United Soccer Leagues announced Friday that Juan Carlos Hernandez has acquired the Premier Development League franchise rights for the greater Houston area. The new club, Houston Leones, will begin play in the 2008 season. The new PDL team will play at its own stadium, the Soccer World Center, in Richmond, TX. The 17-acre facility with three fields, including a 4,500-seat stadium field, was built by team owner Juan Carlos Hernandez.

The Leones will join the PDL in the Mid-South Division of the Southern Conference.