the cast and team behind the award-winning Apple TV+ series Ted Lasso to Richmond, VA to turn the series’ fictional AFC Richmond football club into reality in the city that shares their name.
Alongside the Richmond Kickers, a professional soccer team competing in USL’s League One, they have proposed an exhibition match featuring Kickers’ players blended with personalities from show to bring AFC Richmond Greyhounds to life.
To promote the concept, a cadre of local collaborators (led by Richmonders Ryan Trapp and Jon Laaser) created a promotional video highlighting the familial connection between the London Borough – Richmond Upon Thames – and Richmond, VA. Distinctly, the video traces the roots of Ted Lasso and why the show resonates so intimately in Richmond, Virginia and the city’s own much-loved professional soccer team. The Kickers are currently celebrating 30 seasons, having the distinction of being the longest continuously-running professional soccer club in the USA.
The group’s goal is to drive viral awareness of their campaign through the video, and gain grassroots support for the collaboration between Richmond, VA, the Kickers, and Apple TV+’s Ted Lasso.
The initiative is backed with broad support of multiple key community groups, including:
Richmond Kickers
Virginia Film Office
Richmond Region Tourism
Virginia Tourism Corporation
Laaser’s Ladybug Society
