URBANA — When Soccer Planet opened in 2011, it filled a need for local soccer players.
Champaign-Urbana was one of the last central Illinois towns of its size to add an indoor soccer facility.
"Springfield had a place, so did Peoria, Bloomington," said co-owner Mike Burrus. "There were facilities in other demographically similar areas prior to Soccer Planet, so I think the need was there for this facility."
Burrus, a teacher at Barkstall Elementary in Champaign; Mark Sikora, a teacher at Centennial High School and soccer coach at Parkland College; and Achim von Bodman, a private wealth manager, bought Soccer Planet last week from founders Liz and Graham Berry.