(05-22-2023 09:26 PM)k2tigers Wrote:  

(05-22-2023 06:46 PM)bluebacker Wrote:  

(05-22-2023 03:37 PM)ncrdbl1 Wrote:  

(05-21-2023 06:09 PM)dcg141 Wrote:  

(05-21-2023 10:42 AM)bluebacker Wrote:  U-20 World Cup has started - for those among us with a more cultured taste in sport.

Its that elitist attitude that turns people off of "soccer".

Do you think if 901FC used the Americanized form of promotion as the Rogues did with the catchy name, mascot, cheerleaders, and fight song instead of the current international type promotion that they would draw better?

Rogues averaged over 8,500 with a strike season included, with almost no youth programs.

While with over 45 years of youth soccer to build on 901FC is barely putting 2,000 butts in seats, even though they're announcing 3,500.

Part of it is that at the time the NASL was THE soccer league here. Memphis plays in a lower level league and that does impact attendance.

Indeed. The NASL back then is like today's MLS.

No comparison whatsoever.

From 68-74 it was basically a semipro league.

Prior to 1975, the average attendance league-wide was similar to today's USL Championship.

Attendance didn't take off until the arrival of Pele' in 75.

Before the arrival of the Rogues, about the only ones that had any concept of soccer were those that watched Soccer Made in Germany on channel 10.

I played club soccer in the late 70's in SEMSA; Tony Field, John Houska, & Toni Carbognani would occasionally come by practice because they knew our coach. MUS and CBHS (I think) were the first to have high school teams in the Memphis area. My high school didn't have it until the 1980-81 season.

Pele coming over - even in the twilight of his career was a big deal; but the NASL ultimately folded anyway.

(05-23-2023 11:32 AM)bluebacker Wrote:  I played club soccer in the late 70's in SEMSA; Tony Field, John Houska, & Toni Carbognani would occasionally come by practice because they knew our coach. MUS and CBHS (I think) were the first to have high school teams in the Memphis area. My high school didn't have it until the 1980-81 season.

Pele coming over - even in the twilight of his career was a big deal; but the NASL ultimately folded anyway.

We filled up our stadium when he played in Montreal.

(05-21-2023 06:09 PM)dcg141 Wrote:  

(05-21-2023 10:42 AM)bluebacker Wrote:  U-20 World Cup has started - for those among us with a more cultured taste in sport.

Its that elitist attitude that turns people off of "soccer".

A real soccer game requires a couple of deaths from crowd fights. That's REAL FOOTBALL!